Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: out of pocket (used idiomatically: no)
Many Japanese families today are sitting down to enjoy a meal of dolphin , perhaps eating it raw , or salted and pickled in miso , or dried with seasonings and made into sausage . Other families may be feeding dolphin meat to their dogs . It 's a taste that seems to be catching on in Japan , replacing a traditional fancy for whale meat , which is now priced well out of the range of most Japanese pockets . As the demand grows , so does the dolphin kill . Japanese dolphin hunts are centred on the Izu and Kii Peninsulas in southern Honshu , and the harpoon fishery is centred in the Iwate Prefecture in the northeast .
Idiom: take someone's word for it (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ You do n't have to take all your clothes off to do that.’ ‘ No ? Well , I 'll take your word for it . I 'm not an expert in that area myself.’ He stood pondering the waters once more .
Idiom: come a cropper (used idiomatically: yes)
Indeed , it might have been better to divert funds away from RAM and put them towards a superior video card . OK , it sounds decidedly dumb , but one glaringly obvious thing you should check is whether your machine 's ‘ turbo’ button has been pressed . I 've come a cropper over this before , bemoaning the appalling performance of a 386/40 until I noticed that the tiny turbo light was off and , instead of running at 40MHz , the machine was running at 8MHz ! This kind of elementary boo - boo would certainly impact video speed . If all else fails , ask your dealer what sort of Win Tach index your type of machine should return , and if necessary , wheel your machine back to be sorted out .
Idiom: behind the scenes (used idiomatically: yes)
Now that the $ 30 million project is completed , however , visitors will find not much seems to have changed at all . Exhibition space was not needed the library eschews blockbusters , and its permanent collection of books , manuscripts and works on paper can not be exposed to light too often . What the Morgan really lacked were adequate facilities behind the scenes . And that is what the Morgan gained . The expansion nearly doubles the library 's space .
Idiom: on the rocks (used idiomatically: yes)
Much low - level theory is presupposed here . It is implied that there is such a thing as wind , which has the property of being able to cause the motion of objects such as prams , which stand in its path . The sense of urgency conveyed by the ‘ Look out’ indicates the expectation that the pram , complete with baby , will fall over the cliff and perhaps be dashed on the rocks beneath and it is further assumed that this will be - deleterious for the baby . Again , when an early riser in urgent need of coffee complains , ‘ The gas wo n't light’ , it is assumed that there are substances in the world that can be grouped under the concept ‘ gas’ , and that some of them , at least , ignite . It is also to the point to note that the concept ‘ gas’ has not always been available .
Idiom: hand to mouth (used idiomatically: no)
Sex does make one so hungry , does n't it ? Or perhaps you do n't know about that — goodness , dear , you 've gone a very funny colour ! ' Leonora gulped , a hand to her mouth , and with an exclamation Melanie hauled her upstairs and through a large bedroom into a bathroom , then left her alone to part with her lunch . It was a pity , Leonora thought with bleak detachment afterwards , that shock always had such an inconvenient effect on her digestive system . After a moment or two to pull herself together and wash her face , she went back through the bedroom , her stomach heaving again when she saw the crumpled disorder of the bed .
Idiom: pie in the sky (used idiomatically: no)
American Pie in the Sky NEW ~ YORK – While the risk of a disorderly crisis in the eurozone is well recognized , a more sanguine view of the United ~ States has prevailed . For the last three years , the consensus has been that the US economy was on the verge of a robust and self - sustaining recovery that would restore above - potential growth .
Idiom: split hairs (used idiomatically: yes)
Good for him , he 's doing his job.’ He was gazing at her with an infuriating world - weariness suggesting he 'd heard her argument a hundred times before . ‘ This is turning into one of those mediaeval disputes which split hairs endlessly,’ he said . ‘ Are you playing devil 's advocate , by any chance?’ ‘ No , I 'm not!’ exclaimed a heated Meredith , bouncing about in her chair .
