Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: make light of (used idiomatically: yes)
I wish to make it clear that our objections to the changes to Lakeside are not motivated by the ‘ Private Residents against Council Residents Syndrome’ . A great deal of our concern is for the rights and needs of the council residents . Mr O'Neill makes light of changes proposed for Lakeside ( would he like them in Loraine Crescent ? ) , although he agrees there will be more traffic . He says are no houses on the west side of Lakeside . What he fails to say is that there is a large common widely used by children of all ages , pedestrians , dogs , walkers etc .
Idiom: sing the praises of (used idiomatically: yes)
It also condemns Labour - minded people in the North to acute political frustration . The next election will see a wave of Tory propaganda hit the province and , unless things change , there will be no one there to challenge it . Conservative candidates with Saatchi style slogans and sober suits will tell the province 's electorate about the ‘ Thatcher economic miracle’ and will sing the praises of the Government 's record on the NHS . Leading Tories in Northern Ireland have already called for the extension of the poll tax to the province . And all their propaganda goes unanswered because the Labour Party has thrown in the towel before the fight has even started .
Idiom: get to grips with (used idiomatically: yes)
Paul suggested a way of getting rid of this passivity , arguing that lecturers should give out notes at the beginning of lectures and then : They could go through them , and then they could encourage a more open thing , and people could — there could be a discussion going on in the class at the same time . This would certainly allow students to participate more in their own learning , and give them more chance to get to grips with complex ideas . In reality , however , the lectures allowed students almost no control ; students were , in some ways , treated like school pupils ; expected to listen and take notes , and accept the authority of the lecturer . As a result , some of them even behaved like schoolchildren ; it was not uncommon , apparently , for students at A to throw paper aeroplanes in lectures — a rather immature ( but possibly understandable ) response to the frustration of endless listening and note - taking .
Idiom: cap in hand (used idiomatically: yes)
Over in the dock the accused , a gangling boy of about nineteen , was smirking . He seemed to think that he had an idiot for an accuser , but his solicitor was not so happy ; he did n't seem to like the idea of having to address a witness through an intermediary . The army officer was back , his uniform cap in his hands as if he was in a church . He was sliding into an empty bench at the back of the public rows . Only a reporter from the local newspaper turned to glance at him .
Idiom: spot on (used idiomatically: yes)
Of course , there can be pictures that are ambiguous , in that they can be interpreted in more than one way , and even pictures for which there is no plausible interpretation ( Figure 13 ) . A picture - recognizing computer must be provided with the necessary set of hypotheses and rules . Animals may also be born with some such rules : for example , a herring gull chick is born with the hypothesis that a thin projection with a spot on it is a parent 's beak ( see p. 77 ) . But most of the models in our heads have been learnt . Sometimes , they enable us to extract a lot of information from very few cues .
Idiom: good Samaritan (used idiomatically: yes)
Mrs Thatcher herself made appearances at Church and Methodist assemblies to rebuke bishops and nonconformist leaders for their hostile approach towards material gain , their over - involvement with issues such as poverty and urban decay , and their over - zealous support for black African nationalists in South Africa . She rapped their collective knuckles ( along with those of the Church of Scotland , which showed nationalist tendencies as well ) for their inability to see wealth creation as an essentially Christian act . The good Samaritan with his non - mercenary values , it seemed , was not ‘ one of us’ either . In return , the Church cut a somewhat uncertain figure . It was hesitant about its role , and indeed divided within itself over doctrinal issues like the significance of the Resurrection , and over such indicators of change as the ordination of women .
Idiom: all and sundry (used idiomatically: yes)
Shaved , shorn and bewigged , Simon Lay struts his forbidden stuff and upstages some of the girls but the deed is far more convincing than the intention . Still , it makes for some interesting innuendo as he admits he has something the other girls have n't . Duggie Brown is excruciatingly convincing as the sleazy , no - talent compere whose best reward is to grope all and sundry . But it is the sad worldliness of the backstage banter which makes this play so interesting . Julie Riley and Paula Wilcox are excellent as the hard - bitten contestant regulars .
