Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: by heart (used idiomatically: yes)
There was no such professional method about Blackadder , who nevertheless noticed and corrected a plethora of errors , accompanying this correction with a steady series of disparaging comments on the declining standard of English education . In his day , he said , students were grounded in spelling and had learned poetry and the Bible by heart . An odd phrase , by heart , he would add , as though poems were stored in the bloodstream . ‘ Felt along the heart’ as Wordsworth said,’Blackadder said . But in the best English tradition he did not consider it his business to equip his deficient students with tools they had not got .
Idiom: catch fire (used idiomatically: yes)
When he failed to persuade her to cancel it , he asked her for a date — and romance blossomed . Fumes ordeal ELEVEN people were treated for the effects of fumes after a truckload of chemicals caught fire yesterday at the M62-A1 junction in West Yorks . In the doghouse BIKER David Bayley takes his dog Sophie walkies in Cradley Heath , West Midlands , by towing her in a house - shaped trailer .
Idiom: turn the tables (used idiomatically: yes)
Voice over In part two : Derby thriller … Oxford turn the tables on arch rivals Swindon . And Maxwell 's vintage years … the tycoon 's wine collection to be auctioned . Hello there … derby between Oxford and Swindon … it was a thriller from start to finish … with eight goals … five to United … three to Town
Idiom: birds of a feather (used idiomatically: no)
' Hello , love . There 's a big red thing lying on its side in the driveway … ' My old friend Lesley ( Birds of a Feather ) Joseph showed up with her children . ' I do not believe what is on your LAWN ! ' And my mate Lizzy showed up with a migraine and a helluva problem over her son 's school .
Idiom: twist the knife (used idiomatically: yes)
But there was something more with Frome . The way he needled the staff , for example . Picked on their weakest points , twisted the knife … ’ ‘ Yes . Who are you thinking of?’
Idiom: beg the question (used idiomatically: no)
In short , the ‘ evidence’ that Trevor Roper presents for his belief in ‘ historical free will’already presupposes it.ii Both these cases , while they are addressed to the distinct issues of whether history is accidental or planned , and whether it is accidental or law - governed , exemplify a widespread failure to engage with the problem of holism . For they beg the questions they ask by simply assuming the truth of individualism . This feature sharply distinguishes the repressive from the aggressive stance towards the dispute , which consists in holists and individualists giving incompatible answers to the questions they address , each set grounded on a prior commitment to their own approach . Like its counterpart , this symptom of an unresolved disagreement is extremely common in the social sciences , and crops up in all sorts of contexts .
Idiom: come to a head (used idiomatically: no)
If his marriage was in trouble it was because he and Diana had not been given a chance . His wife had been plagued by the press from the beginning , and coping with the stress of it all was simply too much . Nevertheless , the fact that the matter had come to such a head did have a sobering effect on them both . The press had no right to pry and push and sneak about in their private lives , but it was undeniable that if their marriage were to fail , it would open up an entire can of constitutional worms that the monarchy could well do without . Their marriage was not like anyone else 's .
Idiom: come of age (used idiomatically: no)
My main concern , however , is for Mandy 's health as a result of this teenage sexual experience . All the medical research over the past ten years has linked early sex with the onset of cervical cancer , a potential killer . If any good has come out of the Mandy 's story , it is the barrage of publicity it has provided on under-age sex . There are good reasons — nothing to do with prudishness — why the age of consent has been set at 16 , and the risk of cancer only adds to the dangers of Aids and unwanted pregnancies . Perhaps now teenagers — brainwashed as they have been by teen magazines , TV programmes and pop stars who all glamorise sex — will understand why it is so much wiser to wait .
