Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: grasp the nettle (used idiomatically: yes)
This group felt that the community movement of the 1970s had been too romantic , too naive , too easily influenced by the popular educational theories and conventional wisdoms of the decade . They applauded the attempt to cross the sectarian divide to stress the problems common to members of the working - class in both communities . However , they felt that this did not grasp the nettle of community division and conflict between the two sections of the working class . They believed that it was necessary to combine the best in local community action and larger social concerns ; to bring the fragments of social and community action together , e.g. community groups , trade unions , women 's groups , etc . to work towards a vision of a new society based on a radical analysis of existing structures and the lessons and aspirations of the men and women attempting to create new structures at local level ; to stress objectives and content in education as well as methods and process . From previous experience it was obvious that , on the one hand , not all alternatives in adult education were necessarily radical .
Idiom: take a back seat (used idiomatically: yes)
In part it was due to the association of the Treasury with the economic policy of Baldwin and Chamberlain , men now discredited as appeasers . The Treasury was consulted less about economic matters , and its place in servicing the relevant Cabinet committees was taken by the Economic Section . To some extent this was natural , for , as economic mobilisation became total , finance took a back seat to the direct controls over labour and materials . It took some three years of war before the political spotlight began to play on employment plans . After the fall of France in June 1940 there was little time to think about the shape of the post - war world .
Idiom: dog eat dog (used idiomatically: yes)
It just gives me hope that there are huge groups of people that feel exactly the same thing . ‘ In America , it 's so easy to feel alienated and isolated 'cos you 're poor . And your self - esteem is just attacked by that dog - eat - dog system . It 's hard for people like us because I think playing music is a legitimate goal in life and you 're not made to feel legitimate , you 're made to feel opportunist.’ And you sometimes get hounded by Tipper Gore and groups of Washington Wives for spreading evil through music .
Idiom: with open arms (used idiomatically: yes)
For auditors , 1992 will no doubt be remembered , at least in part , for the first full year of audit regulation . The ‘ new’ audit regime , heralded by the Companies Act 1989 , had its first anniversary in October 1992 . While not everyone welcomed the regime with open arms , it is opportune to reflect on its effectiveness and to weigh up the costs and benefits of regulation of the profession by the profession . It would be splendid if I could state that audit regulation had solved all the profession 's problems , that all audits were now models of perfection , carried out by accountancy paragons . Unfortunately , we have some way to go before we reach that happy condition .
Idiom: in the red (used idiomatically: yes)
Get some dark glasses for your eyes I do need some because mine are going er Yeah , wants some dark , dark er them buggers in red do n't you ? er check , you know , there 's nothing wrong with them , but faded Awful are n't they ?
Idiom: follow in someone's footsteps (used idiomatically: yes)
Jon is twenty - five and lives in a bus in Stoke - Ash a village near Wetheringsett . As a child he was brought up in Kent . His grandparents used to be Gypsies and Jon realised from an early age that he would like to follow in their footsteps . When he was sixteen he left school and went to live with his sister Molly who incidentally lives with her husband and children in a caravan . They all moved from Kent to live in Scotland .
Idiom: kick ass (used idiomatically: yes)
' Well , I 'll tell you what , the guitar 's a little bit more shallow when you 've got to sing and play some of this shit , and the new album 's got a lot of riffs , but I 'll rise to the occasion . I like a new challenge , especially as I 'm really focused , my mind 's clear , my body 's clear . I really want to go out and kick some ass one last time for Jeffrey , for me , for us , and most importantly for the people who come to see us . ' The guitar work on the new album is unmistakably Lukather and , although his playing seems less restricted , Steve still heeds Jeff 's guidance … ' Jeffrey was always the one saying , ' Hey , man , do n't play so many notes ; you know , not everybody out there 's a guitar player .
