Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: save face (used idiomatically: yes)
Mr Wormwood did n't notice anything when he put the hat on , but when he arrived at the garage he could n't get it off . Superglue is very powerful stuff , so powerful it will take your skin off if you pull too hard . In an effort to save face , he adopted a casual attitude hoping that his staff would think that he actually meant to keep his hat on all day long just for the heck of it , like gangsters do in the films . When he got home that evening he still could n't get the hat off . ‘ Do n't be silly,’ his wife said .
Idiom: gather dust (used idiomatically: yes)
RETAIL goods are notoriously hard to shift in these dark days of recession but most high street chains manage to offload last season 's stock with a bit of discounting and persuasive salesmanship . Clearly Littlewoods , the pools group and retailer , does not believe in either solution — or perhaps it does not really want to sell . Its mail - order business , coyly put on the shelf for sale more than a year ago , is still sitting there gathering dust . This week , Germany 's Quelle group — seen as an enthusiastic bargain hunter in Britain 's underdeveloped mail - order sector — became the latest in a stream of prospective purchasers to have looked but walked away . Littlewoods could be on the verge of a decision over the future of the mail - order operations but making the business an irresistible buy will take a dramatic burst of salesmanship by the Moores family which owns this Liverpool group , and their merchant bankers at Kleinwort Benson .
Idiom: to die for (used idiomatically: yes)
It works with either Open Look or Motif . Unix Expo has nailed IBM vice president , Jim Cannavino , general manager of Personal Systems , as its keynote speaker . Larry Ellison 's having quite a month : not only did Oracle finally get version 7 out , his house got a to - die - for spread in Architectural Digest . Very Japanese . For months we said Microsoft Corp NT was gon na be big and fat and Microsoft said ‘ Perish the thought!’
Idiom: beat about the bush (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ Then , Sergeant,’ said the little old lady , ‘ your troubles are at an end.’ ‘ Saving your presence ma'am , but I bain't got no troubles.’ ‘ Oh now , dear me , Sergeant , let 's not beat about the bush.’ The lady raised an admonitory finger in rebuke and the sergeant observed , to his surprise , that despite it being a hot summer 's day , she was wearing what appeared to be mittens . ‘ I have come’ , continued the old lady , ‘ about the Case of the Missing Baronet.’
Idiom: sick and tired (used idiomatically: yes)
I ' m getting sick and tired of Ms ~ Maruta and her noisy friends .
Idiom: by the by (used idiomatically: yes)
A room will be waiting and money will be in the post , to arrive first thing tomorrow . ' ' Hats off to Arthur Kobold , ' said Tuppe , rubbing his hands together . ' By the by by , Cornelius . Do you know how to drive a car ? ' ' Of course .
Idiom: lie low (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ You are doing well , Kaptan,’ I told him , which was a strange thing to say , when this was no co - operative venture but a kidnapping in which his complicity and enthusiasm were hardly assured . But he brightened at these words of encouragement , for their kindly tone more than their meaning . The Corporal said , ‘ We will have to lie low and wait for dark . It wo n't be long.’ ‘ Here?’
Idiom: kiss of life (used idiomatically: yes)
Hours later , the child 's mother was being questioned after being arrested near Heathrow Airport . The girl , thought to be aged about five , had stopped breathing when she was pulled from the water on the South Bank near the old GLC build - ing steps . PC Bill Cotton gave her the kiss of life as soon as she was pulled on deck . Colleague Ron McDonald steered them to shore . He helped them to a waiting car and drove to nearby St Thomas 's Hospital .
Idiom: tongue in cheek (used idiomatically: yes)
He says he would like to see it in another twenty five years time . It will be even better still . The lasting image many have of the city is the concrete cows , a tongue - in - cheek parting gift from a local artist . A symbol perhaps of a manufactured city … but the Milton Keynesians , if you can call them that , say life here could n't be better . He says they 've grown up with it and become part of the community .
Idiom: see stars (used idiomatically: yes)
Start from Sirius , and move on to Theta Canis Majoris ( 4.1 ) which is noticeably orange , and is in the Sirius field with × 8.5 , though just out of it with × 20 . Continue along the same line for an equal distance , and you will come to M50 . It appears as a dim blur with low magnification , but with × 20 I can see individual stars in it . Its real diameter is about 13 light - years . Beyond M50 we come to Alpha Monocerotis ( 3.9 ) .
