Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: in the offing (used idiomatically: yes)
St Helens went into the game having won their previous nine matches . The bookmakers , showing unusual generosity , gave them a 44-point advantage on the handicap betting list . Instead , with only 10 minutes left , Dewsbury led 12 - 6 and a genuine upset was in the offing . A try from David Tanner levelled the scores , saving the St Helens players from embarrassment but not from the inevitable verbal roasting from their coach , Alex Murphy . Dewsbury almost won , according to Bamford , because they stuck rigidly to their game plan , using a persistent kicking game and cutting off the supply lines to the St Helens backs .
Idiom: come a cropper (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ I know old Mother Scamp from way back , you see , and she 's a bad ‘ un . Always was . Small - time south London villains have a habit of getting above themselves and they usually come a cropper when they tangle with the East End families or the heavy mobs dealing in drugs . The Scamps have always been Third or Fourth Division , but they 've spread the work in their time and that 's why old Mrs S is now calling in the favours.’ ‘ You mean that white - haired old lady ?
Idiom: throw good money after bad (used idiomatically: yes)
I 've run Sleet for twenty - five years . I know what 's what.’ ‘ It 's not business , Mrs Sutherland , to throw good money after bad.’ ‘ You do n't know what you 're talking about . Buying fertiliser is n't bad money .
Idiom: on the run (used idiomatically: yes)
' It is only by turning the spotlight on the suffering that we can hope to end it . ' The impact was just as great on our readers . Salesman Michael Luke , 36 , of Gateshead , Tyne and Wear , said : ' I 'm going on a sponsored run . ' I was going to raise money for my local football club . ' But having seen your report I think the people of Somalia need it more . '
Idiom: in the long term (used idiomatically: yes)
And this means being able to forgive yourself as well as other people . You should be able to forgive yourself once you realise that you are not expected to be perfect ; indeed , if you were , you would not need to be here at all— your spirit would be continuing its learning process somewhere else . And we should all be able to forgive other people because , while we have the right to react to their words or actions in the short - term , not being perfect ourselves , we have no right to judge them in the long - term . DEALING WITH DEATH Is n't it strange that we are taught about many things which may never come to pass and yet most of us are not prepared for the one inevitable occurrence in our lives ?
Idiom: bums on seats (used idiomatically: yes)
Schools universities and colleges they were a spin - off from the parents ' choice charter . Right . They have to promote themselves now just as they 've got to get bums on seats as they say . Mhm mhm yes . Er golf clubs well golf clubs will take anything they get for free .
Idiom: add insult to injury (used idiomatically: yes)
Because they were five thousand feet above sea level the climate was marvellous , apart from the wet season . Then ants would crawl through the cracks in the floor and build a big nest in the middle of the bedroom . To add insult to injury the roof leaked . It was just too much for the American girl when they were faced one day with yet another torrential downpour . " Just think of Dr Livingstone , " chided Eva , who knew he had travelled through that area .
Idiom: win the day (used idiomatically: yes)
Princess Margaret Rose on a rare working day at the Rutland Railway Centre . STEAM RAILWAY NEWS is proud to announce the winners of two recent competitions . Darryl Davidson of Gregson Road , Hoghton , Preston wins a VIP day out for a party of four people on the East Lancashire Railway because he was the first entry selected at random with the four correct answers to our quiz based on the North West line . He gave us the following answers : THE THREE lucky winners of the Videolines quiz have been selected .
Idiom: in the bag (used idiomatically: yes)
Would you let er , Amy have it ? I think that 's the best thing , yes you Amy . And could , would you put it in a bag er with a little erm ticket in it you know , how much it is and what it 's for and . If I give you fifty pounds , I 've got sixty five pounds twelve pence , if I give you fifty pounds , then that keeps fifteen pounds and twelve pence to buy tea bags and . Mm , you just do what you like .
Idiom: cut corners (used idiomatically: yes)
That 's ten days . ' ' At the latest . Cut a few corners , and you can maybe pick up a day or two along the way . ' ' Well , that depends on what you want me to do , does n't it ? ' Donleavy chuckled .
