Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: tongue in cheek (used idiomatically: yes)
So it is good to have these idiomatic recordings to remind us of just how good a pianist he was : in both the Concerto and the Rhapsody , rock - solid technique serves real musicality , and this CD would be worth acquiring on the strength of the Gershwin works alone . In the Concerto especially , both soloist and conductor take the work entirely seriously , and make a substantial case for it as one of the leading Concertos of its time — the days are leaving us at least when Gershwin 's ' serious ' works ( those are n't my scare quotes ) were treated like the fortuitous good fortune of the upstart seven - year - old playing in big brother 's room , as if he composed them by accident . The Rhapsody , too , is given a strong , swaggering but solid reading from that famous opening clarinet Glissando onwards ( it began its life , by the way , as a bit of tongue - in - cheek rehearsal mischief from Ross Gorman , the clarinettist of the Whiteman band ; the delighted Gershwin insisted on retaining it ) . Lewenthal 's and Danon 's performances , now ( my goodness ! ) thirty years old , were recorded in the teeth of the dehaut - enbas prejudice of the day and , although their earnest approach loses a little spontaneity in the making of their point , they must have taken some of Gershwin 's critics by the scruff of their ears . So what of the make - weights , as the presentation suggests we consider them ?
Idiom: in the altogether (used idiomatically: yes)
Big wow ! Closer to home , those naughty boys from SUGARBLAST were chased out of Hyde Park by jobsworths after disrobing for a photo session by the Serpentine . It appears the naughty boys were in the altogether just as a primary school field trip walked past . Hey , look on the bright side , at least it gives them a head start for their biology GCSEs . And finally we return you to America to party on down with those incredibly nice chaps from TEENAGE FAN CLUB , who have been winning over all and sundry with their boyish charm , roguish antics and , occasionally , pop music .
Idiom: clear the decks (used idiomatically: yes)
David Hooker , Aberdeen 's managing director , said yesterday that a final offer was being posted to Brabant 's shareholders , with a circular seeking approval for it from his own shareholders . Meanwhile , US - based Bellwether approached Aberdeen in December , while the Edinburgh - based Pittencrieff oil and mobile phones company this week raised its stake in Aberdeen by 2.5 per cent to 19.1 per cent . Aberdeen 's latest figures are flattered by £ 201,000 of exceptional gains from the sale of Australian interests and investments as it cleared the decks for expansion in the UK which , it says , would cut overheads and increase liquidity . Earnings per share jumped from 0.12p to 0.73p , but no dividend has ever been paid . City talk has it that Pittencrieff , which is rich enough to swallow both Brabant and Aberdeen , is about to bid about £ 11 million for Aberdeen , valuing it at 22p a share .
Idiom: behind bars (used idiomatically: yes)
There were resistance fighters , those still busy secretly distributing leaflets to protest against the madness or those already behind bars for having done so .
Idiom: on a roll (used idiomatically: yes)
In August 1988 both sides had agreed in principle to a UN peace plan calling for a ceasefire and exchange of prisoners and to a referendum designed to give the inhabitants of the territory ( administered as a Spanish colony until 1976 ) a choice between independence or integration into Morocco . On June 27 , 1990 , the UN Security Council had approved preliminary plans to establish a UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara ( MINURSO ) to monitor a ceasefire and the referendum . A delegation of 38 Saharan tribal elders ( 19 from Layoun under Moroccan control and 19 from Tindouf under Polisario control ) had met in Geneva on June 4 and had broadly agreed that 74,000 people listed on the census rolls drawn up by Spain for the referendum of 1974 would be eligible to vote . However , the Polisario officials estimated that the Saharan population had swelled to 207,000 by 1987 , of whom nearly two - thirds were in refugee camps in Algeria . The two sides disagreed on whether 100,000 Moroccan soldiers and thousands of Moroccan administrators should remain in the region during the referendum , the Polisario officials insisting that they be withdrawn beforehand , while Morocco offered to confine them to their garrisons .