Idiom: beg the question (used idiomatically: yes)
In fact , if we all had sex as often as we had surveys we would n't have time to answer the surveys in the first place . The study , funded by the Department of Health , offers insight into the spread of HIV and Aids , but while doing so repeats the age - old cliches and stereotypical ideas relating to male and female sexuality : namely , that men do it more than women . But it begs the question who are they doing it with , if the female averages are really so much lower than the male ? They 're certainly not doing it with other men ( only 3.6 per cent claim to have had homosexual intercourse ) , so can we presume yet again that men just like to say they do it more often . A more interesting survey is the one by Durex , which reveals that Lancastrians have sex on average 77 times a year — which astonishingly makes them top of the league .
Idiom: state of the art (used idiomatically: yes)
And as a result there 's always been erm , an incentive there to increase agricultural production . How do they do that , well , they employ the latest technology cos , they you know , U K farmers are some , are some of the most erm , er , well they use some of the most highly capital intensive techniques of production . You know , using artificial insemination techniques , they 're using erm , some er , designer er , seeds for their er , for their crops , they 're using scientifically engineered agro - chemicals , they 're using state of the art machinery , and they 're , they 're using those , that technology to increase output because the more they produce , the more support , or the higher their , their income will be . Alright , so they have n't become they have n't become dinosaurs in the same way as the Eastern European car manufacturers might have done .
Idiom: come to terms with (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ He was such a vital force in my life , and when he was gone , he took so much of me with him . I 'd always known he was going to die , and so had he , really , but when it happened — it was a long time before I could really face it . I thought I 'd come to terms with it , but that little lad yesterday … ’ He rolled his head towards her . ‘ You just got caught in the crossfire .
Idiom: anything goes (used idiomatically: no)
‘ The only problem is it 's about a year too soon for us . But we 've got a young side at Cardiff now and it 's good for them to play against these players , to see that they 're only human beings after all.’ Neither jet - lag nor anything going wrong has been evident at the tourists ' training , which has been comfortably the most impressive seen in Cardiff since … well , since the last time the All Blacks were there in 1980 . Then , at today 's venue , they beat Wales 23 - 3 ( a margin greeted with horror by the Welsh at the time ) and Cardiff 16 - 9 . Yesterday produced the tour 's first injury scare of any note .
Idiom: hit the ceiling (used idiomatically: no)
Beyond this ceiling , the government can spend only from current revenues . US Treasury ~ Secretary Timothy Geithner recently informed members of Congress that the government will be in this situation on or around August 2 . Having already officially hit the ceiling , the Treasury is moving money around and tapping various pots of unused funds to pay its bills . In a few weeks , this “ flexibility ” will be used up . With the US government now borrowing around 40 % of every dollar it spends , a truly binding debt ceiling would immediately force the government to reduce spending radically and in a disorderly fashion .
Idiom: home and dry (used idiomatically: yes)
Earlier this year , the Ince - based agricultural chemical firm , warned that jobs were under threat if the European Commission did not take action to prevent cheap Russian fertilisers being dumped on to the UK market , making competition virtually impossible . Yesterday the EC announced that Kemira and the other British fertiliser manufacturers had won their case against the Russians . Although Kemira is not completely home and dry , the EC will find it virtually impossible not to find a solution to the problems it has recognised . ‘ We understand they have found in favour of us and the other UK producers,’ said a spokesman for Kemira . ‘ Russian and Lithuania have been dumping cheap products on the UK market and our understanding is that the Commission has now found that they have caused material damage to the UK industry .
Idiom: state of the art (used idiomatically: yes)
In an establishment with 50 rooms , a state - of - the - art wellness installation costs about 1.5~million euros , for a pool and two to three saunas .
Idiom: know no bounds (used idiomatically: yes)
He was sure of that . If we could only learn his secret , Implexion thought , staring into the moonlit darkness of Inanna 's bedroom . Ixmarity would know no bounds , if we could only learn his secret . Lucien had slept too long . An hour after noon he wandered out of the room he shared with Bessie 's children and went into the kitchen , where he splashed water on his face .
