Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: any port in a storm (used idiomatically: yes)
No one can ever know the fatality rate , the numbers of young inexperienced birds who are tempted to take on the flight across the North Sea , but who never make it . It is no wonder that so many of the small northern birds have to raise large broods of young , just to maintain the status quo of the population . ' Any port in a storm ' is an often - quoted truism , and for migrant birds this is certainly the case . After the hectic activity of summer , I look forward to doing more relaxed boating and fishing trips in early autumn . One of our regular activities in August or early in September is the annual eider duck monitoring count .
Idiom: in the running (used idiomatically: yes)
Value for money If you want a good example of value for money , look no further than the National Audit Office . In the 1991/92 financial year , the 900-strong watchdog saved the taxpayer some £ 200 m , including a £ 30 m a year reduction in the running costs of the Ministry of Defence 's service quarters , £ 12 m recovered by the Inland Revenue through revised procedures on small company tax relief , and a £ 1.7 m recovery arising from the Property Services Agency 's 1990/91 audit . This means that , over the last three years , the NAO has saved a total of £ 0.5bn . Best advice
Idiom: for the time being (used idiomatically: yes)
IN the last issue of Welcome we reported on the effects of the Braer oil - spill at Jarlshof in Shetland . Since then , a long spell of bad weather has helped to clean almost all the visible oil off the stones , although some of the building interiors remain contaminated . Through hard work by the local Historic Scotland works squad , cleaning paths and mopping up residual oil , it proved possible to open the monument for the season on 1 April as planned , with access to the entrances of the prehistoric buildings roped of for the time being . It is not yet know how the oil which soaked into the stones will affect their long - term weathering . as if to prove that a Shetlander 's work is never done , the same storms that sank the Braer and then cleaned away the oil caused erosion of the coast along the edge of the unexcavated portion of Jarlshof , and emergency coastal defences had to be installed prior to the provision of a permanent seawall .
Idiom: look on the bright side (used idiomatically: yes)
Aggravated The 24-year - old Iro picked up the injury playing against Great Britain in the second Test in Auckland in July and aggravated it in his last match for Manly three weeks ago . Ex - Wigan favourite Iro was looking on the bright side yesterday . ‘ Leeds were always at the back of my mind as the side I would like to join if I came back to England,’ said the 6 ft 2 in , 16 stone Iro . ‘ It 's a new - look team but has the players to be very successful .
Idiom: once and for all (used idiomatically: yes)
For this purpose we require a " distance " ( rod S ) which is to be used once and for all , and which we employ as a standard measure .
Idiom: follow suit (used idiomatically: yes)
Taking the lead in October 2007 , when it issued a $ 750~million Eurobond with an 8.5 % coupon rate , Ghana earned the distinction of being the first Sub - Saharan country – other than South ~ Africa – to issue bonds in 30 years . This debut Sub - Saharan issue , which was four times oversubscribed , sparked a sovereign borrowing spree in the region . Nine other countries – Gabon , the Democratic ~ Republic ~ of ~ the ~ Congo , Côte ~ d’Ivoire , Senegal , Angola , Nigeria , Namibia , Zambia , and Tanzania – followed suit . By February 2013 , these ten African economies had collectively raised $ 8.1~billion from their maiden sovereign - bond issues , with an average maturity of 11.2 years and an average coupon rate of 6.2 % . These countries ’ existing foreign debt , by contrast , carried an average interest rate of 1.6 % with an average maturity of 28.7 years .
Idiom: fall short (used idiomatically: yes)
The committee proposed greater provincial control over areas such as regional development , energy , manpower training , tourism , forestry , mining , housing , recreation and urban affairs . Recognizing the distinct nature of Quebec 's French - speaking culture , it asserted that " the first priority is to ensure that Quebec feels itself a full and willing partner in the constitutional family once again " . The report fell short , however , of the Quebec government 's demand for sole control over 22 areas of jurisdiction and shared control in others . The collapse of the Meech Lake Accord had been widely interpreted in Quebec as an rebuff by English - speaking Canada , and there had been an upsurge in popular support for the concept of outright independence for Quebec . In recent months , however , with Quebec suffering badly from the effects of Canada 's economic recession , opinion polls had recorded a decline in support for secession among Quebeckers , from the peak of about 70 per cent to between 50 and 60 per cent .