Idiom: tit for tat (used idiomatically: yes)
Or under nothing at all , for girls who Lycra to be different . Picture : HARRY PROSSER Kim 's the tit for tat flasher ! FLASHER Kim Hanslip made a clean breast of things yesterday . She admitted being the busty brunette who shouted at a man : ‘ Get a load of these’ .
Idiom: out and about (used idiomatically: yes)
He became a bit morose for a while a bit inside himself which is fairly natural under the circumstances I suppose . After a few months though he seemed to accept the situation . He got out and about more and began to enjoy life again . On the few occasions I have met him it has been very difficult for me not to let slip something about you . Your name has never been mentioned .
Idiom: in the sticks (used idiomatically: yes)
Now that was the system . It seems incredible , does n't it , but like it was the only practical way to do it was n't it ? That 's right , I mean you , you looked in , in , in , if you had a fire out in the sticks somewhere , you 'd look to see where the telephone was , where if there were any , and then knock on somebody 's door perhaps , at two o'clock in the morning and say can I use your telephone , and they were n't very happy sometimes I can tell you . Were n't they ? Oh , no and er
Idiom: at the end of the day (used idiomatically: no)
On this occasion they did not come to us and say right we want to negotiate , although several times we went to them and said please , here 's our budget , you know , our budget is now ready , we want to negotiate . So from your point of view you were forced into bed with the Tories , but why are you spending less than the capping level ? Because at the end of the day , at the end of the negotiations , we were left with the two choices either the our budget reduced by half a million , which is point one six per cent— right — that budget or the Labour budget . Those were the choices , and if we dissect the Labour budget I think you 'll see that we were quite proper in deciding that for all its faults , and I mean this is not a budget that any of us in that chamber , you see , certainly no Liberal Democrat , wanted to even put forward at all . It was a budget that severely cut services to vulnerable people .
Idiom: take the bull by the horns (used idiomatically: yes)
if , if , from what she says . It would ! So you take the bull by the horns or you do n't ! Yeah . Or you do n't .
Idiom: from scratch (used idiomatically: yes)
In early 1985 , work started at Wolverton on two new Royal Vehicles built on MKIII underframes ; in answer to a question in Parliament in April of 1985 , Mr David Mitchell , Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport , stated ‘ Most of the existing fleet is old , and several vehicles contain asbestos . I have accordingly approved British Rail 's proposal for a programme of modernisation . Eight vehicles will be converted from new or surplus rolling stock for use in the fleet and two new vehicles will be built from scratch . ' He continued : ' Four vehicles in the existing fleet will remain in service . The cost of about £ 7½ million , spread over four years , will be met by a grant from my department .
Idiom: do the honours (used idiomatically: no)
You who will receive the ceremonial dagger that morning . ' Ebert stared at him , open - mouthed , then fell to his knees , bowing his head low . ' Chieh Hsia , you do me a great honour . My life is yours to command . ' He had rehearsed the words earlier , yet his surprise at Li Yuan 's sudden reversal gave them force .
Idiom: on the rocks (used idiomatically: yes)
In the morning we had difficulty getting the camels down to the lake ; we then followed the stream that flowed out of it and after a short march camped not far from an Adoimara village . The previous day four men from this village had been surprised and killed by Asaimara from Bahdu , less than two hundred yards from where we camped . We were shown the place ; there was dried blood on the rocks and sand . The funeral feast was under way and we were given a quantity of meat . These Adoimara Danakil were glad to have us with them , for they were expecting yet another raid by the Asaimara .
Idiom: head south (used idiomatically: yes)
Paddy Ashdown is an orator who responds to fireworks . I saw him work the crowd at Leeds . His stage set , along with the thumping music , flashing lights , and dry - ice clouds that go with it , had just come in from Scotland , and was due to head south as soon as we television camp - followers had done our reports in front of it . But the Liberal leader did not let its transience spoil the effect . He advanced up the centre aisle , as the music thundered .