Idiom: spot on (used idiomatically: yes)
The text is accompanied by a picture of a winsome , pointy - nosed fox . This fan is tiny , and fancy , but the uses of this are well - nigh endless . Spotted on a fan in a department store . An interesting challenge to the imagination . F * * * * * ' Gourmet .
Idiom: show the flag (used idiomatically: yes)
Ferrari also brought along Giacomo Modugno , an Italian Olympic Committee medical commission member who , as an eye specialist , was prepared to give evidence about Mansell 's difficulty in seeing the flag signal ordering him to stop . Modugno said it would have been almost impossible for Mansell to see the flag while following closely behind the McLaren - Honda of Ayrton Senna . Mansell was shown the black flag three times after being disqualified for reversing his Ferrari after overshooting his pit during a scheduled stop to change tyres . He and Senna then collided , putting both drivers out of the race . Ferrari argued that proper procedures had not been followed in Portugal and that Mansell had been unable to hear the instructions on his radio as he travelled at 170 mph past the pits .
Idiom: add insult to injury (used idiomatically: yes)
Informed and accurate information should be forwarded to ‘ 93’ to ensure that in each location the Banks ' guarantees are implemented in full . FINAL INSULT To add insult to injury members should be aware that the Banks are now attempting to re - write the settlement proposals of the dispute last year by claiming a right to earlier opening . IBOA has totally rejected this arrogant attempt by the Banks to undermine the settlement proposals and members in all Banks should clearly give a message to their Management , that this development is totally unacceptable . CONCLUSION
Idiom: wide of the mark (used idiomatically: no)
They went on to deride the ‘ screaming headlines’ , ‘ spate of glorification’ , and ‘ premature eulogies’ which followed in its wake . They were perhaps justified in their anger at the relatively low priority accorded to older people . Their complaint that they had been betrayed by a Committee ‘ set up as a result of the pressure by the NFOAPA upon individual MPs’ was , however , some way wide of the mark . Conclusion By the 1940s , retirement had been written in to state support for the elderly and , as such , became part of a new institutionalized dependence .
Idiom: at a pinch (used idiomatically: yes)
So eh , no she still goes over the downs with me you know . Yeah . We 've managed about ten to fifteen miles at a pinch Which is not bad for a couple of old'uns is it ? No , not at all . I had a what 's it today , from , something about the over fifties you see , so , cos they found it cost , it cost , it costs eight pounds a year to join you see , you know , you know , eh , pay on , so I 've joined it , I want to see what they 've got to say you know , you get , we get a lot of things you know
Idiom: under a cloud (used idiomatically: yes)
Take a long , cool look at your shares . Some privatised stocks are nearing their sell-by date . British Airways , British Aerospace and Rolls Royce are all under a cloud at the moment , for instance . But do n't sell just because the price starts to slide . Most shares should be held for at least five years to show a decent return .
Idiom: set eyes on (used idiomatically: yes)
Always supposing their parents had kept the postcards , which , considering their rarity value , they might well have done . Mary 's offer had been rejected without their thinking twice about it and she and Adam had said goodbye in a cool , offhand sort of way and Rufus had driven her off to the station in Goblander . From that day to this Adam had never set eyes on Mary Gage and had hardly ever thought of her . If she had come into his mind he had operated his cancelling switch as he did when any of the denizens of Ecalpemos strayed into his thoughts . Once , not long ago , an old film called National Velvet had been on television and when the young Elizabeth Taylor appeared on the screen he had at once been sharply reminded of Mary — and had exited , not with the escape key but with the switch on the set .
Idiom: sign of the times (used idiomatically: yes)
But the decisions made fascinating reading and would presumably still be dragged into any legal proceedings today , even if they were not regarded as binding . For this reason , the fourth edition of Coopers ' manual will continue to be of some value . Signs of the times include sections on ' Adding value to the audit ' , ' Audit regulation ' and ' Controlling audit costs ' . Smaller firms may not feel that some of the guidance is particularly relevant to them , eg : ' it is desirable that a second partner is appointed for each client ' . This new edition is , of course , an authoritative work and should prove invaluable to auditors .