Idiom: to the letter (used idiomatically: no)
I have windows broken at regular intervals and suffer a lot of abuse and foul language when I ask them to move . I think a lot of these golfers are probably too mean to pay the fees at the golf course which is only 200 yards away . I READ the Echo reply to the letter regarding golfing practice in public places . There are a few inconsiderate people whose golfing practice may be a nuisance . I suppose your generalisation of ‘ poor’ golfers likely to hit the ball anywhere does include me .
Idiom: come unstuck (used idiomatically: yes)
Constant bouncing of the feet , through springy legs , is the essential rhythm of powder skiing . Remember that a ski ca n't skid in powder because the wall of snow at its sides prevents it . Because many skiers rely on skidding , they come unstuck in deep snow . Learn how to ride a ski on a carving edge — a course of lessons may be necessary — and you should automatically grasp the rudiments of good powder technique too . Good powder skiers turn at a rate of about one turn per second .
Idiom: spot on (used idiomatically: yes)
I ADMIRE Freddie Starr and his wife Sandie for the mature way they are handling the end of their 18-year marriage . Such a sensible approach should ease some of the pain . Freddie is spot - on when he says only lawyers get rich from couples who bicker over who gets what from the divorce . Milestones BIRTHDAYS : Violinist Nigel Kennedy , 36 .
Idiom: open someone's eyes (used idiomatically: yes)
Midge had been waiting out in the studio for five hours , fortified by cups of tea brought to her by the friendly police constables . Lying on the bed she had dozed rather than slept . When she opened her eyes and saw Patrick standing in the room she started up with a cry . He had forgotten to take off the white coveralls . In the gloom he must have looked like a ghost .
Idiom: unknown quantity (used idiomatically: yes)
Austria . WC apps : 6 Austria gladdened a few hearts in 1978 when they beat West Germany but lost a lot of friends in 1982 when they conspired with the West Germans in the cynical exercise which froze out Algeria . A bit of an unknown quantity now , their most crucial result in the qualifiers was the goalless draw with the Soviet Union in Vienna . This suggests they will be hard to break down in Italy . Second group
Idiom: on the shelf (used idiomatically: yes)
He did not know why and , in the absence of an obvious explanation , attributed it to his first ever professional encounter with a psychiatrist . There was no archetypal couch in Dr Kingdom 's consulting room , although a chair by the window looked as if it could be converted for the purpose . But for the titles of the books on the shelves , however , Harry felt it would have served for the conduct of almost any other business than that of healing troubled minds . Nevertheless , the chair he was sitting in was soft enough and the recorded harpsichord music sufficiently soporific to calm the anxieties and lower the defences of most people . But not of Harry .
Idiom: to boot (used idiomatically: yes)
Voice over It could be Vegas , 1969 . In fact it 's Oxford 93 and a rehearsal to boot . But who 's counting , certainly not Ray and Diana Hill , not the years anyway . But they can count the number of times they 've been to see Elvis the Musical ; 38 to date and it will be forty by the end of the week .
Idiom: out of order (used idiomatically: yes)
Drainage All those areas were without electricity . Many telephones were out of order , and rail services were disrupted by damage to the line at Deganwy . Welsh Water , who brought in extra pumping equipment to clear the water , said that the water supplies in the area had not been contaminated . The company also stressed that no drainage system could have coped with the amount of rain caused by such a ‘ freak’ storm .
Idiom: head south (used idiomatically: yes)
Iraqi claims that the oil had been released by allied attacks on two Iraqi tankers on Jan. 22 were dismissed by most commentators . Within a few days the oil slick , first reported on Jan. 24 , had grown to measure 55 km long by 15 km wide . Heading south and with part of it reportedly burning , it threatened to have a devastating effect on the marine environment of the northern Gulf , which was particularly vulnerable as a shallow , largely closed area of water with little natural turbulence or tidal flushing . The slick also endangered desalination plants on the coasts of Saudi Arabia , Bahrain and Qatar . By the evening of Jan. 26 between 5,000,000 and 10,000,000 barrels of oil were estimated to have poured into the Gulf , in what was thought to be the worst oil spillage in history [ for March 1989 Exxon Valdez spill see pp . 36541 ; 36606 ] .