Idiom: open the floodgates (used idiomatically: yes)
Some early petitions in 1788 to the Commons on the slave trade came from county meetings held in customary county meeting places . At these gatherings only freeholders ( including gentry and clergy ) were allowed to speak and vote ; they were usually summoned by the sheriff on the application of a number of freeholders and the county members might often attend . These meetings had a constitutional if non - statutory status and their use by abolitionists , far from opening the democratic floodgates , put the authority of precedent and the county elites behind them . Some other meetings in 1788 in corporate towns extended beyond local officials but were not open and general ; yet other gatherings were restricted to membership of particular denominations . Drescher , however , has demonstrated that there were at least twenty - seven public meetings for anti - slave trade petitioning in 1788 .
Idiom: as the crow flies (used idiomatically: yes)
Still sealed up , addressed to them . You ring up and say , ‘ Did you get a jiffy bag five minutes ago?’ and they say , ‘ Sure , one jiffy bag , containing one letter , just arrived.’ So maybe it took one minute more than it should as the crow flies . We ai n't talking crows . We can allow for traffic , bike breakdown , rider ca n't find the right doorway , whatever .
Idiom: in the soup (used idiomatically: yes)
Never mind , I 'll tell you when you 've finished . Go on . ' Lefevre dunked another handful of bread in his soup and waved it in emphasis before continuing , ' The place our man lives is a large mansion just beyond the village . Easy to find ; I 'll take you tomorrow . Obviously I could n't follow him up to his front door , but I saw him turn into the grounds . '
Idiom: turn heads (used idiomatically: yes)
When the press of grey on either side became too much the motorway fizzled out and abandoned them to the early - evening commuter jam of the North Circular Road . During the slow hops between traffic lights Carson stole sideways glances at his passenger . She 'd reclined the seat again but she was n't sleeping ; her head was turned aside and she was looking out of the window , not really seeing anything . The last few miles to Ealing were covered in a jerking crawl which took more than an hour , and daylight was breaking down into darkness as Alison gave directions through the maze of streets and parked cars away from the main shopping area . Streetlight timers were cutting in and the lamps were glowing red as she pointed to a space and asked Carson to pull in .
Idiom: under fire (used idiomatically: yes)
Bill Hamilton , B B C News . Can anybody fail , fail to be moved by those pictures . Children really are under fire throughout the world , literally and metaphorically . Even in those countries where the , the real firing has stopped , there 's the aftermath . Many of the wars , most of the wars , are civil wars and you know the bitterness , the lingering bitterness after a civil war does n't help the children who have suffered from that war .
Idiom: see the light of day (used idiomatically: yes)
Four out of five graffiti in male lavatories had a sexual theme , while on the other side of the wall only one in four of those created by women dealt with overt sexual subjects ; love and romance seemed to be their principal occupation . GRAHAM CRACKERS As well as inventing the thin crisp biscuit that bears his name , Sylvester Graham was also the author of one of the most amusing condemnations of sex ever to see the light of day . Under the catchy title ' A Lecture to Young Men on Chastity , Intended Also for the Serious Consideration of parents and Guardians , he included among his many warnings that ' highly seasoned food , rich dishes , and free use of flesh ' led to almost certain insanity . He also offered dire predictions to couples ( Graham could n't even consider the possibility they might not be married ) that going at it like knives would lead to ' languor , lassitude , muscular relaxation , general debility and heaviness , depression of spirits , loss of appetite , indigestion , faintness and sinking at the pit of the stomach , increased susceptibilities of the skin and the lungs to all atmospheric changes , feebleness of circulation , chilliness , headache , melancholy , hypochondria , hysterics , feebleness of circulation , feebleness of all the senses , impaired vision , loss of sight , weakness of the lungs , nervous cough , pulmonary consumption , disorders of the liver and kidneys , urinary difficulties , disorders of the genital organs , spinal diseases , weakness of the brain , loss of memory , epilepsy , insanity , apoplexy , abortions , premature births , extreme feebleness , morbid predispositions , and an early death of offspring . '
Idiom: look the part (used idiomatically: yes)
Set it and you can forget about the meal until the buzzer lets you know it 's ready and to keep all those pots and pans there 's even a large storage compartment which has been specially contoured with smooth rounded corners to make cleaning easier . There 's everything in fact to help you create a better meal more easily . Needless to say , Phase 2 looks the part . Finished in beige with contrasting brown on the lower compartments it looks decidedly up market . But for all its lavish appointments the Phase 2 is designed for economy too .
