Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: give someone grief (used idiomatically: no)
It can be taken out , the rubbish can be taken out , but there is enough space for it , to , to make it sound conversational . So do bear those things in mind , because part of today and yesterday has been saying to you , how you can present yourselves to radio and T V in such a way that you 're not only experts in your specific subjects , but you are sufficiently expert in the techniques that go to make up good radio , that people will say , ' Let 's have so - and - so back again . They 're good value for money , they understand their subject , but most of all they do n't give me any grief . ' We said yesterday , journalists are frequently very pushed for time , some of them are lazy , and the more help you give them , and the same is true for radio , the better . If I 'm interviewing you at half past twelve for a piece for the one o'clock news , I do n't want to have to take out reams and reams and reams of tape .
Idiom: good offices (used idiomatically: yes)
Significantly , two out of three sureties for Pilkington 's payment of the farm were leading ducal retainers . But it would be unrealistic to leave out of account the fact that Pilkington was a knight of the king 's body and one , moreover , owed a favour for his support of Edward in 1471 . The duchy resources were still used on behalf of the royal retinue and it is striking that most of the best offices and farms went to the king 's household . As a result , those of Gloucester 's associates who gained most from duchy patronage were those who were also royal servants , men like John Pilkington 's brother Charles , an usher of the chamber , or the king 's knights John Huddleston and Ralph Ashton . As these examples suggest , it becomes increasingly difficult to disentangle royal and ducal retinues .
Idiom: for a song (used idiomatically: yes)
There will be an exodus south of the border for this autumn date . Aerosmith are calling this their Get to Grip tour . The band with Steve Tyler as lead singer are famous for songs like Sweet Emotion , Dream On and Walk This Way . LA lawlessness CARON Wheeler 's new album Beach of the War Goddess is out on EMI next week .
Idiom: across the board (used idiomatically: yes)
“ We have refrained from expelling English refugees across the board out of consideration for our relationship to England .
Idiom: behind someone's back (used idiomatically: yes)
He must know many people.’ Beth shuffled her feet in the awkward silence and found herself looking at the second man more closely . He was tall and gangling with a slack mouth and appeared to be holding something behind his back . She guessed it was a briefcase . Ali Christie was straightening his tie as he reached the bottom of the stairs .
Idiom: talk shop (used idiomatically: yes)
They 'd said he 'd been caught in a heliborne ambush and killed in hand to hand combat by a malai captain . I disabused him of that notion . Then I heard how he lived hand to mouth in the Bronx , lobbying whom he could at the talking - shop . There was a resolution he tried to get passed every year , condemning the invasion and calling for a withdrawal . He lobbied as hard as he could — he seemed tireless and undaunted even to me — but it was an uphill struggle .
Idiom: turn someone's head (used idiomatically: yes)
Alexandra talked to her when she wanted it , read to her when she wished , and while she slept in the daytime , sat and did the household correspondence , knowing Aunt Emily liked her to be there when she woke . ‘ I am just a little ship,’ Aunt Emily said , ‘ drifting farther and farther out to sea.’ She turned her head to smile at Alexandra . ‘ Richard is there , you know , just beyond the horizon . And Charlotte , of course , and Alexander .
Idiom: food for thought (used idiomatically: yes)
Write to : We welcome all your letters but are unable to reply to readers individually . Books Food for thought You 've got £ 30 to spend and 2½ hours cooking time : how do you make a three course meal for four within these constraints ? MasterChef 1990 ( BBC Books , £ 7.99 ) contains all the recipes produced by contestants in the last MasterChef television series to fit that very bill .
Idiom: fit the bill (used idiomatically: yes)
Have you any idea who sent them ? Did they give this ‘ friend 's’ name?’ ‘ No , but I 've been giving it a lot of thought , and it seems to me that the person who fits the bill is … ’ ‘ Harry Martin,’ Fred put in . ‘ So you think so too?’