Idiom: bite the dust (used idiomatically: yes)
By WINIFRED CARR THE PAST three dry years have not been good ones for young trees . A winter - flowering cherry , planted in memory of someone in a place I can not visit to water regularly , bit the dust last spring , but a replacement seems to have become established and even had a few blossoms this winter . Another cherry , the double pink Kiku - shidare Sakura , no longer weeps gracefully over the terrace pond as it did for more than 20 years . In spite of many buckets of water , it gave up the struggle last summer and had to be cut down .
Idiom: out of sorts (used idiomatically: yes)
And I knew he wanted me to . He wanted you to go , yeah . Yeah but I know what he means when he says he ca n't and I said to him I said ooh I feel a bit out of sorts this morning , sort of I do n't know how you must feel having to go to work . I said do you get fed up ? He said yeah .
Idiom: rough and ready (used idiomatically: yes)
Albert compiled eight volumes of these Arien , many of which betray the influence of Schein , who was Kantor at Leipzig 's Thomaskirche while the younger musician was studying at the university there . The texts are sometimes by Albert himself , but most often by Simon Dach , another member of the Kürbs - Hütte circle . The performances on this new disc are first - rate ; indeed they are so polished that I found myself occasionally longing for something with a little more humanity and which more faithfully reflected what were in all probability the more rough - and - ready sounds of the Kürbs - Hütte clientele . Matters are not helped in this respect by an acoustic which lacks intimacy , but which , nevertheless , serves the voices well . ' Lustig ' is the quality missing here but , having said that , I found plenty to enjoy in this seldom aired repertory .
Idiom: off the mark (used idiomatically: yes)
Since 1977 , when I first published what is still the only British book on the subject ( Modern First Editions : Their Value to Collectors ) , collectors have become more and more attracted to contemporary writers ; in this latest edition I list 281 twentieth century authors in whom there is currently the most interest , 115 of whom are alive and well and regularly producing new offerings which the hopelessly dedicated completists are obliged to add to their earlier rarities . How soon after publication these purchases are made depends on how rapidly the favourites reprint . With the likes of Martin Amis ( still the leader of the pack — a fine first of The Rachel Papers could now fetch £ 500 ) , Julian Barnes , Dick Francis , Wendy Cope , John Mortimer , Kazuo Ishiguro , Tom Stoppard and quite a few more , one has to be fairly quick off the mark ; with others , a more leisurely approach is adopted , either because the first edition tends to hang about , or — in such cases as le Carré and Forsyth — when the initial print runs are so huge as to discourage panic buying . The mention of these two blockbuster names ought not to imply , however , that the collecting of contemporary fiction is necessarily allied to the bestseller lists : booksellers may rest assured that not one of the mega - thousands of Jilly Coopers , Jeffrey Archers , Wilbur Smiths or Catherine Cooksons will go to a collector , while a surprising number of Dennis Potters , Alan Bennetts , Kingsley Amises , William Boyds , Seamus Heaneys and Alan Ayckbourns will . And if you hold a signing session — provided it is n't for a politician , a game - show host or some other nonentity — then the collectors will be out in force , perfectly happy to buy a new copy of Julian Barnes ' The Porcupine , though eager too to slip in their mint first of Metroland ( worth up to £ 80 ) or Flaubert 's Parrot ( £ 40 ) .
Idiom: on the ball (used idiomatically: yes)
When I got to the first rehearsal she announced , ' You 're all going to be in the Command Performance . ' Well I 'd never been on stage in my life before and there I was , suddenly going to be in front of King George and Queen Mary . I used to get so tired , she would hold up my black practice pants around the waist , hoist me up and down saying ' On yer balls , Girl , on yer balls . ' I had to do extra rehearsals because I was new and she would daub my legs with methylated spirits and iodine . I used to go home on the train with striped legs .