Idiom: in business (used idiomatically: yes)
' Yes , although I never quite understood how he managed it . I know Rosie told me , soon after the wedding , that his bank would n't give him any help , so how did he finally raise the money ? ' ' I believe someone invested in the business , ' replied Sarah vaguely , ' but he never told me the details , and I did n't like to pry . ' Further along Manchester Road , their paths divided and they said goodbye to one another . When she reached the Watermen , Ruth wheeled Lilian in through the side door , calling , ' Con — we 're back ! '
Idiom: on the carpet (used idiomatically: yes)
" I know stories about heroes , stories about magicians , stories about birds and beasts , summer and winter , the sun , the moon , and the stars . " The princess was very fond of stories , so she was eager to listen to the wise woman . " Sit beside me on my carpet , then , and I will tell you about the golden apple and the nine peahens . " But when the princess sat down beside her on the carpet , the wise woman snatched up her whip and lashed the carpet with it ; next minute they were far away , flying back to the king 's palace . And the king shut his daughter in a tower , lest she be stolen again .
Idiom: never you mind (used idiomatically: yes)
Do n't put that idea into her head , Bee . I like it here . There are things I specially like about living here , never you mind what they are , they 're just things I like . So do n't go telling her she ought to go back to that dump in the sky.’ Bienvida said nothing , though her wild and wary eyes looked wilder .
Idiom: take root (used idiomatically: yes)
During July and August I propagate my strawberry plants for next year 's crops . Sink 3 in pots full of good soil into the ground , in rows beside this year 's strawberry plants . Peg down runners into these pots and leave them to take root over the next couple of weeks . Separate them from the parent plant , transferring the new plants to growbags in early September , half a dozen plants to a bag . Leave these in a sheltered place outdoors until mid - January , when they can be brought into the greenhouse for early , hand - pollinated flowers .
Idiom: on the back burner (used idiomatically: no)
Art you can dance to from the creative group called Halo FILM After waiting two years on the back - burner for Batmania to boil itself dry Clean and Sober is finally getting a UK release , allowing Michael Keaton to do his twitching and snorting coke fiend routine without risk of dirtying the caped crusader 's pristine image . It 's hard to understand what all the worrying was about . The movie 's message is plain and unequivocal : do drugs and die .
Idiom: on the house (used idiomatically: yes)
' I did n't mean to insult you . I just thought I 'd better ask … ' ' On the house , ' says Rainbow , smiling wanly . ' What else are friends for ? ' 15
Idiom: sweep the board (used idiomatically: yes)
After finishing second in the World Championship in 1983 and 1984 , Alain Prost lose the " nearly man " tag in 1985 as he became the first Frenchman to win the title . The likeable Frenchman , born in St. Chamond in 1955 , could just as easily have established himself as a professional soccer player . However , he first gained recognition behind the wheel of a car in his native country in 1976 , when he swept the board in the Formula Renault Championship , winning 12 of the 13 rounds . He won the European Formula Renault Championship the following year and then switched to Formula Three in 1978 . After lifting the European Formula Three crown in 1979 , he was offered a position alongside John Watson in the McLaren Formula One team for 1980 and he picked up a point on his debut in the Argentine Grand Prix .
Idiom: play into someone's hands (used idiomatically: yes)
Thus , Reagan 's early successes can be variously accounted for . The Democratic leadership was inadequate . This mattered less in the Senate , but in the House , where the battle was really joined , the unwarranted defeatism of the speaker played into Reagan 's hands . The defection of southern Democrats was essential , but it should not be assumed that this came about automatically , As Stockman makes clear , a whole series of ad hoc coalitions involving many unreliable allies had to be painstakingly constructed . The high quality of White House staff with special responsibility for legislative - executive relations — notably Baker , Stockman and Friedersdorf — was another major factor .
Idiom: mean business (used idiomatically: yes)
In addition , because there are only a very few , small sites available for redevelopment , new investors would be pushing out present occupiers if the development were to be economically viable . The UDC seems to be intent on creating inner city science parks and industrial estates , which would push even more people out of the city — already the young people are moving out , leaving the middle - aged and the elderly . The new developments would mean other businesses relocating outside the city , the increase in traffic in an already strained road network and an even worse deal for the residents . In addition , the creation of the UDC has pushed up property prices in the area , making it even more difficult for the residents . The UDC does not seem to appreciate that most of the derelict land in the area is in private hands and the underdevelopment is not the councils fault , but is actually due to the failure of government enterprise policies to encourage private investors .