Idiom: take someone to task (used idiomatically: yes)
Some were deadly serious about working in the car industry . One was about to start work in the engineering department of Rover and was already cute enough to know what you should and should n't say to a journalist , especially when it comes to forthcoming developments of the K - series engine . Another was hopeful of joining Ford — he took me to task for this magazine 's criticisms of the new Escort . And a third , whose immaculate dinner jacket could n't conceal hands scarred and stained from rebuilding a Mini Cooper , wanted to become the world 's first professional classic rally driver . I hope he makes it .
Idiom: beat the daylights out of (used idiomatically: yes)
So , short of sending out an army of class warriors from Teesside , what are we to do with these socially unacceptable socialites ? Well , maybe , they could be , for once , treated just like their lower class brothers the football fans . Plod could herd them all together into a group , march them to and from their destinations , depriving them along the way of all alcohol ( not to mention all civil rights ) and beat the living daylights out of any who still insisted on stepping out of line . No , that would n't be right . Not really .
Idiom: high and low (used idiomatically: yes)
This pair is especially rare being the maker 's only known double - barrelled pistols ( est . in excess of £ 50,000 ) . A wheel - lock rifle of circa 1680 is signed by the ivory sculptor - gunstocker Johann Michael Maucher of Schwäbisch - Gmund ; although well represented in museums , Maucher pieces make rare appearances at auction . Overlaid with delicately carved plaques of high and low relief ivory and inlaid with engraved mother - of - pearl , this gun crosses the boundary between a scientific instrument and a work of art ( est . in excess of £ 60,000 ) . The most eccentric gun must be the wheel - lock rifle with its barrel encased in glass . Signed and dated 1688 , it is extraordinarily rare , especially in such good condition ; there is another example by the same maker , Johann Gsell , but that one , unsurprisingly , retains only a fragment of original glass,(est . £ 15–20,000 ; part II of sale ) .
Idiom: out of the question (used idiomatically: yes)
THE ROVER SELL - OFF Returning Rover to the private sector had been an aim of the Conservative government for several years . However , continuing financial uncertainty meant that privatisation by means of a share issue to the public was out of the question . The government therefore turned to multinational companies as potential suitors for Rover . When details of its plan to split up and sell off parts of Rover became public in 1986 , however , the government faced a political storm .
Idiom: fly in the face of (used idiomatically: yes)
This is the moment when we decide whether we go in for a federal Europe or whether we go in for a Europe of member states trading together , competing together , co - operating together . ‘ We know the people of Europe do n't want this . To see the Tory Party dragooned to vote for it does seem to be flying in the face of democracy.’ With 30 or more Tory Euro - sceptics still holding out last night , tonight 's vote threatens to be a cliffhanger . In the Commons , Labour MPs unleashed their anger at the Liberal Democrats for promising to back the Government .
Idiom: on the level (used idiomatically: yes)
The remaining space afforded by the removal of the existing kitchen was used to provide areas for a Computer Room , two Business Studies Areas , Typing and Office Procedures . A two storey building linked by a bridge to the main building , and which incorporated the Library was substantially modified to provide a Modern Languages Suite situated at First Floor Level , with additional Classrooms and Offices , located on the Ground Floor . The existing Chapel Building was made available , and by sub - division of the space , provided accommodation on a split level for the Library . This was achieved by the introduction of a mezzanine floor . The remaining space was used for Music , Drama and Recital and incorporated a minstrel 's gallery , with ancillary rooms providing additional accommodation for Music and Recording .