Idiom: as a rule (used idiomatically: yes)
It was not always easy to concentrate , as distant explosions and nearby arguments in Arabic disturbed our peace , but it was something to help pass many long hours . And , again , things improved . We found a computer that had mysteriously been left untouched by the Iraqis ( they took anything that they thought might be valuable broke everything else , as a rule ) . When they started to let us out of the house we were able to rummage amongst the appalling pile of rubbish strewn around the University campus nearby . ( I found myself living next to the University of Kuwait , instead of the University of Bristol , for the majority of my enforced stay in the Middle East . )
Idiom: on the back of (used idiomatically: yes)
Now , whose family could that be?’ Back in the study , Flora turned a beseeching face upon Anna . Anna had no need to be besought , for she had done a quick sum on the back of her child benefit book , and had worked out that , if Flora could start at St Saviour 's in the summer term , she would have earned enough to put down at least £ 100 towards the first term 's fees . While she waited , she had rehearsed what she considered a dignified little speech for Sister Ignatia , explaining that , for this first term , it would not be possible for her to pay the fees in advance , as was customary , but that she would … ‘ If it helps to make up your mind,’ Sister Ignatia said , ‘ I 've four places a year to offer without fees .
Idiom: old as the hills (used idiomatically: yes)
He smiled like an engaging small boy . But he was not a small boy . He was old as — the hills ? Old as the Albert Hall . Urbane .
Idiom: on the run (used idiomatically: no)
Started off at twelve eight nineteen eleven . They was eight three last night . Got him on the run . Be a bit of a bastard if he pulls back . My girlfriend 's cousin 's in there this week Mark .
Idiom: under the weather (used idiomatically: no)
Joshua broke in upon Eb 's reflections . ‘ Are you going to tell me what 's up , or are n't you ? You look as if you 're a bit under the weather , Eb — not feeling too grand , p'raps?’ ‘ No , I 'm not feeling too grand , as you put it.’ Eb felt his chest constrict and snatched a breath , then croaked : ‘ I had that dream again last night.’
Idiom: sink or swim (used idiomatically: yes)
But despite last night 's developments , Mrs Thatcher is still likely to be in a minority of one — both on completion date for monetary union and on her continued opposition to the European Social Charter of workers ' rights . European identity , page 10 Latecomers sink or swim in the great flotation race . By Patrick Donovan Industrial Correspondent WITH moments to spare before the closure of the Government 's Biggest Ever Share Give - Away , Sheila Ullman broke into a frantic sprint as she turned up Princes Street in the City of London .
Idiom: take it or leave it (used idiomatically: yes)
Eighteen months is my final offer . ' Vass rose to his feet . ' Take it or leave it . ' ' A year , ' Lisa insisted , feeling the water close over her . ' Make it a year .
Idiom: go to town (used idiomatically: no)
Oh that 's good . That 's handy is n't it ? So Yeah I sa er well she 'd , actually she does two twenty P 's cos she goes to town and gets a few things but , I mean it , I said it might be bad weather one day Mm . and you 'd be glad to dial it .
Idiom: on the money (used idiomatically: no)
He will go in the same as myself . But he 'll be a year behind you ? He 'll be a year behind me , and he 'll be on the same money as me . Oh right . Because he 's done his A levels , oh .
Idiom: make a go of (used idiomatically: yes)
Two days a week — Mondays and Tuesdays — he went out with the van delivering orders to customers and taking new ones for both the printing and the art sides . The rest of the week he was at the printing works . He did n't interfere here , Uncle saw to that , so I 've had a free hand in the shop and although I say it myself I 've made a go of it.’ She made an irritable movement . ‘ There 's no point in mincing words .
Idiom: catch someone's eye (used idiomatically: yes)
It 's at such times , as you sit eating a damp sandwich as water drips from your nose , as you scour the map for all the things you ca n't see , that you wonder why the hell you do it . But then the majority of hill - walking is done in less than satisfactory weather , and somehow , no matter how foul and inclement it is , you can not wait to get back up the hills and do it again . Sometimes , when a party of you are trudging through boggy ground , battered by wind and rain , you catch somebody ' s eye and the whole thing seems ludicrous . I ca n't begin to explain why such a pursuit should be enjoyable . Perhaps it 's the moaning you can do at the top , or the relief of getting down and into the warmth .
Idiom: give someone the creeps (used idiomatically: yes)
Next he cropped up at Hurstdown . He lured me there a couple of years ago to talk to his sixth form group about the Irish problem . He seemed completely in his element , though all those monks flitting round the place rather gave me the creeps . I thought it odd at the time that he should feel so at home there.’ ‘ Why?’