Idiom: hot air (used idiomatically: yes)
You may wish to stick to simpler objects and decorations than those described in the recipes , or to use different colours . If you are artistic , it may be fun to make any little figures in the shape and clothing of children at the party — for instance in the school bus cake , on the spinning roundabout or sliding down the helter - skelter . The name and age of the party boy or girl could be piped or painted on many of the cakes — perhaps across the large band of the hot - air balloon , on the space rocket or on the pop - up birthday card . Feel free to use the cakes here as a source of inspiration as well as a practical guide . Every cake has a large full - colour photograph and helpful step - by - step illustrations to make the various recipe stages even clearer .
Idiom: on the rocks (used idiomatically: yes)
As the days passed , hope faded of finding John Brown alive and after 14 days it was agreed that there was no urgency as the search was only to find his body for Christian burial . In his ice - cold and pitch black seclusion , John heard the sounds of his rescuers getting closer to him and tried to count the days by following the shift changes . Eventually , he was too weak to make his way to the stream of water and , when he had sparingly drunk the supply he had collected in his flask , he could only lie still on the rough rock where he had finally stumbled and fallen . He never lost hope and his mind was clear and calm . His resolve to live was great but he thought that his strength could fail him .
Idiom: by the by (used idiomatically: yes)
In the meantime , as Bernard says : ‘ England may not have the World Cup , but at least in my fair English blazer pocket there will always be a part of it.’ Or something like that . Your Mr Bernard is , by the by , even if unwell , a terrific fellow . If the police had not given us the benefit of the doubt , I should have been more than a little proud to go to jail in his company , together with the Cup . This way , though , it 's easier .
Idiom: part company (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ Contrary to rumours circulating in the area , the Cambrian News is not in financial difficulties , and we are simply placing the contract for printing the paper elsewhere because we can not justify an investment of around 2 m ( pounds ) for new machinery to go tabloid and bring in colour,’ said Mr Read , whose great grandfather established the company in Aberystwyth in 1890 . ‘ The loss of some jobs is inevitable , but our highly successful Cambrian Printers commercial operation will remain in Aberystwyth,’ he added . ‘ Contrary to speculation , there are no plans to part company with the newspaper , and the editorial side will remain in Aberystwyth , where we have invested heavily in modern technology . ‘ Some staff will be transferred to Cambrian Printers , where we are very busy , while others , possibly two or three , will be offered voluntary redundancy . ‘ The decision to print elsewhere was a commercial one , for we have known for some time that the quality of our printing of newspapers leaves a lot to be desired , while our commercial printing side is first class .
Idiom: on someone's mind (used idiomatically: yes)
No no no no no Amy Now yu can put them out if you like . You wanted a er thing for your from erm Smith 's did n't you ? Always on my mind Oh I do n't Why that
Idiom: lie low (used idiomatically: no)
Sleeping was no better — fleabites tormented him , fears plagued him like bad dreams . His colleague Fleming 's humiliation on horseback had made him dread the same thing for himself . And the ordeal of putting up the lists — he could still feel the brute weight of Allan Stewart 's shoulder jolting him aside , the smell of whisky on his breath , and then the twilit hours lying low beside the minister in the church , waiting for the hubbub outside to die away . He shuddered awake . Mr MacDiarmid 's long yellow face and white hair were close above him .
Idiom: kith and kin (used idiomatically: yes)
The remark goes deep . It was not only Chamberlain but all the Imperial consolidators and Milnerites and Empire Traders who ‘ forgot India’— and with good season : they needs must . The Empire which would be bound together by reciprocal preferences , freely accorded , and which would thence ascend , perchance , to the unity of common counsels and common institutions , was an Empire of independent ‘ kith and kin’—‘the conception of the people of these islands as a great family bound by indissoluble ties to kindred families in other parts of the world’(Milner ) . Yet the Empire which the British Navy defended , and which made Britain an Asiatic power , or a world power , or indeed a power at all , was not the few million kith and kin living in North America or in Australasia or mingling with the Dutch in South Africa . It was overwhelmingly the empire of India .