Idiom: lend a hand (used idiomatically: yes)
Fluoride helps to toughen the protective enamel on children 's teeth , but wo n't prevent decay if they eat lots of sugary snacks . DINNER At around 4.30pm , Chris arrives home and after playing with the children lends a hand with the evening meal , which is something straightforward like a casserole or a pasta dish . ‘ The children like convenience foods such as sausages or fishfingers and chips so we sometimes have that sort of thing , and occasionally we buy a takeaway from the chip shop . I tend to think of all the convenience food as junk but I 'm sure some must be better than others.’
Idiom: rise from the ashes (used idiomatically: yes)
Even we visiting foreigners – all dutifully clad in blue Mao suits and caps – were expected to attend regular political “ study sessions ” to purify our bourgeois minds with proletarian tracts written by the Gang of Four . That trip set an indelible baseline against which I have since been able to measure all the changes China has undergone . As Deng ~ Xiaoping began to encourage individual incentives over the next several decades – embodied in such slogans as , “ To Get Rich Is Glorious ” – I watched with wonder and amazement as China ’s private economy began to rise from the ashes of Mao ’s revolution . As this process unfolded , it became fashionable for market fundamentalists in the West to bask in a sense of vindication . After all , were the scales not falling away from the eyes of Chinese leaders , and were they not now turning for salvation toward the God of capitalism that they had once so militantly denounced ?
Idiom: hate someone's guts (used idiomatically: yes)
They fell silent , each reflecting on what was past , then slowly Rachel said , ‘ It was no wonder your mother was n't too pleased to see me . She knew how badly one sister had treated you ; she quite obviously did n't want to see you become associated with the other … ’ ‘ And your parents quite obviously hate my guts because they think I walked out on Jennifer when she most needed me … My God ! What a mess!’
Idiom: jump the queue (used idiomatically: yes)
The couple have four children aged between seven and three and Derek 's wife Dawn , 26 , is expecting their fifth child next month . Derek said : ‘ We do n't want to wait to find somewhere when we are homeless . I do n't want to jump the queue but it should be done on a fair system.’ Pauline Mitchell , head of housing , said : ‘ We do not have any areas for any particular people and we certainly do not identify travellers as a group . We will do everything we can to allocate the Dool - eys a house where there are vacancies.’
Idiom: get to grips with (used idiomatically: yes)
This is what Charlie looked like when Monica and Roger King took him into their home in Milton Keynes . When they rescued him he was suffering from frostbite and had a broken tail which eventually had to be amputated . Now , getting to grips with his new home , he 's changed beyond recognition . Male speaker It 's taken a lot of effort to get Charlie into his present condition .
Idiom: come to a head (used idiomatically: yes)
We have spies in Paris , and the French Luciferi are in London . The difference is , the Luciferi have someone close to our hearts who betrays our every step and turn . Matters have now come to a head . The English embassy in France has a mansion in the Rue des Medeans , but in early spring they moved to a small castle outside Paris , the Chateau de Maubisson . ‘ At the chateau are a number of officials : Sir John Dacourt , our ambassador ; his chief clerk , Walter Peckle ; Doctor Thomas Throgmorton , physician ; Michael Millet , personal assistant and clerk to Sir John Dacourt ; and the man responsible for our agents … or rather , who was , Giles Falconer .
Idiom: touch wood (used idiomatically: yes)
The only things he does n't like are the narrow ramps on to aeroplanes , so we have to get behind him with a broom . He usually travels well , but he did get a bit upset on the way back from the World Cup final in Gothenburg when we had a very rough crossing . Touch wood , I 've never had to dope him on the lorry . I always carry some with me , but I hope I never have to use it because I do n't think I 'd get near him with the needle . ' For a horse who usually takes everything in his stride Milton has an inexplicable and very strong aversion to syringes .
Idiom: marriage of convenience (used idiomatically: yes)
Many British tramways were municipally owned ( legislation enabled councils to buy out private tramways ) . And the corporation often owned the electricity supply as well . This was a highly effective marriage of convenience , helping to balance the demand for electricity . Although tramway traffic was still increasing in 1930 much of the equipment was due for renewal . In the first 30 years of this century , bus technology had improved considerably , with pneumatic tyres , better roads and , during the 1930s , the replacement of petrol by diesel engines .