Idiom: at the drop of a hat (used idiomatically: yes)
Restrictive practices , which Clasper had fought so hard to introduce , were being discarded at a rate of knots in the quest to increase efficiency , output and earnings . As a lifelong Communist , Clasper knew that it was absolutely essential to wrest control of the workers away from the plant management . He had exercised effective control of the labour force for ten years at the giant plant and had been able to bring the workers out on strike at the drop of a hat . It was he , Clasper , who dictated to management the size of the labour force they would require to produce a given number of products , regardless of any figure which management might arrive at by employing accurately measured work standards . If in effect , Clasper said that three men must be employed to do two men 's work , then that was it .
Idiom: on the button (used idiomatically: yes)
The appearance of a famous face in the show rooms always caused a stir amongst the girls , who all longed to hook a wealthy husband — and if he had a title , like the Aly Khan , or was a film star like Omar Shariff , then so much the better ! Not everything that Paula had to do was quite so glamorous , however . In the long hours when there were no customers to show she was expected to lend a hand with some of the unskilled tasks — running errands and making tea , unpicking a seam or a hem , even sewing on a button or a hook and eye when she had been taught the proper way to do it . Paula was not very clever with her needle but she soon learned to be careful so as not to incur the wrath of the seamstress . There were new tricks of modelling to be learned too — how to remove a coat , sliding It carefully off her shoulders with the sleeves hanging in perfect balance , never for one moment allowing the inside to be on view , for samples were often unlined .
Idiom: charity begins at home (used idiomatically: yes)
Next time , you , your daughter , your grand - daughter or just a neighbour is pregnant , you could think of the thirty - odd years that the NCT has spent safeguarding the interests of parents and babies , and you could get out your cheque book . An annual standing order would be even better . After all , charity begins at home . AMWAY and ANTENATAL TEACHING ? Thank you to everyone who has supported my NCT / Amway launch , which has raised £ 30 for branch funds .
Idiom: bury the hatchet (used idiomatically: yes)
After Lamb had blown the whistle on the Pakistanis Dexter seemed to want to wash his hands of anything Lamb was doing — suggesting that the Northants captain 's forthright comments would not just end with a fine and a suspension from his County bosses . If Lamb 's sacking does not come as a major shock then Gower 's latest axing is mind - blowingly baffling following his much trumpeted recall for the third Cornhill Test match at Old Trafford . Skipper Graham Gooch and Gower , one of England 's true post - war cricketing idols , had buried the hatchet in the wake of one of the game 's most public and personalised slanging matches . The elegant Gower had rediscovered his appetite to be both combative and successful in the Test arena and had celebrated his return after nearly 20 months ' absence by eclipsing Geoff Boycott 's long standing English Test runs aggregate . Gower 's form in the last part of the series , when he had an average of 50 , should have guaranteed his ticket to India .
Idiom: one of those things (used idiomatically: yes)
Graeme Souness said that Bruce Grobbelaar is the best sweeper , but Don Howe says the same about me . ‘ I am confident with the ball at my feet . This is just one of those things.’ BEASANT : Blunder Fans fail the screen test
Idiom: turn the corner (used idiomatically: yes)
A strong person with a scythe or today 's equivalent a strimmer , would be one answer , but any delay can turn a little grass into a hay crop . It is also important to plant in an orderly manner to fit the width of your mower cut . It is infuriating to have to mow an extra half width , or to find that you can not turn a corner without complicated manoeuvres . Choosing the trees is not as easy as it seems . I started by making a list of what I liked and then considering the pros and cons .
Idiom: force someone's hand (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ Be careful what you do with it now . Do you think you can restore it and it will knit again without festering?’ ‘ By the grace of God , yes,’ he said , and leaned and took her gently by the wrist , but did not force her hand away . ‘ Do you not feel the two halves closing ? Flesh of my flesh , blood of my blood , I want you though you poison me , but well I know you never will .
