Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: take someone to the cleaners (used idiomatically: yes)
She ca n't do it ! She ca n't do it ! But if she opens it gon na take her to the cleaners ! She 'll get the house if The Sunnin Sunninghill the five million house , built for the couple at the Queen 's expense will remain Fergie 's home for the foreseeable future . The Queen who gave it to Andy and Fergie as a wedding present has made it clear to her advisors that the Duchess should not be forced to leave , as long as the she adheres to her agreement not to talk about the marriage break up .
Idiom: behind closed doors (used idiomatically: yes)
The night 's events must have given them a very clear idea of the depth of local opinion.’ The health council has not yet taken an official position on the board 's proposals , but Mr Tait said that since Arbroath was a popular holiday town , it required better services than that of a cottage hospital . The local MP , Andrew Welsh , has called on Lord Fraser to reverse the proposals , made , he said , by an unelected body behind closed doors . ‘ The board seems to have learned nothing about how the people of Arbroath feel for their own hospital . It is a disgraceful situation and the board should be ashamed of itself,’ he said .
Idiom: off the mark (used idiomatically: yes)
Party Politics , winner of the Grand National . Stephen Fry , who put Labour 's case for higher taxes ( in The Daily Telegraph ) more eloquently than any party politician , and who has now escaped having to pay them . LOSERS : The Financial Times , which was slow off the mark in exposing Labour 's tax plans and by declaring for Labour has shown itself to be as pink as its paper . Mrs Major , who now has another five years of red boxes in bed and official lunches in Downing Street to look forward to . The pollsters , who said that Labour 's campaign was swinging , then that Parliament would be hanging , but must now be counted among the Do n't Know 's .
Idiom: have a cow (used idiomatically: yes)
In the snow of winter , for a few weeks , they need fodder . For this turnips and grass for hay are grown on the fields in the valleys which are below 250 m in height . Other valley fields have a few dairy cows on grass . Thus farmers sell milk and young calves , as well as wool and lambs which are fattened on nearby lowland farms . Government subsidies of money , based on the number of sheep , are needed to keep the farmers in business .
Idiom: drop a hint (used idiomatically: yes)
X / Open is attempting to spice up the UK 's independent software vendor community with a ' software supplier of the year ' award : the winner will be announced during ICL 's Software Open exhibition at Birmingham 's Metropole Hotel this week — finalists are Firefox Communications , IXI Ltd , Micro Focus , Software AG , Unify Corp and UniSoft Ltd. To get the message across that it is committed to ' downsizing ' Data General Corp has launched a worldwide advertising campaign to spread the word : it hopes to zap European business travellers with the ads through CNN International . Sources in the US say Data General will this week take the wrapping off the eight - way AViiON multi - processors it has been dropping hints about for some time ( UX No 389 ) . The Westborough , Massachusetts - based firm claimed a lead in the commercial Unix marketplace with its quad - processor Motorola Inc 88100 RISC units a year or so ago ( UX No 325 ) . The latest offerings are thought likely to reach 235 MIPS , and will be the last 88100 offerings before the company steps up to Motorola 's next generation 88110 part .
Idiom: under the influence (used idiomatically: no)
For Suger , in common with the monks of his house since the late ninth century — and challenged only by the foolhardy Abelard — regarded St Denis , the apostle and martyr of the Gauls , as the author of those writings produced in fact by a sixth - century Syrian mystic , now known as Pseudo - Dionysius . The most famous of these writings , that on the Celestial Hierarchies , provided the abbot both with his theory of the function of ecclesiastical architecture , and with a means of integrating the earthly power structure into that of heaven . Under the abbot 's influence , Louis recognized St Denis as his patron saint — a traditional enough step . More surprisingly , he also saw in his patron a feudal lord . This second relationship arose from an ingenious cover - up to a less than wholly honest piece of political self - enrichment .
Idiom: in bed with (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ Blur are only the present of rock'n'roll.’ ( applies to both ) Kevin Cummins in bed with Morrissey Just make it two millimetres wider It has kept down sales of Melody Maker
Idiom: go it alone (used idiomatically: yes)
It impressively illustrates how national economies which seek to go it alone in monetary matters end up suffering the most from such a course .