Idiom: go bananas (used idiomatically: yes)
That 's fine because that was n't running the Edinburgh Society had given us some money , that 's not me My clock 's going bananas you know Mine does n't make that noise now No , that 's my clock going bananas
Idiom: pie in the sky (used idiomatically: no)
' It 's one of the most important projects we have for the 1990s , ' says Philip Goldsmith , head of Earth observation at the European Space Agency . ERS-1 is currently under test in Toulouse , scheduled for launch next October , at least two years before any other satellites as part of an international monitoring programme for the 1990s . Whilst other space agencies have equally ambitious plans , they remain as blueprints , or , as one European scientist puts it , ' pie - in - the - sky - eyes - in - the - sky . ' ERS-1 has five instruments which will scan the Earth at microwave wavelengths to monitor ocean , ice and land resources . Microwave techniques will enable ERS-1 to return data continuously : they can ' see ' through cloud and operate at night .
Idiom: full speed ahead (used idiomatically: yes)
And as Doctor Beri manages a brief break in the staff rest room … his shoes tell their own tale of how sole destroying a day like this can be . In part two : Medieval monstrosity … a folly built to teach the town a lesson . And , full speed ahead … the business sideline that 's helping farmers rake in the cash . Welcome back . Parents whose babies have died or were stillborn have produced a special memorial to help them come to terms with their loss .
Idiom: fly a kite (used idiomatically: no)
In fact , such is the power of ' stacking ' that these kites helped win a world sailing record . A stack of ten , ten - foot power kites recently powered the catamaran ' Jacobs Ladder ' to a class C world speed record . When the wind picks up , sometimes flies the kites during his lunchbreak . ' This caused some amusement amongst the lads at work , ' he said . ' They used to pull my leg , but once they 'd had a go they soon changed their minds . '
Idiom: make the cut (used idiomatically: yes)
He would like indicators that can help planners to avoid problems in the early stages of a project . The SPRU researchers believe that the lack of quantitative information can mean that the research output of , say , a university department , is not taken sufficiently into account . They cite the UGC 's decision on how to make cuts in university spending in 1981 . ' Clearly the members of the UGC had some informal qualitative knowledge of the relative research strategies of different university departments , but they had no systematic evidence to support these views . As a result , the main criterion was based on estimated teaching activity with past research performance apparently being accorded relatively little weight . '
Idiom: tongue in cheek (used idiomatically: yes)
He argues that kinship institutions , such as marriage , conjugality , and paternal filiation , were then imposed upon women by men as the means through which men constrained women to gain control over both the means of reproduction and labour ( ibid . : xxi - xxiii , 20 ) . My concern is to show that , on , the contrary , culture and social rules may well constrain males to fit a given society 's ideas about virtuous male behaviour . This is not a merely tongue - in - cheek reaction to such arguments as that of Meillassoux . When the Shavante train boys to become warriors who can both take and give orders , they systematically constrain the youngsters in age - set seclusion for a period of five years during which time they are trained to endure suffering ( see below ) . In contrast to the position taken by Meillassoux above , when I speak of ' constraint ' my interest is with the overt institutionalization and effects of intentional physical constraint .
Idiom: in my book (used idiomatically: yes)
I urge you to take your master into your confidence , explaining that you glanced at my book by chance while cleaning his study , and that you have been greatly disturbed by it . As a doctor , he will understand and help you . I ought to have explained in my letter — as is made clear in my book — that the case studies are those of pathologically disturbed men ( and some women ) ; people locked away in asylums or prisons , or who have paid for their vile perversions with their lives . What you chanced to read has no connection with the feelings and desires of normal men : have no fear on that score . Pure - hearted men are all around you .
