Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: do the trick (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ It was good of you to get in touch with me , Simon,’ she murmured as he hooked down the loft - ladder and she followed him up into the roof space . ‘ What are neighbours for?’ he grunted . ‘ This heavy - duty polythene should do the trick if I can wedge it across the gaps.’ It was cold in the roof , with thin , sharp draughts blowing under the tiles , and Merrill hugged her arms about her as Simon wedged the polythene into place . She glanced around vaguely .
Idiom: save the day (used idiomatically: yes)
Around him the Rajputs regrouped . The superior numbers of the Imperial army stood them in good stead : within a few minutes , Dara 's forces had broken through the rebels ' artillery and put to flight the infantry . It was then that Aurangzeb 's cunning saved the day for the rebels . His agents within the Imperial army managed to assassinate three of Dara 's generals as they sat exposed on their elephants . One , Ram Singh Rathor , was controlling the left wing .
Idiom: out of the box (used idiomatically: yes)
Locally - trained Mauir Joyful ( 8.48 ) was impressive over the shorter course a week ago and is unlikely to be troubled in getting the extra distance . Skilful Dancer ( 9.04 ) failed by just a head over the course and distance last time and an improved trap position should do the trick . Gutsy Slatefield Magic ( 9.55 ) scorched out of the boxes four days ago and another fast exit will enable her to complete a quick double . Wembley punters will seize on Handsome Henry ( 9.30 ) in the Pick Systems Trophy . Powerful Barry Silkman 's powerful all - rounder should soon be handily placed and once clear will be difficult to beat .
Idiom: on thin ice (used idiomatically: no)
Devising a system that is applicable to Ben Nevis style ice routes and Cairngorm mixed routes is difficult , but this is one of the advantages of the proposed two - tier grade . For example , consider two established ‘ big name’ routes from each area . Pointless VII , 6 is a major Ben face route involving long runouts on thin ice with poor belays . Not surprisingly perhaps , it has only been repeated three or four times in 14 years ! Citadel : VII , 8 on the other hand , has excellent protection but is long and sustained with the crux right at the top when abseil retreat is both difficult and uninviting .
Idiom: cost the earth (used idiomatically: yes)
There 's any amount of farmers , farm workers er , going sick because of this dip , there was last year . Whether it 's genuine or not I do n't know , but er , I think it was , it is dangerous stuff and erm , it is time , surely we do it , our scientists can find something better and cheaper . Because I mean , that , it , it costs the earth anyway , that damn stuff , it really does , with it , and it 's a , well I , I did it on about eight hundred sheep so you know , my men are stuck in this for a day or two . It 's er , it 's not pleasant for them , and they 're doing it in wet weathers , but I mean whatever erm , I find for them you know , to wear , I mean , time after time they get their feet down and slip and get them in . In fact I 've known people to go right in , so it , it , it 's not a simple job , you know , and they do take a great deal of risk with this , and I do , I mean it 's much more serious than I think than the government find , it should really work hard to try , to try to find something else .
Idiom: go all the way (used idiomatically: no)
One . Are you happy with that ? Do you know , do you know about three hundred and sixty degrees goes all the way round ? Ah okay when we do pie charts we 're measuring angles are n't we ? You , we 're doing fractions if you like so you could draw a half and that would be a half of three hundred and sixty .
Idiom: out of the question (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ I have never managed to work out what it is unemployed women do during the day —’ he gave a neutral laugh ‘ — except between five and seven , of course.’ He went towards the door . ‘ Looking at your face , I gather that 's out of the question?’ He tilted his head as he paused at the door . His control was superb .
Idiom: fly a kite (used idiomatically: no)
In our last meeting John the need to do a little thing that would the district but I felt that because of the time pushing that wha , what 's his name has said about the erm the River Yes . adventure was probably enough that erm I would have flown a kite and one or two things otherwise ! So I felt because the time was pushing , passing so much , and the Yes
Idiom: nuts and bolts (used idiomatically: yes)
These ionospheric currents are also important to the acceleration mechanism of charged particles . Thus waterhole has enhanced scientific understanding of the mechanism itself and of how currents interact to accelerate particles Brian Whalen of the NRC points out that auroral activity is known to affect radio waves and power lines and possibly the weather , too , . ‘ We 're the nuts and bolts people . It 'll be up to someone else to apply the data directly’ , he said . ‘ None of us believes this is an attempt to control the aurora we just want to understand it.’