Idiom: face to face (used idiomatically: no)
It informs the whole of local social life including , in particular , people 's performance in their family role . Honour is , Davis argues , ' the basis of association , of forming alliances for all purposes — mutual aid , politics , marriage , farming — from the day - to - day to the long - term . ' In short , people 's face - to - face confrontations are primarily about ' moral careers ' . Reputation , in individuals ' eyes , and in those of the surrounding locality , is therefore the prime issue of everyday life and conversation . But , as Davis is careful to point out , behind this issue are social and economic structures on the one hand and the support of kin or blood relations on the other .
Idiom: ride high (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ Clinging ! ’ Cara or no Cara , she 'd had it ! Getting out her suitcase , and with her fury riding high , she began throwing her belongings into it — she was catching the first plane out of there ! Daylight was just around the corner however , but by the time daylight did arrive , although she and her pride were very much certain that she 'd see Vendelin Gajdusek in hell before she ever spoke to him again , certain other practicalities had entered her head . Her other suitcase was back at the hotel in Mariánské Láznë .
Idiom: down the drain (used idiomatically: yes)
She could have been a top model . And James has just announced he does n't want a career . In fact — he wants to leave school after O - levels . £ 6,000 a year down the drain!’ rather a loud voice)‘If he wants to be a sheep farmer in Australia ? Better than a poky little office in a characterless building on the South Bank — and meeting after meaningless meeting!’ ‘ I still think they should take advantage of their education,’ retorted Flora .
Idiom: grin like a Cheshire cat (used idiomatically: no)
Flashlights popped . Lucenzo turned , his hand familiarly on Meredith 's knee . ‘ Smile,’ he said , his voice indicating that he was certainly grinning like a Cheshire cat . She glowered at the television crew who were filming them , but realised they had no idea she was grimacing ferociously , so she returned to sipping champagne through the straw . Her glass empty , she accepted another from Lucenzo .
Idiom: left and right (used idiomatically: yes)
aha and then it goes like that on each side , what does that mean ? left and right turn , oh there 's no turn no , I tell you what it 'll be easier if it 's going into one lane
Idiom: clear the decks (used idiomatically: yes)
Much worse to begin too soon and reach the end too quickly , typed Goldberg , squinting at the manuscript before him , than to begin at the right time and reach the end too quickly . Much worse to begin too soon and feel one has begun too soon than to begin at the right time and discover one has nothing to begin . That is why , wrote Harsnet , I have been preparing myself for that moment for a long time , that is why I have cleared the decks and prepared the ground , because unless the decks are cleared and the g round prepared there is little hope of succeeding in what one has planned to do , little hope of achieving anything of lasting value , though lasting is a relative term and so is value and whatever it is one has planned to do is certain to be altered in the process , which does not of course mean , he wrote , that one can start anywhere at any time . It is just because whatever one has planned to do is bound to be altered in the process that it is important to start at the right moment , he wrote . It is just because whatever one has planned is bound to change as one proceeds that it is fatal to start too soon or too late , though it may be no less fatal , he wrote ( and Goldberg typed ) , to start at the right time , for then there is no excuse , no excuse whatsoever .
Idiom: face to face (used idiomatically: yes)
Literate societies have a strong tendency to take writing as the norm of language . But a moment 's thought will show that this is somewhat perverse . Speech , especially face to face conversation , uses resources ( intonation , pausing , gesture , gaze ) that writing does not permit . It is therefore much less important to use ‘ perfect’ sentential syntax . Unfinished sentences in speech are not an indication that the speaker is uncertain , incompetent or alienated .