Idiom: all along (used idiomatically: yes)
She was said to be callous , selfish , irresponsible . But the attacks were not only hurtful to the Duchess — they were unfair . All along , as I reported at the time , Sarah had wanted to take her baby with her . Her father advised against this — and so did Andrew . But it was Sarah who was left to take the flak .
Idiom: make short work of (used idiomatically: yes)
Then a bearded man in a bowler hat and overcoat came in , looked around and found himself a seat in a corner . The burly bruiser got up , carried his toddy over and sat down opposite the bearded man , who listened to him muttering , then gave him a silver coin . The bruiser got up again and bought a large measure of whisky , which he gave to the bearded man , who made short work of it . Two swallows and it was gone . Then the bruiser produced a letter , the bearded man gave him a bit of a stony look , but took it and put it in his wallet .
Idiom: to say the least (used idiomatically: yes)
Read it in our way and we shall merely be , as Lewis says in the preface to The Discarded Image , like ‘ travellers who carry their resolute Englishry with them all over the Continent , mix only with other English tourists , enjoy all they see for its ‘ quaintness’ and have no wish to realise what those ways of life , those churches , those vineyards mean to the natives’ . As an apologist , he seems totally blind to the fact that the New Testament is just such a collection of old books , which require , if we are to understand them aright , patience and a willingness to listen to scholars who have meditated for a long time on the nature of the ( often quite puzzling and contradictory ) material which they contain . Lewis 's claim that ‘ the records’ give us a stark choice about Christ — either he was a ‘ raving lunatic’or else ‘ He was , and is , precisely what He said’— is startling , to say the least . To what ‘ records’ is he referring ? Different books of the New Testament have different ways of describing the indescribable , that is , the nature of Christ , and the first three centuries of Christendom are a history of ceaseless dispute among the most learned doctors of the Church as to what this nature was , and how it was made manifest during the period of the Incarnation .
Idiom: sign of the times (used idiomatically: yes)
I have arrived , I have been given a number by the Church of Scotland I might suggest that you too have arrived , I have answered your roll call . And indeed it 's a sign of the times that I speak not with a mitre metaphorically upon my head but perhaps the glengarry of the convenorship of the Central Council of ACTS and therefore I am in part your servant here . And it really is to to promote a couple of the initiatives of your instrument that I stand here . First of all I would like to bring to your attention the regional ecumenical teams .
Idiom: from scratch (used idiomatically: yes)
It uses up as much memory as any maximum column on the right that uses memory . Erm , so what can you do ? Well , the answer is pretty simple , you save the file , and you re - retrieve it , and when you re - retrieve the file , erm , it erases the memory to start with , and then erm , fills up the memory from scratch and if there 's nothing there any more , then it wo n't use any memory for it . So you 're simply saving . Find yourself running low on memory , save the file and retrieve it back again .
Idiom: call the tune (used idiomatically: no)
Ufton went in for England 's third try in 49 minutes and then flanker Robert Leach touched down from a five - metre scrummage , Stimpson converting . With four minutes to go , Stimpson dived over for his second try in the right - hand corner . Rugby Union : Edwards calls tune as Wigan clinch latest championship By Michael Crossley Wigan50 Bradford Northern8 TO THE acclamation of their ecstatic supporters , Wigan triumphantly paraded the Championship Trophy around Central Park after this formality of a victory over relegation - haunted Bradford Northern had confirmed a third successive Stones Bitter title for this peerless team .
Idiom: on the run (used idiomatically: yes)
As I remember , Mr. Sidney Spicer drove a taxi , having some connection with Rogers Garage in London Road . He had picked up a fare in the City — an army deserter called Percy Toplis , who asked to be driven to Basingstoke . On the way , just before Andover , he shot Spicer in the back of the head and as a result was on the run from police for several weeks . That Monday , for some reason , my sisters and I were despatched to Fair View Road where Uncle Ernest , Dad 's brother , lived with his second wife , Aunt Ella . On the way , all my sisters talked about was the murder and when , on reaching the corner of Fair View Road and Kelsey Road , we met my cousin Violet the gossip was renewed with interest .