Idiom: go to town (used idiomatically: yes)
Yes . And you 're not working Saturday morning , instead of going to work late we can go a bit early and do a bit of shopping ourselves . Go to town next Thursday Before Monday . Thursday morning ca n't you ?
Idiom: tempt providence (used idiomatically: yes)
Sunshine by day , sweet dew by night , the soft wind . I tell you , this is the original garden God forgot to close . ' ' Shush , do n't tempt Providence . Pray instead our ships reach harbour . And that the price of tobacco holds . '
Idiom: out of order (used idiomatically: yes)
Claire , tell him I want my tape . She wants her tape . Osmond , you 're out of order you know . All right , apologize . I apo
Idiom: have words (used idiomatically: yes)
As we all know , a well - toned body is a delight to be seen . The fact that regular exercise is beneficial is therefore beyond question . Only those with a medical problem which might be aggravated by physical activity should hesitate before stepping into action , but providing they have a word with their doctor first , even severely disabled people will usually benefit from some kind of exercise . Exercise is a word which covers a vast array of activities . It could mean being energetic , as in running a marathon , or tranquil , as in practising yoga .
Idiom: hold court (used idiomatically: yes)
First , because formal institutionalized procedures generally attract more publicity than informal ones , the outcome of individual cases can influence the outcome of a large number of other complaints ( or potential complaints ) . Secondly , decisions about the legality or propriety of past administrative action may influence the way administrators deal with similar cases in the future ; and the threat of publicity may contribute further to the deterrent effect of formal complaints procedures . Thirdly , the respect in which the courts are held gives their decisions an influence out of proportion to the number of cases they deal with . Fourthly , because decisions of the courts are often elaborately reasoned and reported in law reports , they are crucially important in developing the concepts and rules of common law which define the limits of lawful administrative action . The courts do not hear a large number of cases , but they are the major source , apart from Parliament , of the legal rules governing administrative action .
Idiom: from scratch (used idiomatically: yes)
WordPerfect Corp is thought to have withdrawn its support . WABI is now also expected to go forward into the Common Open Software Environment initiative . Sun , which has refused to license Windows 3.1 from Microsoft , has literally had to re - invent Windows from scratch . The process is technically demanding and time - consuming , to say the least , and leaves WABI snookered as far as staying current with Windows development goes , a situation Microsoft is likely to exploit . As it is , SunSelect has reportedly validated only a dozen Windows applications on WABI and the thing still does n't print .
Idiom: break the ice (used idiomatically: yes)
Standing there in my civilian clothes I felt completely out of place and wished that I could be wearing a blue tracksuit like the rest of them . One of the recruits on a top bunk leant over and shouted , ' Here , mate , are you English ? ' I told him that I was and suddenly the ice was broken . He jumped down , shook my hand and pulled a packet of Peter Stuyvesant cigarettes out of his pocket which he gave to me . I lit up and stood there trying to answer all the questions coming at me in French and English .
Idiom: over the hill (used idiomatically: yes)
He dismissed the idea . ‘ It 's only in American movies where they catch fire . The petrol tank split open as it rolled and most of the gas spilled out over the hill.’ We 'd come full circle round the Golf , our feet crunching bits of windscreen . ‘ She was a lucky lady , your friend,’ he said thoughtfully .
Idiom: in the saddle (used idiomatically: yes)
In any event , the decision was made . Sir Robert Carey , Warden of the English Middle March , had been in London visiting the queen , but had prudently arranged for relays of horses to be ready for him between the capital and Edinburgh , so that he could ingratiate himself with the King of Scots by being the first to arrive with the news that he was now King of England also . The moment Carey was confident that Elizabeth had breathed her last he was in the saddle , racing for the Border . It took him two and a half days to reach Edinburgh . James had gone to bed by the time he arrived , but the travel - stained messenger was admitted and graciously allowed to convey the news .