Idiom: hit the nail on the head (used idiomatically: yes)
She walked past him into the tiny hallway and picked up her bags , noticing with relief that he was n't around when she fled up the narrow wooden stairs to one of the three bedrooms , the one furthest away from his . She shut the door behind her , and , in the solitude of the bedroom , felt some of the tension begin to leave her . She might dislike Piers Morrison , but he had a knack of hitting the nail on the head . She was spoiled , he was right , and she had never had to fight for anything in her life before . She was soft .
Idiom: go hand in hand (used idiomatically: yes)
Responsibility Work is all about responsibility : the duties and commitments which we are required to undertake during our working day . Responsibility goes hand in hand with accountability because all role holders are accountable to their superior for the exercise of those responsibilities . In addition , it is not something that can be delegated and employees can not escape their responsibility by delegation . Span of control
Idiom: grind to a halt (used idiomatically: yes)
I think we travelled the length and the breadth of the country looking . We knew what we were looking for and we knew if we looked long enough and hard enough we would find it , but there were times when we thought perhaps it is n't out there . The freehold pub market rose by nearly 40 per cent last year , while residential prices ground to a halt . Experts say plenty of would be Dirty Dens are the explanation . Basically it 's down to supply and demand .
Idiom: out of sorts (used idiomatically: yes)
Coventry rugby Club the venue for the Bicester army to charge on to their second succesive Twickenham final . All of Bicester it seemed were there , but Kersal , clearly in athletic mood were n't going to make it easy . Indeed at first Kersal enjoyed the run of play and their half - time lead should have been more than 6 points , fly half Neil Pearson out of sorts , he missed 4 penalties . But in the 21st minute Kersal took the lead , Dominic Leach making the score . So 6 - 0 down at half time plenty of work to do , Bicester fly - half Neil Smith began the come - back ; 6 - 3 .
Idiom: off the shelf (used idiomatically: no)
It was on its way from Hampshire to a railway museum at Toddington , near Cheltenham . It will be taken away tomorrow . A mother has called for a brand of bubble gum to be taken off the shelves after her eight - year - old son nearly choked . Trading standards officers say there are no regulations requiring the product to be banned . But they warn that parents should be aware of the possible dangers . Ian Maclaren reports .
Idiom: on the ground (used idiomatically: yes)
The cases would remain with them . Shortly afterwards , a dress bag was brought down . Again Diana insisted it was laid on the ground . She bent down , undid the zipper , and felt carefully inside the layers of clothing before kicking the bag to one side . Other humiliations followed in the weeks after the death and funeral of his lordship .
Idiom: stand someone in good stead (used idiomatically: yes)
Across the road from the churchyard is Poosie Nansie 's pub , the setting for Burns 's poem ‘ The Jolly Beggars’ , and is as welcoming today as it was in the time of Scotia 's bard . In the bar is a superb chalk drawing of the drinking scene from ‘ Tam o ' Shanter’ , complete with Tam , and Soutar Johnnie ‘ at his elbow’ . Burns 's poetry and songs have played an important part in my life from the earliest years , not only because of their simple beauty , but also because of their directness , honesty , and wry , lop - sided , humour ; the appreciation of which stood me in good stead the last time I was in Mauchline . A Glasgow friend , Tony Sykes , a great fisherman , at least he kept telling everyone he was , persuaded me against my better judgment to join him for a day 's salmon fishing on the River Ayr at Mauchline . I had never caught a salmon .
Idiom: come of age (used idiomatically: yes)
This is particularly likely to occur for larger cities with very limited amounts of vacant land and in rural areas where environmental and other considerations have led to the imposition of strict controls on new building . These demographic forces can also operate in more subtle ways . For instance , the ‘ coming of age’ of a baby boom can be expected to lead to higher levels of migration towards the ‘ bright city lights’ , while the subsequent increase in the numbers of young couples is likely to lead to greater demand for family - size housing and suburban residential locations . In such ways can basic demographic developments , which are normally monitored at national level , promote changes in population distribution through their influence on migration . These work alongside other factors such as trends in the distribution of employment opportunities at both regional and more local scales and changes in the preferences of individuals about the types of places that they would like to live in .