Idiom: in the pipeline (used idiomatically: yes)
Theddlethorpe in Lincolnshire and Bacton in Norfolk bring the majority of gas to the South West , having been transported along subsea pipelines from offshore production platforms . At the terminals the gas is processed and measured for quality and quantity and injected with an odorant which gives it that recognisable smell . The clean , natural gas enters the National transmission System at a consistent rate and is transported around the UK to a number of strategically located compressor stations which increase the pressure in the pipeline systems up to 75 bar , equal to 1087 pounds per square inch [ psi ] . During the summer off - peak months a proportion of gas is fed into storage units above and below ground . This seasonal storage includes the cavity of the depleted Rough field in the North Sea and underground salt cavities .
Idiom: get lost (used idiomatically: yes)
profitability You can turn round and say Get lost . it 's destroyed the figures . no use going to York they ca n't .
Idiom: go from strength to strength (used idiomatically: yes)
The widow , a Quaker , would seem to have been a devotee of herbal medicine and various other quack cures . Tawell would hack these commodities the length and breadth of East Anglia , his articulate speech and winsome ways expanding the business and reaching some of the hierarchy of that rural society . For several years the business went from strength to strength . Young John became more and more acceptable and developed strong ties with the aristocracy and the business world . Tawell was a charmer , an opportunist , a socialite and a womaniser , but on the surface he remained respectable .
Idiom: with a view to (used idiomatically: yes)
The government also proposed to introduce debt - waiver on loans of up to Rs10,000 for small farmers and allocation of up to 50 per cent of available resources for investment in the agricultural sector and rural development -- one of the National Front 's election promises . Dandavate estimated that the cost of the debt - waiver would be between Rs130,000 and 140,000 million . In early January the Planning Commission started a review of large industrial projects with a view to allowing resources to be transferred to the agricultural sector . It was expected that some of the larger projects approved by the Gandhi government would be postponed . Although the government continued to say that appropriate foreign investment would be welcomed , the 40 per cent ceiling on equity participation by foreign companies in Indian companies , which the Gandhi government had proposed to raise to 51 per cent , remained .
Idiom: chuck it down (used idiomatically: yes)
Yeah . really black is n't it ? Gon na chuck it down any minute It is , it is . Well it does n't go dark till twenty to eight .
Idiom: up for grabs (used idiomatically: yes)
The other Psychopomps were silent . This was a formal combat to settle a territorial dispute . Utah and Nevada were up for grabs since the Turner - Harvest - Ramirez and US Cav joint action put the Western Maniax out of business , and Jazzbeaux thought the ‘ pomps could gain something from a quick fight rather than a long war . This was not a funfight . This was Serious Business .
Idiom: join the club (used idiomatically: yes)
MinOtels , Top club Membership of this club gives 10 per cent discount on B & B rates at all MinOtels ' group of hotels UK and international , together with other related discounts , for example car hire and ferries . MinOtels also offers a special bonus to HCIMA members joining their Top Club . Progress with the HCIMA — new seminar programmes announced Management development and topical seminar programmes for hoteliers and caterers are to be launched this October by the HCIMA in conjunction with Progressive Training a leading training company specialising in the hospital industry .
Idiom: come to terms with (used idiomatically: yes)
Melissa was surprised that he had taken the news so calmly . She had thought long and hard before deciding that it was best for him to hear it from her rather than risk it reaching him through the more sensational tabloids , but she had braced herself for an outburst of shock , anger , even disgust . ‘ My guess is that she had n't come to terms with the situation herself,’ she said . ‘ The more I think about it , the more it seems she was very confused about her feelings . She seems to have been a girl who drifted into relationships because she did n't like upsetting people .
Idiom: behind someone's back (used idiomatically: no)
I could n't see anything , so it seemed a logical assumption . Then my sense of smell came into play and I could smell motor oil and if I concentrated , I could feel the cloth wrapped tightly around my head . Then I began to realize that my hands were tied behind my back and my legs were also secured to something . I thought it might be a chair , but there did n't seem to be a back to it , and it was smooth and cold . There was no time to think of anything else .