Idiom: on the nose (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ I 've been trying hard lately but sometimes this game can kick you in the teeth . You begin to feel like a boxer . When you keep getting hit on the nose you do n't feel like getting back into the ring.’ Wattana had beaten Parrott in four major events this season and he seemed a good bet to improve this record when he established a 2–0 lead . Parrott won the third frame comfortably , though , and recovered to 2–2 when his attempted pot on a red in the fourth struck the jaws of a top pocket , rebounded into the pack and knocked a red into the opposite middle pocket .
Idiom: on the carpet (used idiomatically: yes)
Hardly had the rains stopped when the spectators began to return to the slope above the melon beds , coming in greater numbers than ever before . No doubt this was because the weather was much better , now that September was under way ; it was cooler and the spectators could stroll in the sunshine without needing the shade of umbrellas . Some of the wealthier natives brought picnic hampers in the European manner , and their servants would unroll splendid carpets on the green sward ; while their banquets were spread out on the carpets they could watch what was going on through telescopes and opera - glasses which they had had the foresight to bring with them though what they saw , as they swept the ramparts of the Residency and banqueting hall can hardly have looked very impressive to them : just a few ragged , boil - covered skeletons crouching behind mud walls . But they settled down , anyway , with satisfaction amid the bustle of the fairground , like gentlemen returning to their seats in the theatre after the interval . It did not look as if this last act would take very long .
Idiom: green light (used idiomatically: no)
The chug - chug of the chopper was growing louder , coming up fast behind him . A minute later he saw it flying past well over to his right at a height of about two hundred feet . It flew on , red and green lights flashing , then it descended , disappeared . Newman frowned as he recalled a snatch of conversation with Buchanan during a break in his interrogation at Southwold on the day Sandy 's body was discovered . Hauser 's name had cropped up and Buchanan had shrugged as he put down his mug of foul - tasting coffee .
Idiom: go all the way (used idiomatically: yes)
Mm , yeah He oh , oh , No watch this , that , see that it 's gon na go all the way round there , all the way round , all the way round there and all the way round again . Mum mine went round the round again . Mm .
Idiom: circle the wagons (used idiomatically: no)
Ruefully , they add that the time is not ripe , and now they are talking only about aircraft . The outcome on June 6th could depend on how many people believe them . Circling the wagons KEEPING out foreigners is an art which European governments continue to refine . Last week Germany got rid of its constitutional right to political asylum , the most liberal in Europe .
Idiom: round the clock (used idiomatically: yes)
Voice over Michael 's now been notified his debt must be cut or his carers may not be abel to keep coming to help him A farmer is mounting a round - the - clock watch after seven of his sheep were killed by a dog . The animals were chased across a field and drowned when they tried to escape by jumping into a brook . Now their owner fears it could happen again .
Idiom: in this day and age (used idiomatically: yes)
We have given asylum to political refugees over many centuries : the Huguenots , the Jews from eastern Europe and Russia at the turn of the century , continental Europeans during the last war — including my father — and many others . This country has a proud record to uphold . In this day and age , continuing problems around the world throw up refugees . One such problem is particularly close to home for many of my Gravesham constituents . My constituency includes a large community of Sikhs from the Punjab in India .
Idiom: fly the flag (used idiomatically: yes)
' It 'll be a bloody miracle if we make it to Ireland at this rate ! ' he croaks . I would n't worry Bruce , it seems to me Stiff Little Fingers are virtually indestructible . POST - PUNK AND POST - CABARET , STIFF LITTLE FINGERS RETURN TO FLY THE FLAG . STUART CLARK HEADS THE WELCOMING COMMITTEE . TURNER COME LATELY
Idiom: on paper (used idiomatically: yes)
That was the way to retain control of the job . Amongst the papers was a brown folder stamped ' SECRET ' . A reference number had been typed on white paper and glued to the folder . With an ink nib had been added the name of Michael Holly . Of course the Deputy Under Secretary had not been beyond the reach of Century House while in Mombasa .
Idiom: change hands (used idiomatically: yes)
Infringements of the new law can attract fines of up to £ 20,000 , or a prison sentence of up to five years . The law requires all businesses which create waste to register with the local waste disposal authority ( either a county or metropolitan council ) . Whenever waste changes hands , both parties must sign a form registering the transfer . The rule applies to all businesses . Critics of the new law warn that the level of bureaucracy involved might encourage some organizations , particularly small businesses , to resort to illegal fly - tippers , thereby avoiding the need for registration .