Idiom: off the record (used idiomatically: yes)
The " D " notice system This is a system of self censorship followed by the media in security matters . Much journalistic material is obtained from official sources " off the record . " Because of the width of our official secrets legislation , the use of such information constitutes a breach of the Acts . Although prosecutions are rare , editors require some guidance as to whether action is likely to follow a particular disclosure .
Idiom: on and off (used idiomatically: no)
But he lists his all - time favourite team - mate as Sammy McIlroy . He said : ‘ Sammy took me under his wing when I came into the Northern Ireland team . He did his best to keep me right and we had some great times together , on and off the pitch.’ Gallagher sets his heart on title win Mark aims to make amends THERE was never any danger of Mark Gallagher displaying his many skills Stateside this summer .
Idiom: go without saying (used idiomatically: yes)
Whether anyone knew where Andrew Stavanger was — well , yes . And if they did n't ? It 's not a crime for anyone , even the managing director of a shipping company , to go off without saying where . Unusual , perhaps , tiresome to his office — but if the strange behaviour at which his daughter had hinted was really a sort of battiness , the office would have made its own arrangements to get by . Battiness — premature senility of some sort — seemed the most probable explanation of the whole affair .
Idiom: jump down someone's throat (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ Do n't interrupt , Robyn,’ he drawled , with infuriating calm . ‘ Has n't anyone told you it 's not very polite ? I was about to say , before you jumped down my throat , if your plans need altering in any way.’ ‘ I wo n't allow them to be altered!’ Robyn shot back , furious with herself for giving him the opportunity to make her feel foolish and inferior all over again .
Idiom: in the long run (used idiomatically: yes)
Ethogenics is not introspection under another name . Rather we suppose that in both accounts and in actions , the same knowledge of what is socially potent and proper is revealed . It is only in the long run that a match gradually emerges between what is seen to happen and what is said to happen . But however that may be , we take it as axiomatic that unless it can be established to the contrary , the best authorities as to what went on are the actors themselves . Their meanings and their rules have priority in the scientific analysis of the phenomena .
Idiom: all things being equal (used idiomatically: yes)
It was also shown that the pedagogical perspectives held by mainstream mathematical educators , broadly ' psychometric ' , were such as to legitimate the broad outlines of a curriculum differentiated by ' ability'(but not so clearly its differentiation by sex ) . A discontinuity of both content and approach existed between selective school mathematics and some currents within university mathematics , especially pure mathematics . [ … ] In the case of the Mathematical Association , many of the older school - based members will have constructed their careers in terms of existing definitions of school mathematics and [ … ] will have had an interest , all other things being equal , in resisting changes which might be seen as leading to the relative devaluation of their ' knowledge ' . Some university mathematicians , on the other hand , especially those pure mathematicians teaching the post-1800 algebras , were beginning to express some concern over the nature of school mathematics . [ … ] This might be seen as an expression of concern by university mathematicians about the subject socialization of their potential students .
Idiom: few and far between (used idiomatically: yes)
And I wonder what sort of thoughts would have been going through your mind . Maybe we , it may well be that you were with other people , I wonder what sort of things if you were in a condition of speaking , what sort of things you would have been saying to them . Now , I suppose for most of us , bu bu because of the very fact we 're here this morning they have been few and far between , such experiences . Perhaps , what is more common is that , we may have spent time with someone who was dying , their last few hours , their few minutes . If they were not unconscious , I wonder what sort of conversation would be going on between us and them .
Idiom: toe the line (used idiomatically: yes)
It seems that those who try to live according to the official theory of schooling are subject to the same range of ritual abuse as the fans of another club . Perhaps those who live according to another theory of school see their rejection of the official line as contributing a dash of machismo to their public reputation . They certainly choose their abuse so as to indicate to those who do toe the line that they have lost it . But additionally , and given the enormous importance attached to the equilibration of dignity , not surprisingly , we find reference to a form of self - arbitration , where what they have said and done is judged by reference to their own conceptions of their integrity and dignity , regardless of ‘ popular’ opinion or the arbitration of specific others . G. H. Mead has suggested that there are two general stages in the development of the self ( Mead , 1934 ) .