Idiom: off the shelf (used idiomatically: yes)
Cornish ice - cream is £ 1 cheaper than normal at £ 1.95 for 2 litres . Liebfraumilch is down from £ 2.49 to £ 1.99 . Off the Shelf MARKS & Spencer has some delicious cream toppings laced with alcohol to pour over your mince pies and Christmas puddings . Choose from whipped cream and wine , or wine coffee and whisky , or chocolate in wine .
Idiom: rock bottom (used idiomatically: yes)
This latest open letter from the rebel leader , cashiered Colonel Gregorio Honason appears to confirm the government 's belief that he no longer has the ability to launch another military uprising . But a string of bomb attacks in Manila in recent weeks has led many people to believe that a new coup attempt ca n't be far away . With business confidence in Manila at rock bottom , President Aquino is in a specially weak position ; power shortages and blackouts are crippling manufacturing industry , and oil sanctions because of the Gulf crisis are exacerbating her problems . Defence Secretary , Fidel Ramos , says any reports the Philippines two hundred and fifty thousand manned armed forces would oust Aquino , are absurd . He claims dissident soldiers did n't have the ability to launch a coup , but he warned they could mount attacks against government officers and business establishments to cripple the economy .
Idiom: carry the day (used idiomatically: yes)
No 8 Mick Thompson scored for RA , with Colin Woodcock converting . Percy established themselves as leaders of Durham Northumberland Division Two with their 9–6 win Hartlepool to fight it out on points differential for second place . Guisborough 's 26–0 home victory North Durham carried the day over Whitby 's 22–0 success Seaton Carew . JOHN Lee 's prayer was answered even though it was n't really necessary . As the Darlington boxer went back to his corner after his national schools championships intermediate 45 kg final at Derby on Saturday against Middlesex 's Reg Robshaw , he muttered : ‘ Please God let me win it.’
Idiom: up and running (used idiomatically: yes)
So they 're gon na come and see us . Now . If we had this up and running , the sort of thing that we would do is put together a package Yeah . and hand it over .
Idiom: make or break (used idiomatically: yes)
But there was no question of turning back . Both of them , she felt , had simultaneously decided that they must be alone to talk — something that was impossible at home without arousing unwelcome curiosity . For some reason people did not seem to be able to accept the possibility of two people who were ‘ going steady’ being in a state of temporary misunderstanding — the common condition of love ; it had to be make or break , ‘ very fond of each other’or ‘ broken it off’ . So you had studiously to act out a charade of affection and natural ease until , like politicians , you had settled the issue in private , one way or the other . But the elaborate public pretence could cripple private honesty .
Idiom: break someone's heart (used idiomatically: yes)
But a perverse urge to take advantage of his rare willingness to be seen out with her made her bite back the words , and she went off to discard her shorts in favour of a slim straight dress , the fine cotton - knit a subtle sage green . Being out did n't help . A terrible , impersonal courtesy had crept into Luke 's manner , and it was breaking Maria 's heart all over again . She would even have preferred more of his contemptuous accusations to this present chilling remoteness . At least when he was condemning her he was reacting to her , personally and subjectively ; now he was treating her as if she were a stranger .
Idiom: full whack (used idiomatically: yes)
Now this bookie was a middleman , not legal , and my dad took Morrie Dubedat , Fat Paul and two shooters when he went to collect his winnings . Also , I had sobered up by then and caused some complications by trying to stop the cheque — until my father came squealing on to the line . He got his money , after a month of gang warfare — not the full whack by any means , but enough to pay his debts , buy out the brewery , gut the Shakespeare , install the pool table , the stripper and the strobes … He says he 's going to repay me , one of these days . Who cares ?
Idiom: to say the least (used idiomatically: yes)
The article helped me to cope and thanks also to my colleagues who heard the story dozens of times . My most vivid memory is not the accident , but my telephone call to the car rental company later that morning . You can imagine my reluctance to call as I did n't think that they would be too pleased to say the least . ‘ I am very sorry,’ I said . ‘ I have had a bit of an accident and the car you rented to me this morning is now a burnt out shell!’