Idiom: change hands (used idiomatically: yes)
A nursery approached by separate staircase , and a groom 's room over the wash house . Downstairs there is a panelled hall and fine oak stair , dining and drawing rooms , study , store room and large kitchen.’ Over the last few years the house has changed hands many times . Someone tried to make a golf course in the water meadows ; another tried to run it as a pub , and put close - fitting carpets over the flags . It is sadder now than it ever was , and the magic has gone .
Idiom: pecking order (used idiomatically: no)
Answer . A good start . PECKING ORDER Alright , enough of that scurrilous nonsense , Mr. Snort . Time to turn one 's thoughts to matters of a more intellectual calibre .
Idiom: as good as new (used idiomatically: yes)
Werry hysterical indeed.’ ‘ You mean hist or ical , Mister Mate , but you 're right of course,’ said the Captain . ‘ Look at that , the ancient Barmaid Inn , rebuilt in 1420 and still as good as new!’ Soon the pirates had reached the top of the street . ‘ In there’ , pointed Tom , ‘ is Mutton House , the grandest dwelling in the town .
Idiom: take a shine to (used idiomatically: yes)
Angus and Sawney slouched from the car . In the ruins of The Hangman 's Arms they would find a green canvas portmanteau , a brush - and - comb set in a plastic case and a duffle - coat ( lacking toggles ) , some wear on elbows . Hamish would take a shine to the duffle - coat . Not half a mile along the road from the ruins of Milcom Moloch they would find the ruins of a burned - out taxi - cab . And a man with bandaged fingers and a blue complexion weeping over it .
Idiom: have been around (used idiomatically: no)
Shit , she should n't have mentioned her age . ' I said that ? ' ' On my fourteenth birthday — you 've always been around at the most important moments in my life , Harry . ' Complete lie but what the hell , he was usually too juiced to know where he was . He was looking at her affectionately and he had n't taken his hand off her shoulder .
Idiom: on board (used idiomatically: yes)
The document names him as a sponsor of an Irish Freedom Movement troops - out rally , but Mr Campbell said he had never supported a troops - out policy . Mine netted : Royal Navy bomb disposal experts from Rosyth were on board a trawler , the George Duncan , two miles of the coast at Crimdon , near Hartlepool , last night after it caught a mine in its nets . Rail fight : Middlesbrough Council has joined the growing campaign to urge British Steel to keep using the Redmire to Redcar freight rail link in order to prevent thousands more lorry journeys through Teesside .
Idiom: know the score (used idiomatically: yes)
I think my last League game for Scarborough was in early March against Halifax . ‘ It has been a frustrating season for me at times , because of the brilliant form of Pears . But I knew the score before I moved to Ayresome Park last summer.’ Manager Lennie Lawrence said he was not throwing Ironside to the wolves at Molineux : ‘ Ironside is 28 , not 18 , and has played a lot of games . I am sure he will do himself justice .
Idiom: twist someone's arm (used idiomatically: no)
He liked it then she wore her green dress , with the belt that had a brass buckle . His father insisted on the whole day being given up to her birthday , taking trouble , making her laugh . " Funny , being a bird - watcher , " a boy called Cosgrave had once said and Stephen had made him take that back , twisting his arm until he agreed to . Once when he was alone with her he 'd said it would be nice to have a brother , but she 'd explained that it was n't possible . She 'd hugged him , saying she was sorry .
Idiom: anyone's guess (used idiomatically: yes)
They 're the rock'n'roll equivalent of your Auntie Maureen 's holiday snaps album . Heads Up look like a fun sort of band , all headscarves and neat little funk - metal riffs . I bet their gigs are quite fun too although why anyone would want to sit and watch a video of one made by a stoned roadie is anyone 's guess . The only advantage these videos have over the live experience is that you 're guaranteed a clean toilet with paper and towels and you can stop them to make a cup of tea . But then the same would be true if you stayed in and watched Thelma & Louise instead and actually had a good time , would n't it ?
Idiom: down and out (used idiomatically: yes)
Jack Nicholson copes well with the challenge of playing down a down and out with a drink problem as well as a guilt complex . Say that again . Jack Nicholson playing a down and out ? Yeah . His trouble surviving the tough streets of depression era America .