Idiom: draw a blank (used idiomatically: yes)
Police hunting the killer of a prostitute have called in an expert to compile a psychological profile of the murderer . The body of Carol Clark was found in Sharpness Docks in Gloucestershire four months ago . Police have interviewed almost five hundred people since , but so far the investigation has drawn a blank . Four thousand troops and airmen are taking part in Operation Roaring Lion this weekend . It 's an exercise to test how they 'd cope with evacuating civilians from the scene of military action .
Idiom: hands down (used idiomatically: yes)
Yes . Oh I 'm impressed . You 've actually learnt something , hands down hands down . It 's three o'clock . Yeah well we 're gon na stay here cos we 've got quarter of an hour and if you want to listen to this that 's fine , but if you wanna carry on
Idiom: left and right (used idiomatically: yes)
The importance of ocular dominance within the tachistoscopic laterality paradigm is twofold . Firstly , evidence suggests that there may be a superiority of the crossed compared with the uncrossed optic pathways ( Sampson , 1969 ; Maddess , 1975 ; Osaka , 1978 ; Hubel and Wiesel , 1959 ) . If this is so , and if there is a sighting or acuity difference between a subject 's left and right eyes , then either the left or the right nasal pathway may be favoured accordingly . Hence there may be a bias in recognition towards either the right or left cerebral hemisphere respectively . Kershner and Jeng ( 1972 ) found right eye sighting dominant subjects to be more accurate than left dominant subjects on a tachistoscopic verbal task , while the reverse was the case on a non - verbal task .
Idiom: go hand in hand (used idiomatically: yes)
By DAVID BLUNKETT THE Government has a clever knack of stealing other people 's clothes , never more so than in its espousal of ‘ active citizenship’ as a desirable virtue . Of course , giving time and helping others is important : but it goes hand in hand with collective action to bring about wider change . It therefore comes ill from this Government to appeal for people to accept greater obligation to each other , when its policies have accelerated the decline of mutuality and neighbourliness . Collective self - help and co - operative ways of tackling problems go back a long way .
Idiom: in the fast lane (used idiomatically: yes)
Now.’ But , once the swap of places is made , the gilgul presses the gun into Riva 's ribs by way of a guarantee . The little dove huddles in her blanket , and , though Rainbow puts the heat on full , does not stop shivering until we 're somewhere in the depths of Essex , in the fast lane of the M25 . But she 's smart enough to keep her mouth shut . For the moment , I also hold my peace .
Idiom: take the piss (used idiomatically: yes)
You silly boy ! Now can I have a proper rubber ? Oh that takes the piss . Nasty . This has got ta be taped .
Idiom: take a back seat (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ There 's something wrong with me,’ she thought . ‘ Wanting to bother.’ Even Midnight 's show - jumping had taken a back seat . Show - jumping seemed a potty sort of occupation compared with the one she was engaged in at the moment . She tried to think of life without her monumental competition , and wondered what on earth she used to do , to think about .
Idiom: to the tune of (used idiomatically: yes)
But the European Economic ~ Advisory Group at CESifo , a group of economists from seven European countries , has rejected this view in its latest report , just released in Brussels . The group argues that a Lehman - like crisis can not happen for the simple reason that it already did happen . In October 2008 , a month after the Lehman collapse , the G-8 countries agreed to rescue all systemically relevant banks , while rescue facilities to the tune of € 4.9~trillion ( $ 6.7~trillion ) were established worldwide – and are still largely intact today . Should one of these banks run into trouble because of a sovereign - debt default , the necessary rescue funds will be readily available . Another breakdown of the interbank market is therefore very unlikely .
Idiom: have a ball (used idiomatically: no)
Du n no enough about Tinkler , what about Sharp as well I 'm all for the youth team comming into the premier league side so why not try them more this year . Deane and Rodders up front again I du n no I 'd like to see him try for a goal poacher or someone like Ferds . If Deane been told to be target man and also lay the ball off for the likes of rodders and Speed then he 's OK this season , but £3 mil for a STRIKER ! ! I want him to score goals as well , i.e like Chappy. firsts and he 'll come good . As rocky probably would have given the chance .