Idiom: over your head (used idiomatically: yes)
The wave should be very steep to encourage a more vertical flight as you take off . Your speed should not be too great otherwise you will not be able to control the flight of the board in the air . Your weight should suddenly move back as you reach the tip of the wave and you should pull the boom back over your head . You should aim to dominate your equipment and really ‘ go - for - it’ . It is probably safer in an upside - down jump to stay with your equipment rather than abandoning in mid - air since there is a risk of it landing on top of you .
Idiom: grind to a halt (used idiomatically: yes)
And avoiding serious damage and difficult recoveries requires us to get a lot better at recognizing these self - limiting growth patterns early on . Here are some of the items in a growing library of decelerating growth models . In developing countries , import substitution as a way to jump - start economic diversification can work for a while ; but , over time , as productivity growth lags and comparative advantage is over - ridden , growth grinds to a halt . Small , open economies are naturally somewhat specialized , which leaves them vulnerable to shocks and volatility . But , in terms of growth and living standards , the cost of economic diversification , when implemented by protecting domestic industries from foreign competition , eventually outweighs the benefits .
Idiom: slippery slope (used idiomatically: yes)
It is , however , pro - Scottish and when the Labour Party has a tiff with its Unionist bed - fellows in the Tory Party it should not expect the SNP 's automatic support . Crucial issue in euthanasia debate Dr Callum Henderson ( Points of View , today ) makes a thoughtful and reasoned case against the legalisation of euthanasia by relying on two main arguments , first , the familiar ‘ slippery slope’ argument and second , that life is sacred because it is created by God . The slippery slope argument should never be dismissed as irrelevant ; it would be totally irrational to reach policy decisions without consideration of their likely consequences . On the other hand , once the consequences have been fully assessed , the argument loses its importance .
Idiom: up and running (used idiomatically: yes)
Today all roads have led to Cheltenham . Forty thousand people , eleven thousand cars and nearly five hundred coaches have piled in here to Prestbury . The first race was off at two fifteen but on race day Cheltenham is up and running at first light . The Irish have been so busy praying for the winners that they must have forgotten to ask for the right weather . At dawn it was grey clouds and rain over the racecourse , but there was no lie - in for the true racing fan .
Idiom: out of the box (used idiomatically: yes)
The bumper struck the container and it fell over . Marlene pulled on the hand - brake and took the engine out of gear . Something had tumbled out of the box . It rolled along the road coming to rest at the edge of the headlight beam . Should she get out and take a look ?
Idiom: in the raw (used idiomatically: yes)
For instance , a typical Landsat TM band 4 image might have pixel values in the range 25–90 . If this image were displayed using the methods described earlier it would lack very dark values ( 0–24 ) as well as medium to bright values ( 91–255 ) and would cover only the dark to medium grey range . The computer could be used to rescale the image pixel values so that the lowest value in the image ( 25 ) was interpolated onto the lowest value that the display system could accommodate ( 0 ) while the highest value in the raw image ( 90 ) was mapped to the maximum value that could be held at a pixel point in the image memory bank ( 255 ) . The intermediate values between 25 and 90 would be interpolated onto the 0–255 range of the display device . This technique is called contrast stretching .
Idiom: bleeding heart (used idiomatically: no)
It is sad in several ways , not just because it springs from genuine human grief but because poor Uncle Ted , no matter how theologically illiterate he may have been , deserves better . I am sure that the people who inserted the notice had the best of motives . But did they realise that in trying to staunch the bleeding heart , they had administered a tourniquet to the artery of free will ? The God who would pluck a thousand Uncle Teds to fill his heavenly vase is a monster . But one that we have created by attributing a secret and higher purpose to a tragic event .
Idiom: down the hatch (used idiomatically: yes)
' The thieving bastard ! ' I muttered under my breath as Taff pulled out the cork and commenced pouring the wine into the two mugs . ' Down the hatch , Piper ! ' said Taff , raising his mug . ' Same to you , Taff , ' I replied , picking up my mug with one hand and the bottle with the other . Straight away it was obvious it was not my bottle .