Idiom: break new ground (used idiomatically: yes)
The writers aim to place British social work within ‘ social Europe’ and to identify emerging European issues , policies and trends . They also try to draw lessons from other countries . It is difficult to break new ground in this field . For example , the first two chapters summarise the familiar subjects of EC social policy and programmes ; disappointingly , ‘ social Europe’ is mostly concerned with employment affairs . This material can be found in earlier books .
Idiom: call it a day (used idiomatically: yes)
I was repeating myself as well . By using my right knee to steady the wheel when I changed gear , I managed to get Armstrong out of the hospital car park . I was tempted to call it a day there and then , pull over and have a kip , but my stomach reminded me that I had n't thrown it a bone since the ploughman 's at lunch - time , and it had been quite an eventful day . There was a fried chicken place open on Baker Street , about the only thing that was . It was n't a Kentucky Fried , more a Bayswater Sauté , but it had seats and the two black guys on duty in the bright red uniforms were so bored they took no notice of me .
Idiom: come to mind (used idiomatically: yes)
Was it normal , she had enquired , for elderly gentlemen making termly investigations into your scholastic progress to indicate where you were to sit for interview by laying their hand on the sofa cushion , and then , when you sat down , failing to remove their hand ? I acquainted the Principal with the burden of my reply to Rosa : I had explained that it was less a question of manners than of physiology , and that extreme decrepitude and senescence did often lead to withering of the bicep and tricep muscles , which in turn led to a breakdown in the chain of command from cerebral GHQ to courting finger . Only later , I told the now somewhat quivering Principal , only later , when Rosa had gone , did it come to mind that one or two of the other girls had made of me the same enquiry over the past twelve months . I could not quite remember their identities , but were those currently in statu pupillare to be assembled in a décontractée atmosphere — rather like , say , a police line - up — I felt sure that the whole matter could be discussed as an appendix to their weekly class ‘ Britain in the 1980s’ . The Principal had by this time become almost as fluorescent as the neon sign outside his academy , and we eyeballed one another in a spirit entirely lacking in camaraderie .
Idiom: go from strength to strength (used idiomatically: yes)
Almost 1,000 students will be voting , though the result may differ from the real thing tomorrow four years ago the school ‘ elected’ Michael Dukakis . Candidates and cheerleaders prepare for today 's Presidential election Picture : JEFF PITT TEN years on and going from strength to strength … On November 2 , 1982 , television history was made with the birth of Channel 4 . With it came the first episode of Merseyside 's very own soap Brookside .
Idiom: lie low (used idiomatically: yes)
Ponds range from oligotrophic to highly eutrophic , according to their situation and history . The poorest are the clear waters of ice - scoured uplands , where there is little soil or vegetation . Those on low - lying land invested by tundra vegetation are usually richer , with a seasonal turnover of minerals and slightly higher productivity . However , such important nutrients as nitrates and phosphates are generally scarce , because rates of bacteria decomposition in the soils of the catchment areas are low , and very little leaches out into the water . Ponds and lakes that are frequented by birds often have an enhanced productivity , based on nutrients from the birds droppings and decaying feathers .
Idiom: mend fences (used idiomatically: yes)
Observers such as IDC 's David Smith believe that of the big three HP is the most likely to make a move because unity plays to HP 's hand , something he says is not the case with either IBM or Digital . The Destiny launch is shaping up to be a pretty big pow - wow . Anyone interested in mending fences or burning Bill Gates in effigy should call ( 415 ) 354–4454 and come on along . CDS PLANS IMPROVED R6000 , PLOTS ROUTE TO R4000 , SETS MULTI - PROCESSING R5000 , R10000 DESIGNS The newly formed Control Data Systems Inc ( UX No 387 ) , is currently designing a higher performance , higher clock - speed implementation of MIPS Computer Systems Inc 's R6000 ECL RISC — possibly utilising multiple CPU modules — which it will announce later this year for the 4860MP quad - processor that MIPS builds for it , according to chief executive officer , James Ousley .