Idiom: in full swing (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ You mean the pop concert at Roskilde?’ The other girl had smiled . ‘ Sure , that 's over , but the Copenhagen Summer Festival is in full swing in July and the international jazz festival has just started . What with the music and the conventions , the place is bursting at the seams — but we 'll do our best for you.’ Rather chastened , she 'd taken the seat indicated while the travel consultant had tracked down flights via her VDU , gratefully accepting the more expensive club class when nothing cheaper proved available .
Idiom: state of the art (used idiomatically: yes)
The conference , on 22nd and 23rd March at the London International Book Fair , organised by Meckler and sponsored by The Bookseller , attracted over 300 representatives from British and European publishers and agents . Culture clash They heard reports of the state of the art , mostly from the electronics side of the industry . The clash of cultures was illustrated towards the end of the first day : ‘ Just tell us what the standards are that we should be aiming for’ , a publisher demanded , fed up with what he called ‘ axe grinding’ by manufacturers . But , by the end of the gathering , many were enthused by the prospect of selling subsidiary rights for many separate electronic formats .
Idiom: lift a finger (used idiomatically: no)
‘ Betty is very good at doing all the bits and pieces . She loves it . I 'm not allowed to lift a finger . By the way —’ Helen paused , ‘ — she has been gathering some gossip that will probably interest you . Apparently Dawn —’
Idiom: set eyes on (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ I am not one for shilly - shallying , as well you know , Forest — in the event , I should make sure you were Will Slaughter 's next victim.’ ‘ Slaughter , you say ? Now I comes to think on it , I 've not set eyes on Black Will since afore we went to the Garden Tower last evening.’ ‘ No more has anyone else,’ came the rejoinder . ‘ Oh , he is around — we may be sure of that !
Idiom: hit the headlines (used idiomatically: yes)
Birdwatchers , walkers and those who enjoy the animals imported by Sheikh Zayed found the island cut off . A government official said : ‘ Sheik Zayed is an exceptionally generous host . ‘ But he was rocked by the publicity surrounding his unfortunate involvement with the recent BCCI bank crash and now he hits the headlines because of his kindness to Mr Mellor.’ The mega - rich sheik , who met the Queen at Claridges in July 1989 , has spared no expense on the island , 11 miles long and five miles wide . He flew in animals from around the world , including llamas from the South American Andes , ostriches , local bustards and Arabian oryx .
Idiom: behind the scenes (used idiomatically: yes)
Mr Kanemaru 's arrest has not been followed by others . The government 's opinion - poll rating has edged up , from 20.1 % in November to 26.3 % in May , according to polls conducted by Yomiuri Shimbun , Japan 's biggest newspaper . The LDP 's rebellious faction no longer looks like splitting off : on June 2nd one of its members said secession would achieve nothing , and that the best way to bring about reform was to work behind the scenes . Why are the reformers now retreating ? Partly because one of the leading LDP rebels , Ichiro Ozawa , rose on Mr Kanemaru 's coat tails .
Idiom: make ends meet (used idiomatically: yes)
He smiled grimly , letting the car 's speed increase so that the hedges whizzed past in a green blur . ‘ Thirty years ago having a child outside marriage was n't considered to be the accepted thing . My mother had a tough time trying to make ends meet . That was the reason why she fell in with the man she later married . I think she was grateful to him for bothering to show any interest in a woman with an illegitimate child on her hands .