Idiom: play games (used idiomatically: yes)
And I 've not had a good enough reason why — that 's all I 'm hurting Brian , I do n't think that is taking anything too far . ' KEYS : ' Mark , somewhat distanced from it now , what 's you 're impression of what 's happening at Anfield . ' MARK LAWRENSON : ' I think the thing you have to say Richard , they 've only played eight games . This has happened before and no matter what people say I think in my second year we were about 16th or 17th . ' KEYS : ' But it is not just a question of what is going on on the park , it 's what 's happening elsewhere that we 're beginning to hear and read about and that 's never been the case at Liverpool previously , ever .
Idiom: go without saying (used idiomatically: yes)
This can be achieved by providing good quality bike - and - ride facilities at public transport stops in residential areas and also at destinations for those who wish to complete their journey by cycle ( Figure 9.7 ) . Alternatively , public transport vehicles could carry accompanied cycles , as they frequently do in Switzerland . It should go without saying that the public transport stops must be sited at relevant and accessible points on the bicycle network whilst the potential of cycle hire at public transport stops , particularly in attractive recreational areas , should not be ignored . Seventh and last , it is important to package the cycling policies with soft landscaping and environmental improvements . Provision of greenery helps to protect the cyclist from the worst of the weather as well as from noise and vehicle pollution .
Idiom: rain or shine (used idiomatically: yes)
That the four lead artists got on so well with each other was a distinct advantage in coping with the pressurised working schedules they were expected to maintain over the next year . For a greater majority of the time the supposed glamour of Television was an entirely invisible commodity . The working week began every Monday , rain or shine . On Monday , each of the cast , regular and story - contracted , would make their way , under their own steam ( no chauffeured limousines here ) to a pre - designated rehearsal room . Sometimes this would be a church hall , sometimes a Territorial Army drill hall , occasionally even a London Transport recreation room .
Idiom: come to a head (used idiomatically: yes)
The headmaster may if he think proper read each day on the opening of school such prayers as may have been previously approved of by the Governors , but no sectarian comments nor any doctrinal teaching may be allowed in the school . " Only the Annual General Meetings of the Board in 1858 and 1859 are recorded — extremely briefly — in the Minute Books , for by 1860 the High School had ceased to exist as a separate entity . Matters regarding the Grammar School had come to a head . THE BREAK The Goldsmiths , exasperated that all their efforts should be unappreciated , had finally lost their patience .
Idiom: make head or tail of (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ I 'm leaving for the night,’ he informed Meyer . ‘ You expect to be here much longer?’ ‘ Maybe another two hours , Chief , I 'm still trying to make head or tail of this Gruninger case.’ Kuhlmann left his office after slipping on his dark top - coat and scarf . He walked down to the next floor where two men sat working at desks facing each other .
Idiom: do the right thing (used idiomatically: yes)
I think that record was doomed from the start . I was never cut out to follow family tradition and stick to law — my brother did that for me , bless him . He did all the right things and so I had a way out . I always wanted to be an actor since I was about five and my parents would take me to the cinema and theatre . It seemed to me a natural thing to do .
Idiom: in someone's pocket (used idiomatically: yes)
where 's my doll mummy 's got them in her pocket there in my pocket oh they 're in no they 're not , there the , oh they 're there they 're in the front of the car
Idiom: once and for all (used idiomatically: yes)
Model citizen No one has won in the libel case brought against you and none of those involved has really benefited . Mr Donovan 's mere financial gain will probably make little difference to him and it is debatable whether his name ‘ has been cleared once and for all’ as it did not need clearing in the first place . The gay community has not benefited as the case presented the media with yet another opportunity to imply that there is something libellous and ‘ wrong’ with being gay . And , of course , THE FACE has not benefited .
Idiom: take someone's word for it (used idiomatically: yes)
And if you have the knack and a light enough touch , you can just about ease back the spring enough to release the tongue . But why am I telling you all this ? Just take my word for it . It took us about two minutes to get into the basement flat , about five minutes for Nicola to shake off the giggles and about another five for me to brief her as to what to say . ‘ Now remember , if a man answers , say you want to speak to Jo .