Idiom: in the pink (used idiomatically: yes)
To give an air of informality , I used different frames and different types of pressed flower design for the two rectangular pictures , making gold the linking theme between the three . However , an equally successful effect would have been achieved using a circular frame between two square ones . To make the top rectangular picture , I used a card mount in palest pink , behind which I stretched some cream silk . The flowers used were pieces of conifer and some pink heather , with red and white hawthorn flowers to give added colour , plus a little white alyssum . For the central , gold oval design , I used a dusty pink satin backing , on to which I arranged some cow parsley leaves , gypsophila , small ' Marjorie Fair ' red roses , some ' Princess'pink potentillas and astrantia .
Idiom: crystal clear (used idiomatically: yes)
The openness , the warmth and the humour , simply people 's humanity , I have seen everywhere have made one thing crystal clear : Africa 's true wealth is its people .
Idiom: out of pocket (used idiomatically: yes)
' But I ca n't see … ' Cardiff kept his distance from them , so that the torch beam had a wider angle to illuminate the scene . He took the second torch out of his jacket pocket and tossed it to Jimmy . ' Stick this against the wall over there and turn it on . That 'll give us more light to see by .
Idiom: drop the ball (used idiomatically: yes)
Try this putting idea as it can ease the difficulty of computing distance and direction together once you have addressed the ball . RELIEF FROM LATERAL WATER HAZARDS A lateral water hazard is defined as such when the Committee considers it is impracticable to drop a ball behind the hazard as Rule 26–1b states . Generally speaking , lateral water hazards run parallel with the line of play of a golf hole and they should be clearly marked with either red stakes or red lines . A ball is deemed to be in a lateral water hazard if it lies between the parallel red stakes marking the boundary of the lateral water hazard , whether or not the ball lies in the water or on the surrounding bank .
Idiom: see the light (used idiomatically: no)
However one image is common to all Tolkien 's versions and to the Old English poem too . This , one might say , is the ' lyric core ' , the flashpoint of the imagination . It is the vision of people looking up from the depths , de profundis , from the ' dark shadow of death ' and of despair , and seeing a new light : ' unlooked for , glittering and bright ; and the people of Middle - earth beheld it from afar and wondered , and they took it for a sign , and called it Gil - Estel , the Star of High Hope ' . What the star was , how it was connected to Eärendil , how the name could cover both star and man , from what danger it signalled deliverance , whether that deliverance was final for the soulless elves … all these questions , and others , could find answers in the inventions of later narrative , in the different viewpoints of The Silmarillion or Bilbo 's song in The Fellowship of the Ring . However the image and the emotions associated with it did not change .
Idiom: rule of thumb (used idiomatically: yes)
The company is firmly opposed to discounting on the grounds that it undermines standards . ‘ We have shied away from the rigours of the discount war,’ says director Dennis Hart . ‘ As a rule of thumb , we have not found it necessary . There are people prepared to pay for quality.’ The company preferred to invest in well trained staff rather than cut overheads to the bone , and many have been 20 years in the trade .
Idiom: night and day (used idiomatically: yes)
The Tans had swarmed over the countryside looking for them after the execution . They had lived for a while in holes cut in the turf banks . The place was watched night and day . Once the British soldiers came on Mary Duignan when she was bringing them tea and sandwiches . The Duignans were so naturally pale - faced that Mary showed no sign that anything was other than normal and she continued to bring tea and sandwiches to men working on a further turf bank .
Idiom: carrot and stick (used idiomatically: yes)
Treating Al - Qaeda PRINCETON – Although Al - Qaeda 's leadership , beliefs , and ideology are rooted in Saudi ~ Arabia , the organization has been all but crushed in the Kingdom by a government policy that combines a big carrot and an even bigger stick . The attempted assassination in Jeddah last month of Prince Muhammad ~ bin ~ Nayef , the deputy interior minister for security affairs , demonstrates both elements of the Saudi strategy , and how a bold attempt by Al - Qaeda to revive its fortunes has failed . The bomber was Abdullah Asiri , a Saudi citizen and Al - Qaeda member who had returned from Yemen , claiming to have renounced terrorism and wishing to surrender directly to Prince Muhammad in his palace .