Idiom: high and mighty (used idiomatically: yes)
I have tried to show that our experience of the Renaissance is enriched by comparing texts produced in a variety of cultural environments . Ranter writing should not displace Paradise Lost ; Arden of Faversham and domestic tragedy should not merely replace The Spanish Tragedy and court - centred drama . What we require are canonical structures which allow our study of the Renaissance to include texts which speak , to use Bauthumley 's words , for those things ‘ meane and contemptible’ as well as for those ‘ high and mighty’ . The New Historicism I
Idiom: good riddance (used idiomatically: no)
‘ I did not do —’ ‘ Well , there goes the reserve,’ he said , amicably enough . ‘ And good riddance , too.’ ‘ I am reserved.’ ‘ Show me,’ he said , with that faint and familiar glittering challenge in his eyes .
Idiom: out of the question (used idiomatically: yes)
As he straightened up he seemed to have left his heart on the floor with the empty ice - cream carton . Already he could feel depression and worry creeping over him like a periodic fever . Already he was beginning to steal glances at the clock , comparing it needlessly with his own watch , missing bits of the film while he made rapid calculations as to whether he might conceivably be able to see Bridget home , and , when this had become out of the question , as to how long they would have to say good night at the hated corner . When the film ended with an unexpected FINE , Clare stood up and shook the folds of her coat . Then , noticing that Mark was still seated , gazing abstractedly at the screen , she sat down again .
Idiom: neck and neck (used idiomatically: yes)
The Greens will restrict traffic and discourage the use of cars in towns . Voice over It 's inevitable that the environmentalist vote will be squeezed in an election where the Tories and Labour are running neck and neck . But Richard Lawson says the Greens can afford to bide their time : Male speaker
Idiom: cut and dried (used idiomatically: yes)
At Vidal Sassoon , a cut and blow dry costs £ 25 pay that every week and you 've enough to run a small car . Prices around here are n't quite that high , but they 're not that far off either , with the average among the bigger salons being around £ 12 , though they range from £ 5 to £ 18 . Perms , interestingly , do n't vary in price quite as much but check before you go in clutching your pennies , if the perm includes the cut and blow dry as well , otherwise that could come as an expensive little shock . Very few salons have a sliding scale of charges bonus points for those who do . They would argue that all their stylists are equally competent .
Idiom: old hat (used idiomatically: yes)
I was an awful child . I nearly gave my mother a nervous breakdown . I remember when I was about two - and - a - half or three , they used to come in and say to her , ‘ Mrs McGuigan , we do n't want to alarm you but your son is on top of that thirty - foot pole out there,’ and my mother would say , ‘ Oh , that 's old hat , let 's hear something new.’ JULIE ANDREWS I guess I was a bit of a show - off .
Idiom: part company (used idiomatically: yes)
The ‘ Toxic Mix’ of Prisoners We can agree with the orthodox account on many details concerning the component factors of the crisis . But the notion of a ‘ toxic mix’ of prisoners is an issue on which we definitely part company . We do not deny that some characteristics of prison inmates may make them more or less likely to cause problems — if the prisons predominantly housed old people or nuns rather than young men with past records of anti - social behaviour they would doubtless experience fewer riots . But there are several difficulties with ‘ toxic mix theory’ , as we shall see .
Idiom: go the whole hog (used idiomatically: yes)
Beadle . Oh . Call her Marge , you might as well call her butter and go the whole hog might n't you really ? Nancy . Flora .
Idiom: take a bath (used idiomatically: yes)
She merely suggested there 'd be time for a game of spillikins before supper . After Dot had won two rounds , Mrs Hollidaye said , ‘ We 'll have supper early this evening . You 'll need to take a bath tonight , wo n't you , my dear , so as to be clean as a new pin for tomorrow.’ ‘ Tomorrow ! Ai n't I going back up London then?’