Idiom: have someone's number (used idiomatically: yes)
No . Got too much detail of where we lived and erm you know that it was a concert . But but these you know , you had your telephone number and you know , just had a whole statement of everything about you . Mm mm . And
Idiom: been there, done that (used idiomatically: no)
Rachel , perfectly dignified in her dressing-gown , made the firemen cups of tea . Maggie sat huddled on a kitchen chair and Phoebe held her hand . Under Rachel 's serene autocracy the firemen agreed that there was nothing much to be done now , that the house seemed safe enough but they should not use the attic until someone ‘ from the department ’ had been and inspected it the next day . And finally Rachel swept them from the kitchen and down the stairs , chatting amiably as she went . Phoebe offered Maggie a cup of hot chocolate , and ten minutes later Rachel returned smiling and quoting ,
Idiom: count sheep (used idiomatically: no)
Otmoor was notorious as a place in which to get lost , and verses celebrate how the curfew rung on winter nights from Charlton church guided travellers out of the intractable moor . Fog , the one element which no drainer can ever quite banish from the marshes , still rolls out over Otmoor . A farmer 's wife giving evidence at the Otmoor M40 inquiry in 1983 described how she had once become completely lost in one of her own fields while counting sheep . Daniel Defoe describes the Fens shrouded in fog , through which nothing could be seen ‘ but now and then the lanthorn or cupola of Ely Minster’ . To further terrify lost , wandering travellers , igniting marsh gas created the alarming phenomena , still not fully understood by scientists , known as will - o'-the - wisps , jack - o'-lanterns , or corpse - candles .
Idiom: on the mend (used idiomatically: yes)
James Rutherford , first thing after he had closed the door behind him , took a tumbler of malt whisky up the narrow staircase to his wife . Penny said , ‘ If it does n't kill the prawn bugs , it 'll finish me.’ ‘ Are we on the mend?’ , ‘ Reckon so.’ ‘ Dan called by today .
Idiom: in the long term (used idiomatically: yes)
While studying Tzintzuntzan , the anthropologist George Foster found that the female villagers would ask his wife to approach him for a favour ( Foster 1967 ) . It may seem , so far , that in terms of clearly defined benefits , the client comes off best out of the deal . However , in the long term this is not the case , because of the extent of the power that can be gained by patrons . The client gets help for day - to - day problems , but the price he pays for this is to be the landlord 's follower , to do his bidding and accept his view of the world . In this way , a small number of landowners can control the peasantry in rural areas .
Idiom: work to rule (used idiomatically: yes)
He said : ‘ It is obvious that Kenneth Clarke intends to try to starve our members back to work . The Government can not pretend to be concerned with security at army barracks and then , without regard for the soldiers , put them on the streets of London as easy targets for the terrorists.’ Management yesterday began suspending ambulance staff in retaliation to the work to rule tactics of the unions . The troops ' intervention in the ambulance strike is being authorised under a Whitehall arrangement which enables one department to request ‘ military aid to the civil ministries’ from the Ministry of Defence and pay the bill afterwards . This arrangement means there is no need for Mrs Thatcher to consider declaring a State of Emergency , as Mr Heath 's government did during the 1973 miners ' strike .
Idiom: wipe the slate clean (used idiomatically: yes)
Athelstan knew it would make no immediate difference but a seed had been planted in his soul . The possibility that he had committed a sin but no murder . That he would atone for it and so the slate would be wiped clean . He put down the cup . ' You say Springall was murdered by someone else , not Brampton ? ' he asked abruptly .
Idiom: keep mum (used idiomatically: yes)
His poem about Mesmer is a great puzzle to me , as I can not tell with any certainty what is his attitude to Animal Magnetism , whether mocking or endorsing , and this is so with other of his work , so that often one is led to wonder whether there is not a great pother of talk about nothing much . For my part , I endured a long disquisition on the Tractarians from a young and opinionated university liberal . He would have been much surpris'd to know my true Opinion on these matters , but I did not chuse to let him be so much familiar , I kept mum , and smiled and nodded as best I might , keeping my Thoughts to myself . But I was almost glad when Mr Robinson decided to tell the company at large of his Italian journeyings with Wordsworth , who desired to be back at home with every step they made , and could only with the utmost difficulty be persuaded to look about him . I too desired to be at home , and was glad when we were able to close our own dear front door behind us , and be gathered in to the silence of our little parlour .
Idiom: on the ball (used idiomatically: yes)
Firstly , the taking of the kick . Law 27 , Penalty Kick states that : ‘ It may be taken by any player of the non - offending team and by any form of kick provided that the kicker , if holding the ball , must propel it out of his hands or , if the ball is on the ground , he must propel it a visible distance from the mark . He may keep his hand on the ball while kicking it’ . Obviously this requirement was complied with by Brooke . So , moving on to another requirement of this law , which states that ‘ When a penalty kick is taken the following shall apply:(a ) The kick must be taken without undue delay;(b ) the kick must be taken at or behind the mark on a line through the mark;(c ) The kicker may kick the ball in any direction and he may play the ball again , without any restriction except if he has indicated to the referee that he intends to attempt a kick for goal’ .