Idiom: green light (used idiomatically: no)
It is thought that biology is the richest source of ideas for scientific as well as poetic creativity . The idea of the vats of the mind reminds me of an occasion when I was walking on the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania with some friends , who showed me an oak gall . The stinging of the tree by an insect causes the tree to make for it a house of green light , a balloon of anti - matter , a jewel to adorn the nakedness of the bough . It is as if the molecules that form the flowers and leaves have been twisted and re - assembled into lovely globes , the nurseries of these insects . This process is like the creative process of mind where ideas and images stored in the mind 's vats join together and change through time and become the matter of poetry .
Idiom: put your foot down (used idiomatically: no)
Joshua spun the Rover , locked its doors and drove swiftly back to Wenlock Manor . ‘ Thank God , we 've missed Archer 's party,’ said Felicity . ‘ If you put your foot down , we could be back in time for pud.’ Lying together in bed with creme brulee and champagne to hand , the only light coming from the soundless telly , curtains left open to the soft night , they talked over old times . Joshua quoted Lord Rochester on the ‘ bitch Paris’ :
Idiom: change hands (used idiomatically: yes)
The tourist office and the local artists ' community are keen to promote art and there are often exhibitions of some art form in the theatre or the tourist office 's art gallery . There are many collectors of modern and classical art in the island . Paintings and old prints of Madeira are always sought after and sometimes change hands for high prices . Until their dissolution in 1832 , the Militia was the most numerous body in the archipelago . They were organized into fourteen sections , each under the command of a captain and a sergeant - major , both of whom were chosen by the municipal council from amongst the most important landowners in the region .
Idiom: join the club (used idiomatically: yes)
THE BLACKBURN BEVERLEY View this extraordinary silver bird , the last of her kind , inside and out , above and below . Join the Beverley Rivet Owners ' Club here ! NARROW GAUGE RAILWAY Built and operated by volunteers .
Idiom: beg the question (used idiomatically: yes)
To imagine a straight structure which did not owe its straightness to this cause would require an assumption of a highly fortuitous combination of angles between sections.’ There is quite a lot in this point of view , but not everything . Plenty of helices are not so stick - like , and of course the argument begs the question of how , rather than why . A common function or way of life often demands the same or similar structure . But similar structures also suggest common origins .
Idiom: under the sun (used idiomatically: yes)
Nothing , that 's what . But Kate , she was a different kettle of fish altogether . They discussed everything under the sun . And she was n't one of those pushy birds either , who wore their intelligence like a pair of boxing gloves , willing to punch a point home . Oh , no .
Idiom: pick up the pieces (used idiomatically: yes)
Put little dots and lines where you want the ‘ jewels’ to go . Stick the ‘ jewels’ on to the glue . You may need to use tweezers to pick up the pieces and position them on your egg . PATCHWORK EGGS This way of decorating blown eggs started in Germany and went from there to America .
Idiom: into thin air (used idiomatically: yes)
Very slowly he entered the hut , there was no one there , no sign of life only cobwebs and neglect . As he turned he caught a glimpse of something go past the open door , he dashed outside in time to see the figure of the old tramp going towards the slope as if to climb up and away . David ran after the figure that was nearly at the top , almost over the lip of the cutting , the figure then looked round to face the boy and smiled , then to David 's amazement disappeared into thin air . The boy searched around the area but the man , or whatever had been a human , had gone leaving the boy bewildered and confused . When he arrived home his parents had returned home and he was able to tell them what had happened ; their first reaction was one of anger at his disregard of their wishes but they were interested in his story .
Idiom: sail close to the wind (used idiomatically: no)
The ' No - Go ' Zone ( Fig 22 ) Sailing craft can not sail directly into the wind but only at an angle of 45 degrees to it . If the board is sailed too close to the wind , the so called'no - go ' zone is entered within which the board will stop or even blow backwards . Progress upwind can only be made by completing a series of zig - zags , the turns at first being executed by the 180 degree turn method and later , with more experience , by tacking — steering the board through the turn . Fig 2 The component parts of a windsurfer