Idiom: hit home (used idiomatically: yes)
The cliche is prevention is better than cure … It 's not relevent . It 's just not hitting home . They wo n't take a slightest bit of notice … and will use the paper to role up a joint . Male speaker
Idiom: on the nose (used idiomatically: yes)
A friend was speaking Spanish in a bus and someone told him to shut up because he was in England now . Male speaker A friend was punched on the nose because he was talking in Spanish . Voice over Student Watch has already proved successful in other towns .
Idiom: in your dreams (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ You 'll soon be good as new,’ he agreed . ‘ I 've phoned in the news about the boat , by the way . There 's no report of a missing dinghy , but I mentioned the name you saw in your dream and both police and coastguard promise to look into it.’ ‘ They must think you 've got a right lunatic on your hands,’ she said , grimacing , then brightened . ‘ But at least I can go outside today .
Idiom: foot the bill (used idiomatically: no)
Accountants Coopers & Lybrand yesterday spelled out just how inflationary Labour 's tax plans could be if employers try to preserve their top staff 's living standards . The cost of a £ 75,000 net pay package would rise from today 's £ 130,600 to £ 177,000 . Coopers believes there will be an exodus from Britain of multinational companies unwilling to foot Labour 's tax bill . The main beneficiaries from Labour may be the Germans and the Dutch . City Comment : Bidding stops at Auction Mart
Idiom: move the goalposts (used idiomatically: yes)
Following on from Chris Bonington 's recent book The Climbers — A History of Mountaineering , it 's clear that mountaineering is intrinsically a little dull . There 's just no glamour in it ; no serious money ; very few groupies , and scarcely any hard drug abuse these days . What it needs is an historian who is n't afraid to jazz things up a bit— sidestep the facts and move the goalposts . With this in mind , we searched out one of Britain 's leading exponents of the Gothic bodice - ripper and asked her to inject some life into the first ascent of the Eiger 's north face . Offwidth is proud to reproduce it here , as a model for future historians of our sport .
Idiom: on a silver platter (used idiomatically: yes)
Russian ratification of START — Franco - Russian agreement on nuclear weapons destruction The Russian Supreme Soviet on Nov. 4 voted , by 157 votes to one with 26 abstentions , to ratify the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty ( START ) signed in Moscow in July 1991 [ see p. 38320 ] . The action came despite bitter opposition from hardline conservatives who said that the treaty favoured the USA and amounted to a present on " a silver platter " for the US president - elect Bill Clinton . In October the US Senate had voted overwhelmingly to approve the treaty [ see p. 39169 ] . The Russian vote followed a last - minute effort by Russian President Boris Yeltsin to secure the approval of the powerful centre - right industrial lobby , Civic Union , in the hope of avoiding a clash with the conservative - dominated Congress of People 's Deputies due to meet on Dec. 1 .
Idiom: spot on (used idiomatically: yes)
COMMON GULL Larus canus . Like a small Herring Gull ( p. 151 ) , but adult easily separated by yellow - green legs and bill ; bill much less stout and with no red spot near tip . From winter Black - headed Gull ( p. 154 ) also differs in bill and leg colour , as well as white spots on blunter black wing - tips and no white blaze on forewing . Cf . Kittiwake and Mediterranean Gull ( p. 149 ) .
Idiom: with a will (used idiomatically: no)
I have today won a concession from the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry , in as much as he is going to give a delegation from the Southampton and district licensed victuallers an opportunity to see him at the Department to talk over some of these matters . Worthy servants of the brewers are being turned out of their livelihoods and homes by these draconian rents , set in the main by estate agents who have no concept of the harm that will be done to these people . I thank the Secretary of State for this concession , and I am sure that , with good will on the part of the Government , we can arrive at a successful outcome . The Minister for Corporate Affairs ( Mr. John Redwood ) I am grateful to the hon . Member for Rotherham ( Mr. Crowther ) for raising this important subject .