Idiom: one and the same (used idiomatically: yes)
A literary text is , manifestly , the product of a particular historical situation , and may be interpreted in the light of its origins and initial reception , as has been done in the discussions of Romantic literature by Marilyn Butler and Jerome J. McGann , who can be called New Historicists minus the ideological charge . Yet historical interpretation of literature fairly easily loses sight of literary interests ; if it goes far enough , the interpreter may assume that the idea of poetry or drama as art can be abandoned , since what counts are cultural traces , of whatever kind , and the ideological impressions they appear to bear . In which case ‘ history’ becomes a force to be resisted by readers who like literature , and who may also like history , but have never thought they were one and the same thing . V No discussion of the institutionalizing of literary study in higher education would be complete without a mention of the academic publishing that exists in a close , indeed symbiotic relation with it .
Idiom: have an eye for (used idiomatically: yes)
Balbindor , four foot six high , brought the word hot - foot back to the coast . Sigmoid was keener on alternatives than his son Herbert . Confidence men always have an eye for extra exits . Thirteen days into rainforest , led by Balbindor and sonlet , and the doctor remained more determined than his offspring . The night before they reached the tributary of the Baleh river they sought , Balbindor overheard a significant exchange between father and son .
Idiom: state of the art (used idiomatically: yes)
He thought for a moment and added : ‘ In fact , the further I get into it , and see all these boats and families aboard , the more I realise that crossing the Atlantic is no feat at all.’ Philippe Barbe , whose slender Martin Francis - designed 77-footer ( 23.4m)Speedy - Go was the largest in the fleet , had taken time out of the Route de Rosé race from St Tropez to St Barts to participate . Philippe Barbe is in the happy position of being able to spend much of the year aboard his yacht and Speedy - Go therefore bears the hallmarks of a largely liveaboard yacht : accommodation with the accent on comfort , a state - of - the - art navigatorium and a galley of industrial aspect from which excellent meals regularly emerge . LONG - TERM CRUISING Mike and Joanna Smith , and Joanna 's father , David Cooper , were sailing aboard a more modest craft , their Rival 38 Rivalady .
Idiom: have it easy (used idiomatically: yes)
They 're good for you . If you 've been through it , it 's in the bank . If you 've had it easy all the time , as soon as trouble comes , you do n't know how to handle it . If I was to break my leg tomorrow I 'd be as sick as a parrot , but it would n't be the end of the world . I 'd live off my wits even though I 've geared myself to be a footballer .
Idiom: on the pull (used idiomatically: no)
PASSENGERS LEAVING SETTLE on the railway to Carlisle are usually agog with excitement , this line being acknowledged as scenically the finest in the country . For a few miles initially their anticipation of a beautiful journey is confirmed by lovely surroundings of pastures and woodland as the train passes up the valley of the Ribble with the river in close attendance and friendly green hills rising on both sides of the track . Soon they become aware that the train is engaged on a steady climb , this section being popularly known as the Long Drag ; beyond Horton in Ribblesdale Station interest tends to flag a little as the outlook from the windows becomes more austere on the pull up to Ribblehead . On the west side , Ingleborough is a shadowy giant revealing none of the many wonders that attract its legions of pilgrims ; and to the east , green slopes rise with little incident to dark moors forming a distant skyline . This eastern aspect is pleasant but , apart from occasional glimpses of the river , promises nothing that warrants close attention .
Idiom: rank and file (used idiomatically: yes)
The number of deaths , casualties and prisoners taken spiralled remorselessly upwards . In both the navy and the army , which enrolled a total of 15 million predominantly peasant men , morale deteriorated . By the winter of 1916–17 the High Command had become seriously worried by rank - and - file disaffection . The war effort imposed heavy burdens on the civilian population . As production for the front was stepped up , the output of civilian manufactures fell , prices soared , and peasants found less and less incentive to sell their produce .