Idiom: run the gamut (used idiomatically: yes)
who turns pulped newspaper into seven pale papier mache caricatured Heads . Richard Parker Landscapes Colour Around Us , The Art Gallery , Queensway , Billingham ( until June 27 ) IN what is effectively a full - scale retrospective with work that goes back to 1958 , Richard Parker shares with us his great love of landscape . The main body of these superb watercolours is of more recent vintage and runs the whole gamut of the seasons it is refreshing to come across a trio of such shivery snowscapes as Deep Snow , Upleatham ( 28 ) , Road into Guisborough ( 78 ) and Tocketts Farm in Snow Guisborough ( 22 ) . Subsequent groupings provide us with Tree - scapes , more Snowscenes , Lakes and Rivers . More experimental work in oils runs down the central spine of the exhibition including as it does both the ring form Sea and Rocks ( 534 ) and the hessian Collage in Brown of Trees ( 34 ) .
Idiom: sign of the times (used idiomatically: yes)
I rate him very highly . Garth McGimpsey , Jim Milligan and myself have all stayed amateur . I say all , but really it is a sign of the times when only 30 % of an amateur team are committed amateurs . Jim Milligan played a full year in 1990 and gained a place in the Eisenhower Trophy team in New Zealand . The British and Irish teams was unsuccessful in this event , and this is the first international event not won by a British team for a very long time .
Idiom: claim to fame (used idiomatically: no)
From : Date : Mon , 15 Nov 93 11:59 GMT Subject : Dodgy claim to fame ( was RE : PEMBERTON ) Eric Cantona : All that talent AND good looks ? Friday nights in Oxford can be great if you pick the right pub .
Idiom: on the money (used idiomatically: yes)
Like banks , the discount houses make their profit by a process of maturity transformation : by borrowing short and lending long — or to be more precise , by borrowing very short indeed and lending slightly less short . They borrow from the banks for as little as a few hours ' notice of recall by the banks ( money at call ) , and lend to the government , local authorities and firms for typically three months ( bills of exchange ) . They pay a slightly lower rate of interest on money at call than they earn by discounting bills . The liability and asset structure of the discount houses can be illustrated by looking at their balance sheet . Table 16.4 shows the combined balance sheet of the nine discount houses at the end of January 1990 .
Idiom: on the wagon (used idiomatically: yes)
From farther north in America comes the more familiar ' to have a chip on your shoulder ' which was born in the logging camps . Any lumberjack who was feeling sufficiently ill - disposed towards his fellow drinking companions could place on his shoulder a small chip of wood to indicate he would take on any man who cared to flick it off . In the more remote camps even water had to be hauled in , so the more sober jacks were ' on the ( water ) wagon ' . TODAY 'S Book Of Things You Did n't Know … is now on sale , published by Simon & Schuster for £ 3.99 . Princess Diana
Idiom: in hot water (used idiomatically: no)
Well , sex mainly , and the mistaken male view that women dream of having a wild and torrid fling in the afore - mentioned potting shed with someone who spends more time with mulch and manure than Gillette shower gel . If any man out there thinks that this book written by a man is a woman 's idea of a romantic fantasy , they are mistaken . This may have been the case when Lady C. first frightened the servants back in the twenties , but now that kind of behaviour would probably land Mellors in the hot water he so obviously needs . The plain fact is that us women are fussy . The mere sight of a dandruff - laden shoulder , a grimy collar or a grubby fingernail is enough to bring the most promising of romances to a sudden end .
Idiom: cold feet (used idiomatically: yes)
Brady 's condition is causing increasing concern at Roker Park and boss Malcolm Crosby hopes hospital tests will ease fears over the future of his 21-year - old Republic of Ireland winger . Brady has had pains in his legs and pins and needles in his toes . Two weeks ago he was forced out of a reserve match complaining of cold feet . The problem may explain why Brady has not made more of an impact since exploding on the scene three years ago . Crosby said : ‘ Stamina has been one of the lad 's weaknesses and this could explain it .
Idiom: make or break (used idiomatically: yes)
How do they feel , those Acas teams , as they sit down to sort out yet another union / management dispute ? Weary , been - there - before — or is it a challenge ? And what does it matter to us , ordinary businesspeople , who have day to day jobs to do which certainly do not involve make or break run - ins with unions ? And what about those businesspeople who are trying to get a better deal for the new photocopier , settle a departmental dispute , win a new client , bring the audit fees down ? Are they about to waste time they have n't got , bound to lose or is it a challenge to them ?