Idiom: have a go (used idiomatically: yes)
If the FA follow that example , Wright could find himself suspended until mid-February — which would threaten his international place for England 's next World Cup qualifying game against San Marino . But Wright , when warned of the BBC 's footage of his clash with Howells , replied : ‘ I do n't care what the BBC say or show . ’ And Wright , whose misery over the weekend was compounded when he wasted a glorious chance to rescue a point for Arsenal , added : ‘ Some people are just having a go at me for the sake of it and it 's beginning to get to me . ’ Davis never recovered fully from the stigma of the left hook which flattened Cockerill and Graham must act to harness Wright 's volcanic temper before another Highbury career goes into premature decline . But Graham refused to single out Wright for special condemnation after a stormy game featuring five bookings , saying : ‘ It would not be right for me to focus on just one player .
Idiom: way to go (used idiomatically: no)
And yet , as Raymond Williams has put it , " It is difficult to feel that we are really governing ourselves if in so central a part of our living as our work most of us have no share in decisions that immediately affect us . " Democracy in industry , or , more broadly , at the work place , is an idea that has often been discussed , but with a few exceptions ( including Yugoslavia to some extent ) has hardly as yet been embarked on as a serious practice in most societies . Even if we adopt a much narrower focus and look at the specifically political institutions of the proclaimed democracies , it is plain that there is a long way to go before democratic principles are fully embodied in them . Britain is probably unique among democracies in retaining so many pre - democratic principles and institutions in a professedly democratic context , but it is in fact worth recalling . In Britain an elected chamber of Parliament coexists with one that is wholly non - elected and consists of the descendants of an hereditary feudal aristocracy together with a minority composed of the beneficiaries of the patronage of successive prime ministers .
Idiom: follow suit (used idiomatically: yes)
It was the only friendly thing in a lonely waste of unseen watery hills over which Viking shouldered her way at a laborious six knots . The sky was now overcast and a damp darkness enveloped us . Desultory Gaelic mutterings turned gradually to snores as cigarette glows faded , and with watchkeeping duties over I soon followed suit . Long before dawn I awoke to see the darker mass of Sula Sgeir looming against the pale grey skyline . We had made good time and had to ease speed to avoid closing the island in darkness .
Idiom: turn a blind eye (used idiomatically: yes)
The third was for about 200 people paying £ 15 each on a Thames pleasure cruiser , the Viscountess , in the November . Judge Rivlin , sentencing Darby , said : ' I have no doubt that you were a leading light in the organisation of the first party and that you were the leading light in the second and third parties . ' There was no question that Darby , a former part - time youth leader at George Green Youth Centre , Tower Hamlets , had merely turned ' a blind eye ' to the drug - taking , he said . The parties catered for such large numbers that ' it made it virtually impossible to police these events and it gave drug users and drug pushers maximum protection from the police — and all of that was quite deliberate . In organising these parties , you were targeting young people , among the most vulnerable in our society ' .
Idiom: for the time being (used idiomatically: yes)
Keynes versus the Classics : Round Two LONDON – The economist John ~ Maynard ~ Keynes wrote The General ~ Theory ~ of ~ Employment , Interest , and Money ( 1936 ) to “ bring to an issue the deep divergences of opinion between fellow economists which have for the time being almost destroyed the practical influence of economic theory … ” Seventy years later , heavyweight economists are still at each ~ other ’s throats , in terms almost unchanged from the 1930s . The latest slugfest features New ~ Keynesian champion Paul ~ Krugman of Princeton ~ University and New ~ Classical champion John ~ Cochrane of the University ~ of ~ Chicago . Krugman recently published a newspaper article entitled “ How Did Economists Get It So Wrong ? ”
Idiom: fit the bill (used idiomatically: yes)
And an early night too . What do you say ? Got any glad rags that would fit the bill?’ Shelley was silent . When Miguel tipped her chin so that she had to look into his eyes , she said rather bitterly , ‘ It sounds rather like where you took Victoria in the Mercedes , Miguel .