Idiom: show a leg (used idiomatically: yes)
Most often she stands with the left foot forward ( a borrowing no doubt from the kouros , but it is not like his a full stride , rather so short a step as to seem like a dance - motion ) , left hand pulling the skirt to the side and letting a swag hang free , right forearm raised forward with an offering . She wears two garments : a long , short - sleeved shift of thin stuff , the chiton ; and over that the himation , a heavy wrap brought over right shoulder and under left arm so that it makes a curved diagonal across the breast , an important accent in this complex design . Its heavy vertical folds mask much of the body and hang free under the right elbow , while the thin , tight - drawn chiton shows the legs almost as though naked . Figs . 32–35 are all from the Acropolis of Athens , but the large 594 ( fig . 32 ) is probably East Greek work . It displays the extraordinary virtuosity which this scheme encourages , but has at the same time great sculptural power .
Idiom: green light (used idiomatically: yes)
Dee makes plenty of long journeys to clubs all over the country usually in a hired Ford Fiesta , as he does n't own a car . ‘ I do n't enjoy driving very much and would never get pulled for speeding . When I get tired I stop at green lights — I 'm always doing that . [ We think this may have been a gag . ] I 'm very familiar with Watford Gap services at 3 am .
Idiom: make heavy weather of (used idiomatically: yes)
JOHN UPSON 'S horses have been so badly hit by a throat infection that only six out of his 30-strong string are fit to run . But River Bounty won at Liverpool and Very Very Ordinary belied his name at Ascot yesterday by winning the Bollinger Champagne Novice Chase . The Ascot fences are not nearly as fierce as their Mildmay counterparts at Aintree , but several of the fancied horses made remarkably heavy weather of them . O K Corral was one of three fallers , Liadett and Norman Conqueror pulled up and neither Storm Alert nor Sprucer ever showed with a chance . For most of the last mile , in fact , the race looked a match between Northern Jinks and Kilhallon Castle .
Idiom: meat and potatoes (used idiomatically: no)
After a hot shower , for the Siberian night air was chilly even in summer , we joined groups of pilot officers in the lounge . They could have been the same young Russians we had met 4,000 miles away in Fairbanks only the day before . Light beer and vodka were followed by a simple but nourishing meal of stewed meat and boiled potatoes , preceded by borscht . We finished with an ice - cream sweet and mugs of hot tea from the samovar on the table . Everyone retired early that night and I , for one , slept like a log .
Idiom: on the nose (used idiomatically: yes)
companion of heifers , midwife at their calvings , judicious pronouncer on milk - yields and mastitis , survivor of the bull he bipped on the nose ( ‘ Tell us again , Daddy!’ ) as it charged him . All his cattle : I drive them back
Idiom: in the driving seat (used idiomatically: no)
They had arrived outside and her cases were deposited in a long silver car that Jenna thought must be a foreign make , probably Italian . She did n't have the chance to look . The porter was tipped , Alain was in the driving seat , and she was being swept away by a complete stranger to a house she did n't know at all , far away from anyone who would help her . It scared her , but as she glanced secretly across at the face she had never forgotten for one moment she realised she was more excited than scared . Somehow it was like an adventure .
Idiom: pull someone's leg (used idiomatically: no)
Only Lemon left in the country.’ When another voice said flatly , ‘ Ha - ha - ha ! That quip could get you recommended to the witless corps , brother,’ the speaker put in , ‘ Oh , I was only pulling her leg . Lemon knows that . Do n't you , Lemon?’
Idiom: to the letter (used idiomatically: yes)
Like Whistler he was a constant irritant in the somewhat comatose English art world , painting hitherto forbidden subjects , using photographs instead of living models , manipulating sheets of newspapers covered with black paint to secure transfers of outlines on canvas , shunning good taste , extracting beauty from the squalid and emotion from the sordid . But he was also the most articulate of English artists — partly at least no doubt because he was half Irish . Words flowed from him in effervescent abundance , ranging from lengthy essays , autobiographical fragments and provocative tirades to witty or angry letters to magazines or newspapers . There were few subjects on which he did not have firm opinions . He was , above all , concerned with teaching art , and always his views were unexpected and provocative .
Idiom: get the better of (used idiomatically: yes)
Like father , like son Toby the Welsh Terrier is undeterred by any challenge . With family honour at stake , his inquisitive nature just gets the better of him … My famous dog Oggie , who has alternately made me hate and love him for 12 years , has passed his tendency for being naughty on to his children . Genetics is a big mystery to me .