Idiom: feel the pinch (used idiomatically: yes)
So if you are foaming over the price of a pint , shop around for the special offers . If your publican can knock 70p off a pint , then breweries and pubs have certainly been overcharging . BITTER BLOW : Beer sales are feeling the pinch A switch in time saves … IF you 're tied in to a high mortgage rate it might be worth your while doing the switch .
Idiom: eat someone alive (used idiomatically: no)
The female ichneumon wasp has an ovipositor like a dagger with which she drills a hole in wood at the exact point where she has detected a beetle grub lying beneath . She pierces it and deposits an egg in its soft body . Her larva when it hatches will eat the grub alive . And so the whole process of egg - larva - pupa - adult begins once more . The insect body has produced an almost infinite variety of forms .
Idiom: down and out (used idiomatically: yes)
Ironweed tomorrow . I ca n't watch that . 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 ?
Idiom: sticky fingers (used idiomatically: yes)
We 're going to have a cloth by the sound of the water . I think I . Yeah I think daddy 's just erm making sure we have n't got such sticky fingers after our oranges I think . Then we 'll have a biscuit . Can you pass me a cup please ?
Idiom: game on (used idiomatically: yes)
What ? I do n't really know . Er erm is there a game on Saturday ? I think there might be . Oh I 've got it , I 've got it .
Idiom: out of the picture (used idiomatically: yes)
They have suffered a few setbacks since clinching their place in the last four , including a midweek League Cup semi - final knockout by Coleraine . But defiant Malone insisted last night : ‘ We will be fired up to reach our first final since 1974 . ‘ Ards have been out of the picture since then but I 've enjoyed a good Irish Cup record at my other clubs , getting to the final three times as a player and twice as Larne 's manager . ‘ Unfortunately that 's where my luck usually ran out . I was a winner just once with Ballymena in ‘ 81 .
Idiom: cap in hand (used idiomatically: yes)
Mr. Dunnachie Will the Prime Minister promise the House that no senior citizen , sick or disabled person need die from hypothermia or any illnesses resulting from it because they do not have the money to heat their homes ? Does the Prime Minister agree that the elderly , sick and disabled should automatically receive a heating allowance every winter instead of having to go cap in hand to the Government ? Does not he understand that it is action , not words , that the elderly , sick and disabled of Britain require of him ? The Prime Minister
Idiom: by the book (used idiomatically: yes)
The train rolls along like a drunk on beer . The attendant , in physical sympathy with the train , careers past the door . He smiles , waves , is clearly over - worked , over - stretched , in a hurry , but glad to stop and pass the time of day helped by our Czech phrase book and my appalling German . Our fellow sleeper is large and silent , a heavy seriousness dictates his majestic arrival in striped pyjamas . The colours of the train , and this unknown man , are brown and cream brown and black , brown and white .
Idiom: under fire (used idiomatically: yes)
It can only lead to the suspicion that there are dangerous men on both sides who believe violence is the only way forward . The world can only pray that they do not gain the upper hand . UNDER FIRE : Men and women flee the bullets at Ciskei WE'LL BE FRIENDS FOREVER 10th anniversary date for Cheggers
Idiom: make a splash (used idiomatically: yes)
GINA thinks the Royal weddings of the Eighties gave a real boost to ‘ occasion wear’ . Does she think the Royal divorces of the Nineties will hit business ? ‘ No , people still want to make a splash for their daughters . For a lot of the mums it 's a chance to do the day over again.’ But how many Sixties and Seventies brides had to wrestle with a £ 500 stationery bill after the confetti had settled ?
Idiom: turn heads (used idiomatically: yes)
' Go home , Hilary . ' ' And the lovemaking ? ' she persevered , desperately needing to know . Turning only his head , his eyes more black than she had ever seen them , he asked flatly , ' What do you think ? ' ' I do n't know , ' she admitted . And she did n't , could n't at that moment conceive of any reason , however remote , why he would want to make love to her .
Idiom: be my guest (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ No.’ The frostiness of his tone had hardened . ‘ She is my guest here . And at the moment she is resting.’ There was a pause , and then he said , ‘ I have no doubt she will be joining you at Punta Arenas , as arranged — when she is ready .