Idiom: fly in the face of (used idiomatically: yes)
But now , on the basis of a number of well - documented opinion polls , W. Harvey Cox ( 1985 ) argues that the majority in the Republic of Ireland favouring reunification is barely two to one , and that in the island as a whole it is three to two . What is more , Cox suggests that support in the South is at best lukewarm . None the less , the characterization of catholic — nationalist ideology I have just documented would seem to fly in the face of this sort of evidence . The general data presented by Cox are undeniable , but interpretation of the data rests on certain assumptions , principally that people act on an individualistic basis rather than as groups , and according to attitudes expressed in the quiet of their homes rather than in response to major events . One remembers the substantial surge in Provisional support in the North on the occasion of the hunger strikes of 1981 , and the impact they had on Northern catholic — nationalist consciousness , one which Cox himself acknowledges .
Idiom: keep your pecker up (used idiomatically: yes)
All the pair of them were concerned about was getting back to Northallerton . ‘ Goodbye , have a good trip,’ she said , forcing her voice to remain steady . ‘ Try and keep your peckers up!’ Tom said in an attempt to be cheerful . Susan grabbed Maggie 's arm and marched her friend away .
Idiom: see the light of day (used idiomatically: yes)
This led to a lucrative offer from Hollywood . ' Disney executives flew me out there and gave me the kind of treatment I 'd always dreamed about when I was an actress … bouquets , champagne , limousines , ' says Lynda . But the project still has n't seen the light of day . Last year Prime Suspect , her nail - biting drama about a woman CID officer tracking a serial killer , had viewers hooked , and later won a British Academy award . The follow - up , Prime Suspect 2 , will be shown in December .
Idiom: on paper (used idiomatically: no)
As I said I 'll be having quite a lot to say about in the lectures , so we 'll just regard this class as a kind of prelude to that . Er Andrea , er it 's gone eleven I must n't detain you any longer . Congratulations on excellent paper , first class er well done . Next week are hearing from Simone who is n't here . Now folks if you see Simone remind her .
Idiom: strike a chord (used idiomatically: yes)
He runs around in a dazzle - painted sports - fisherman called Dream Baby .’ ‘ Dream Baby ? ’ That name clearly struck a chord in McIllvanney , for he frowned at me for a few seconds , but the chord must have faded for he shrugged it off . ‘ I 've seen that boat somewhere , but I ca n't place it . Does it matter?’
Idiom: down the drain (used idiomatically: yes)
There was a wide grin on Billy 's ring - scarred face . ‘ Look ' ere , Mister Know - all,’ he said in a confident voice , ‘ I 've bin doin' a lot o ' finkin ' an ' I 've put meself about . Yer know that our ole boxin ' Club 's gone down the drain since those new geezers took over . They ai n't got a bleedin ' idea between the lot of 'em . The young lads at the club ai n't very ' appy , an ' accordin ' ter my information they 're all willin ' ter lend us an ' and ter knock up a timber buildin ' .
Idiom: in the driving seat (used idiomatically: yes)
On budget day and in pouring rain , nobody had the blues , not even the bookies , as the favourites fell . The chance for a local winner came in the second race , the Arkle Challenge Trophy . David Nicholson from Condicote near Stow - on - the - Wold was saddling Waterloo Boy , with another local man , Richard Dunwoody in the driving seat . The race turned out to be a battle between Peter Scudamore on and Waterloo Boy , number thirteen . It was lucky for some as Dunwoody squeezed home a twenty to one winner .
Idiom: on the carpet (used idiomatically: yes)
They looked at each other warily , circling for an opening remark . ‘ So Jozef Taczek will be waiting at seven o'clock for the exercise book and photo , will he?’ she asked finally . Urquhart squirmed on the carpet , stared at her in confusion for a second , and then nodded . She found herself enjoying the sight of his embarrassment and frantic need to buy thinking time . ‘ Look , Blanche , you 've got to let me go .