Idiom: knock it off (used idiomatically: yes)
After finishing his grub he took out a big spanner and proceeded to check the bolts on his plough , he also knocked off the clods of earth in between the blades . By this time I was n't catching anything but I must just mention one more boat as even 1 found this one hard to believe . On the boat was an old couple and approaching the bridge he got off and left his wife in charge of the boat , He also attempted to open the bridge the wrong way and once again the boat hit the bridge and knocked it off its hinges . Unable to free the bridge by himself he blamed his wife and cleared off down a dirt track . Bearing in mind this canal is in the middle of nowhere he returned ten minutes later with a bloke in a Land Rover .
Idiom: turn the corner (used idiomatically: yes)
Tired and hungry I gave the head Pooh - Bah a rap with the wrong end of the feather duster as I passed . ‘ What 's that?’ inquired Mollie , pausing on the stairs . ‘ I caught it in the banisters as I turned the corner,’ I lied . If only I had a crinoline to sweep down the grand staircase in ! I have always longed to be a great lady but it 's not easy when you spend your time queuing for slug - pellets and flea - powder .
Idiom: burn rubber (used idiomatically: no)
The buzz of jealousy . But how could one be jealous of a stick , a statue ? The vacuum cleaner , sensing her lack of concentration , took advantage of it to munch and slaver up a long strand of rug fringe : there was a smell of burning rubber . Shit , said Liz , she knelt down to unwind it . She had learned bad language from her stepsons .
Idiom: at the end of the day (used idiomatically: yes)
we concede on the basis of the exercises that have been discussed so far , I think you will find it very difficult to make a firm recommendation in favour of a specific location . , albeit on a district basis . I think you 'll find it very difficult to do . And maybe at the end of the day , the County Council will have to come to a conclusion , after you 've made your general recommendations , with or without a location maybe th they will decide that having gone through a consultation exercise , they 're only course is to modify the proposals which would then have to be the subject of another E I P. Now I hope that does n't r ring alarm bells . Certainly that would be o o one scenario which I think the county will have to contemplate .
Idiom: have been around (used idiomatically: yes)
" But that 's ridiculous ! " Dima protested . " Kopeks have n't been around in ages ! And 0.99 is n't even a natural number ! "
Idiom: to say the least (used idiomatically: yes)
Given this , it would not be surprising if Obama and others in his administration were seeking non - economic issues to energize his campaign . National - security problems in general , and the challenge posed by China in particular , may be shaping up as just such issues . Obama ’s foreign and defense policies have been assertive , to say the least , especially in the Middle ~ East and the Pacific . He has sanctioned far more unmanned drone strikes than Bush did ; extended the security services ’ intrusion into Americans ’ privacy ; allowed the CIA to continue its rendition program ; approved trials of accused terrorists by flawed military tribunals ; and has not shut Guantánamo ~ Bay . Moreover , the US is increasing its troop presence in the Pacific at a time when it already has more military force in the region than all other countries combined .
Idiom: go from strength to strength (used idiomatically: yes)
Aisles were widened and the fresh food areas expanded . Products and promotions The Sainsbury 's Lifestyle range of textiles went from strength to strength as the new team of specialist buyers and technologists introduced more quality items such as children 's footwear and men 's knitwear . Menswear at Savacentre is now 100 per cent own label , and own label accounts for 60 per cent of ladieswear . A hot chicken take away counter offering freshly cooked drumsticks , thighs and whole cooked chickens was introduced at Merton .
Idiom: in black and white (used idiomatically: yes)
Dexter handed across an article dated about a year before from one of the broadsheet newspapers . It was accompanied by a photograph of Blufton standing — arms akimbo — in front of a grey smudge of masonry . The photograph was in black and white and showed pretensions to art by being shot through a wide - angle lens with Blufton 's face in close - up . The effect was , in Dexter 's view , unflattering and vaguely sinister , like the one produced by trick mirrors at fairgrounds . Blufton 's nose seemed bulbous , every pore of his skin highlighted , every hair of his spade beard appeared to bristle .