Idiom: child's play (used idiomatically: yes)
puppets , pantomimes , theatres . In some of these the child is an active participant , is making drama of a kind , in others s / he is responding to what others have made . All the basic elements of drama are present to an extent in children 's own play . But while many children enter the school having already enjoyed many hours of " pretend " play ; there are some whose experience of such play is very limited , who find it very difficult to differentiate between being in and out of role . We need to take account of this range of experience when we plan drama with young children .
Idiom: follow suit (used idiomatically: yes)
The farm 's now seven times bigger than it was when his grandfather ran it in the 1920 's . His grandfather enjoyed a gamble — the trick all along was to keep on increasing the size of the farm . Ray Gasson intends to follow suit . Male speaker One has to be optomistic .
Idiom: cut and thrust (used idiomatically: yes)
This time , Colegate told Branson that there was nothing more the CAA could do , and that Branson was ‘ on his own’ from then on . Virgin subsequently filed its own , even lower fare to New York . The cut and thrust over pricing proved a salutary experience for Virgin Atlantic and Richard Branson . The international airline business is a fiercely combative arena , where competitors enjoy nothing more than slitting each other 's throats ; Virgin 's tribulations showed the difficulties in allowing it to be governed by free market principles . Branson 's feeling that ‘ competition is good for the consumer if fares come down , but not good if it puts us out of business’ constituted a political education of sorts .
Idiom: to the bone (used idiomatically: yes)
After only three such seminars I was smitten . June must have noticed me staring at her . It was true , I could n't keep my eyes from sprinting up her slim ankles , and fell - walking the contour lines of her sharp shoulders and her breasts , breasts that were improbably close to her scenic collar bone . But when she came up to me after that third seminar I was so shocked and embarrassed that I could barely speak . I started shaking and my shoes squeaked with apprehension as I shuffled on the lino .
Idiom: have a heart (used idiomatically: no)
But through the clogging pain in her breast , she could only seen the gaze of Lady Usk — dark and knowing . It was as if Lady Lavinia herself had come back to life , and sat staring at her out of the malevolence in her soul . The protest floated at the back of her numbed mind : how could she have the heart to deal such a blow only to satisfy her own thirst for scandal ? The deliberate cruelty of it gave Theda the strength she needed . ' I am happy to have made your acquaintance , Lady Usk , ' she said mechanically , and then , like an automaton , turned to her friend .
Idiom: turn heads (used idiomatically: yes)
' Matey will think that we are doing what I was about to do . ' He laughed softly . ' Oh , you are a witch , McAllister , a very witch , designed to turn any man 's head . Even she saw that . Yes , you may go . '
Idiom: walk free (used idiomatically: yes)
KEITH BEST / Prisoners Abroad Voice over Nick Brown thought his two year ordeal was over when he walked free from a Goan Jail last month . An appeal against his conviction for possessing cannabis was quashed , after a High court ruled there was no evidence against him . These photographs taken by Nick 's mother Marilyn show his joy as he left jail .
Idiom: off the record (used idiomatically: no)
Portraits — decent ones — come in at anything from £ 200 to £ 40,000 . So it is worth thinking about in advance . As much to assist the artists as the public , both the National Portrait Gallery and the RSPP run free informal advisory services ( by appointment ) , enabling prospective patrons to form some idea of the style they are looking for , and receive some strictly - off - the - record advice about probable fees . They can then approach an artist directly , more confident that they are not wasting anyone 's time . Both bodies must take some credit for the fact that dissatisfaction with a finished product is rare , and refusal to pay unheard of .
Idiom: on board (used idiomatically: yes)
Working in this way and at the large scale of the painting shown here , is a very physical , expressive and exciting experience . On a smaller scale I often find it better to work on the floor . If colour is applied in a robust manner you may need some support to the canvas where it crosses the stretcher , or you could work on canvas mounted on board . Brian Dunce 's completed Oilbar paintings and cartoons together with other related works can be seen in the gallery in the basement of St Martin - in - the - Fields , Trafalgar Square from April 11–18 . ABOVE Some experiments by Doreen Roberts showing what can be done with Neocolor crayons
Idiom: to the bone (used idiomatically: no)
Yellow coat by Andre Walker from Willi Wear , Neal St , London WC2 ; black silk shirt from Canal Street , New York BUNTY MATTHIAS Having danced with influential choreographers Bill T Jones and Arnie Zane in New York for two years and been ‘ worked to the bone’ in the process , Bunty Matthias returned to her home turf of London last year in order to do her ‘ own thing’ . Classical dance , she feels , needs to be made more accessible . ‘ It needs to be drawn away from the snobs and the elitist crowd .