Idiom: right up your street (used idiomatically: yes)
Annie could n't be bothered to spell out his response for him to become aware of . ‘ Wages for housework , that 's what she suggested ; good safe economist demand . Should be right up your street.’ Matching sarcasm with sarcasm did n't really help , it just made you feel momentarily better . ‘ I 've heard of them,’ said Mike .
Idiom: to die for (used idiomatically: no)
But some doubted and one , Rol , who was a great war leader , mistrusted the feelings which prompted the Myrcans to wage war and was sickened by the killing , so he set off into the mountains to seek the Dwarves and avail himself of their ancient wisdom . ‘ In the Greshorns he wandered alone through the passes , climbed the peaks and was exhausted by the journey . Finally he lay down in the snow and determined to die , for his stamina had failed him and he had not found the Dwarves ; and he did not want to go back to the life of killing he had led . It was then that the Dwarves came to him , fed him , warmed him in their mansions and asked his purpose , for no mortal man had ever travelled so far into the mountains . And he asked them what it was the Myrcans had been put on the earth to do , and they laughed .
Idiom: in the pink (used idiomatically: no)
Renovations included : LUXURY TOUCH : Mr Mellor told the builders to scrap plans to install a plain £ 20 sink with £ 14 taps in a toilet . Instead he wanted a £ 100 fancy shell - shaped sink in ' Whisper ' pink with a £ 68 mixer tap . LUXURY TOUCH : He ordered decorators to coat the walls with an expensive marble - effect finish — about three times dearer than the standard chip paper and emulsion he had chosen earlier . Coffee
Idiom: behind closed doors (used idiomatically: no)
It was an uncomfortable realisation . After a moment , he took a cigar from his pocket , lit it with his gold Cartier lighter , and shifted it until it was clutched between his teeth . Music spilled from behind the closed doors as the moments passed . The cigar was half finished when he shot back his cuff and looked at his watch . Good .
Idiom: at sea (used idiomatically: yes)
Indecision in foreign policy adds another layer to the mound of public disappointment with him . Another Desert Storm , even another Somalia — where the United Nations appeals for someone to help , and America steps up with the will and manpower to do so — might give Mr Clinton an aura of leadership that could help at home . And although the voices from the heartland are reluctant to intervene anywhere , and Congress is at sea , the press keeps up the pressure , pointing to the moral responsibility of solo superpowers to act , and the shame of dragging feet . Find one good reason So America has been pushed towards action , but not the sort that Europe wants .
Idiom: power behind the throne (used idiomatically: yes)
It was clear to Alexei that if the Merkuts did not wish to see Jehana given in marriage to Artai , there were reasons which had nothing to do with the suitability of the match . He recalled how Burun had dissociated himself from acting as Artai 's sponsor . Even though it was common knowledge that the Merkuts were the power behind the throne , no one could say that they had ever demanded precedence after Artai . If Artai 's reign was marked by disaster or excess they would be able to claim that they were not responsible , and their influence over the affairs of the Khanate would not be diminished . ‘ You might have warned me.’
Idiom: hold court (used idiomatically: no)
His reign , however , was short - lived , and his brother and successor , Theodoric II , cooperated rather more closely with the Empire , sending a third brother Frideric against the Spanish Bacaudae in 454 and appointing Avitus emperor in the following year . Sidonius describes the Visigothic court in a letter of this period . He paints a picture of the king 's day , starting with his religious observance , and running through his holding court , surrounded by barbarian troops and approached by foreign legates , his tour of the royal stables , his restrained lunch , followed by a game of dice , his hearing of litigants , and dinner . Sidonius , perhaps for political reasons , is concerned to portray a restrained and civilized man , with a good deal of power and authority . After the overthrow of Avitus in 456 Majorian had to use force to bring the Visigoths into line , but thereafter they fought for him against the Sueves in Spain .