Idiom: send someone packing (used idiomatically: yes)
GRIFF 'S RED PERIL WALES prop Mike Griffiths is facing a suspension that could rule him out of the clash with world champions Australia , after his dismissal in CARDIFF 'S match at Aberavon yesterday . Referee Robert Davies sent him packing after a mass fight . Cardiff won 15–6 , with four penalties and a drop goal by fly half Adrian Davies . ROARING LIONS
Idiom: jobs for the boys (used idiomatically: yes)
Sir Monty himself appeared on the panel at the end of the programme , expressing his opinion that the status of engineers was an intrinsic part of the problem . I 've no doubt he is right and that the WES , on this showing , is doing a splendid job . The nagging question recurring in my mind , to which no one paid attention , was where , oh where , are the jobs for boys and girls going to be ? FORUM Monkey business in AIDS research
Idiom: stroke of luck (used idiomatically: yes)
The " moderately strenuous " walk , I remember , was about 15 miles , usually " ovver t'top " ; the " moderate " walk , something of a defaulters ' parade composed mainly of malingerers and amateurs like myself was a mere 10 miles . It was on these - " moderate " walks that I came to appreciate the astonishing versatility of ' the Dales , how inhospitably barren they can look from the brow of one hill , then how welcomingly like the gentle South Downs from the next ; how one village , little more than a pub and a row of stone cottages , might be as gaunt and forbidding as some remote Highland hamlet , while another will be so prettified and roses - round - the - door picturesque that , but for the backcloth of soaring hills or looming crags , and the uncoursed rubble walls wending like strips of children 's Plasticine up to the horizon , it could be in Mummerset . Then I had a stroke of luck . As a fledgling journalist on the Yorkshire Evening Post I had written one or two bits and pieces about my jaunts into the Dales . One day I was called back from my duties of covering the coroner 's and juvenile courts and told that henceforth I was to be the paper 's " walking reporter " tramping the Dales and picking up whatever stories I could find .
Idiom: on the back of (used idiomatically: yes)
The , the back of the calendar card , the notes that make on the back of the calendar card , will be in sequential order , presumably . You know , you 'll write them as they , as they occur to you . What you do on that first page of the month , is you put those that , that page that says to be done in January ninety four , or whatever , erm , you put the notes on the back of the calendar card in priority order and add any other formal targets you 've got . So that you wind up with a prioritised monthly to do list . Erm , I know that over the last few days you 've gone through the process of writing prioritised notes , so I 'm not going to go through that process with you .
Idiom: hold someone's hand (used idiomatically: yes)
He sat very close to his father 's side upon his little stool . Bob held his withered little hand in his , as if he loved the child , and wished to keep him by his side , and dreaded that he might be taken from him .
Idiom: get lost (used idiomatically: no)
Rational planning models have several shortcomings — there is the danger that the plan becomes all important , the wider goals get lost . There is the danger that the plan becomes fossilised , static and unresponsive to new intelligence or other changed circumstances . The most serious danger , however , is that the ‘ people bit’ gets lost — plans often assume that people will work and prosecute them in logical , rational ways , which of course they do not . The reality is a good deal messier and more risky for those managing the change . The temptation is always to deny this rather than confront it , to revert to plans on paper , stick with the safe rather than the exciting even if , at the end of the day with this route , little is achieved .
Idiom: get the picture (used idiomatically: yes)
' But I 'm learning about it all the time , ' said Angalo . ' It 's easy . All the buttons have got little pictures on them . Look … . ' He pressed a button .
Idiom: ride high (used idiomatically: yes)
I myself have been very careful not to tell you where they live , and I am not about to tell you now . But if by some extraordinary chance you should one day wander into a forest and catch a glimpse of a Minpin , then hold your breath and thank your lucky stars because up to now , so far as I know , no one excepting Little Billy has ever seen one . Watch the birds as they fly above your heads and , who knows , you might well spy a tiny creature riding high on the back of a swallow or a raven . Watch the robin especially because it always flies low , and you might see a nervous young Minpin perched on the feathers having its first flying lesson . And above all , watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places .
Idiom: on someone's mind (used idiomatically: yes)
If he wants to , he can reach me there.’ Shiona took the long way back to Loch Lomond , via Perth and Comrie and Loch Earn , stopping for a meal at a wayside hotel , then heading south via Glen Dochart just after nine o'clock . She felt edgy and unsettled , dreading tomorrow and the final show - down over Ryan — for the prospect of breaking her solemn promise to him still lay heavily on her mind . But there was no other way , she kept reassuring herself . For Kirsty 's sake , she had to clear her name .