Idiom: go public (used idiomatically: yes)
Hilda Everett , the president of the Scottish AAA , insisted that the additional nominations were worthy of selection . She said : ‘ Seven of the eight have competed for Great Britain and we certainly would not have submitted any we thought would go just for the trip.’ Commonwealth Games : Welsh go public for cash By ROBERT COLE THE Commonwealth Games Council for Wales are hoping that the Welsh public will come to their aid to finance the sending of 89 competitors and 27 officials to Auckland next January .
Idiom: on the level (used idiomatically: yes)
The Americans trailed by two sets to Hlasek and Rosset before hitting back for a 6-7 , 6-7 , 7-5 , 6-1 6-2 victory . Sampras revealed : ‘ He was just getting pumped up and shouting , ‘ Let's kick some ass ’ . It was on that level . ’ It was a fitting way for McEnroe , 33 , to end his Davis Cup career . He has indicated that this may be his last year on the tour , and he finishes a five-time Davis Cup winner .
Idiom: in the long run (used idiomatically: yes)
I am determined to stay here , for some time at least . I know too that you can never be with me here and for that reason I have taken a decision . It was not easy but I think it is for the best , in the long run . We must stop writing to each other , Donald . I know it 's hard , believe me , but continuing will only make life harder and harder if we are never able to meet .
Idiom: in the pipeline (used idiomatically: yes)
Why do we need them ? Over the last year , SCOTVEC has been working hard at introducing Scottish Vocational Qualifications ( SVQs ) that are relevant to the needs of particular occupational sectors . Over 200 SVQs have now been accredited , and more are in the pipeline . So why are general SVQs being introduced as well ? Many young people want to keep their options open .
Idiom: hand to mouth (used idiomatically: yes)
To show how safe services are in the hands of this government , you only have to study John Major 's speech to the Society of County Treasurers at his Annual Dinner in London last December and I quote , together we have achieved much over the last decade to improve the services we provide for the people we serve and the environment in which they live , unquote . Well colleagues , he 's achieved a lot of things , but it has n't been in cooperation with local governments . Cooperation means working hand - in - hand , not hand - to - mouth . It 's been in contradiction to the wishes of the voters of this country . Conference he 's pushed up unemployment , he 's achieved cuts on training budgets and used training enterprise councils .
Idiom: pay the piper (used idiomatically: yes)
Subject : For roust see roost ! ! ! From : XSTACY : : JLUNDON ‘ James A. Lundon DTN 822–4715 26-Oct-1993 1617’ 26-OCT-1993 16:24:08.81 To : LEEDS CC : JLUNDON Subj : The hens have come home to roust Is it time to pay the piper . The costs of running a club of the size of Leeds is large and the easy way out is to sell the best players . Though I think 2.75 million is n't a great price for a player of Battys quality .
Idiom: dyed in the wool (used idiomatically: yes)
Unlike more clinical therapies such as homeopathy or acupuncture , aromatherapy 's healing potential stems from its ability to promote relaxation and , at the same time , to engender a sense of joy or tranquillity in the recipient . Indeed , the more wonderful the experience , the more healing its effect . Perhaps for this reason above any other , aromatherapy has sometimes been dismissed out of hand by a few dyed - in - the - wool traditionalists because they believe a certain amount of discomfort must be felt if it 's to do us any good ! Despite one doctor 's comment ‘ I know of no specific evidence to show that aromatherapy is of any real clinical value’ aromatherapy can indeed be practised on a clinical or down - to - earth scientific level . Dr Kurt Schnaubelt 's article Oils for Viral Diseases for instance , gives evidence of the scientific basis of clinical aromatherapy , and already in Germany essential oils are increasingly used to treat viral infections , notably Melissa oil for cold sores .