Idiom: at the crossroads (used idiomatically: yes)
The other vehicle involved was a Vauxhall Cavalier . The drivers of both vehicles were taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital for treatment but neither was seriously injured . Investigations are continuing to discover how the two cars came to collide at the Great Stainton crossroads on the narrow road . An inquest will be opened shortly to formally identify the dead man but it will be some weeks before the police accident investigation unit is able to offer a complete explanation for the crash . A DRIFTER broke into a warehouse and stole hundreds of pounds worth of Christmas presents for a hospital .
Idiom: lie low (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ How many of us would be able to … you know … go on living here?’ ‘ A couple of dozen , perhaps . If they do n't eat much , and lie low during the day . There 's no Food Hall , you see.’ He sighed .
Idiom: whistle in the dark (used idiomatically: yes)
' As you wish . ' Leonora stared after him , stricken , as he went upstairs to pack his belongings . Her fine words had been so much whistling in the dark . She had fully expected Penry to dismiss them as nonsense , and felt so shattered that he had n't that it took her longer than usual to clear away and leave the kitchen immaculate . While Penry was outside seeing to the generator she fetched her belongings , then collected the knitting , stuffing it inside her bag guiltily .
Idiom: look the other way (used idiomatically: yes)
They come from the Arctic , to winter in Caithness , as do flights of wild whooper swans from Iceland . One year , in June , we found a pair of swans still at Toftingall . They should have flown north in March , but perhaps they were n't paying attention when the others left , maybe deep in conversation or looking the other way . The graceful pair brightened many a summer evening . The moorlands also used to be a larder for great raptors : hen harrier and short - eared owl , quartering the heather in endless search of prey .
Idiom: go begging (used idiomatically: no)
According to Hooker 's hypothesis . ' They went across the fields and came to a place where a few stones lay , giving no indication at all that they had once combined to form a dwelling for holy women . ' The Welsh name for the bridge over there , ' said Beuno , gesturing , ' means ' the place where the milk was spilt'because one year the nuns ' cow went dry and they had to go down to the village to beg for some , and they got this far and then one of them dropped it . ' ' And they all said , Hereinafter and for evermore let this place be known as the place where the milk was spilt , ' said Betty dreamily . ' Well , I suppose when they 'd finished saying bugger and blast and damn and kicking butter - fingers in the head they might get round to saying that , ' said Lydia .
Idiom: go all the way (used idiomatically: no)
In the town of Dundalk itself , Matthews pointed out a strange hill enclosed in a public park . ‘ That 's called Ice Hill , and it 's got tunnels in it,’ he said . ‘ I used to play there as a boy , and people told us the tunnels went all the way to Cuchulain 's castle . We would crawl into them . They were hollowed - out places , but always came to a dead end.’
Idiom: meet your Waterloo (used idiomatically: yes)
Eh ? I 've always had fun sexually . In fact I 'm a very lucky man , you know , I can love them and leave them all except one , all except one , you 've al you 've always , you 've always got to meet your Waterloo have n't you eh ? Mind you I did n't say that I , I , I , I was faithful to that one , but I could n't leave it because she needed me so much . Yeah , you see , now so much got in the worst of us and so much bad in the best of us , , speak ill of the rest of us Ha I 've just finished reading the er , whole text of Rudyard Kipling 's .
Idiom: nine times out of ten (used idiomatically: yes)
This is the only machine in Britain offering treatment of eye tumours with a high - precision proton beam , which sterilises the tumours to prevent them increasing and multiplying . He is also looking forward to working within the progressive and well - equipped eye department at the university hospital . Mr Damato explained : ‘ I specialise in the treatment of tumours of the eye , which nine times out of ten are melanomas . ‘ These are malignant tumours which are very rare only about seven per million per year of the population have them . That is equal to an occurrence of about one a day in the UK .