Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: neither here nor there (used idiomatically: yes)
The upshot of the matter was that although the Butcher had an account for 30 odd years they did not think him worthy of an invite . Well he was coming anyway . That he was not in the category ordained by the Marketing Department for the evening was neither here nor there . With the speed of lightening word spread throughout the town about the ‘ do’ in the Bank on such a night . The conversation prefix ‘ Are you going … ’ changed to the definite ‘ there is … ’and that quite naturally solicited a definite answer .
Idiom: turn a blind eye (used idiomatically: yes)
They may not be looking for treatment or rehabilitation but er what we can offer them is clean injecting equipment er free condoms , because H I V is transmitted sexually as well , probably more than , more often than in Oxfordshire , er and also we have been prescribing from an assessment clinic in the city centre . So even people who do n't want to stop using drugs can actually have a healthier drug - using lifestyle through contact with us . Now that sort of policy does have its problems because some people would say that is allowing people to break the law , it 's turning a blind eye to people who are breaking the law . Well , we understand that conflict , er but basically , at government level , it 's been determined that er the risks and the dangers of H I V the AIDS virus is actually more er more dangerous to society and the individual than drug misuse itself . Now Nick what er can the Social Services department do about the problem in the area ?
Idiom: play for time (used idiomatically: yes)
Race row flares again : Minister accuses Lib Dems of attacking black Tory . Sort out the travellers . Landowners demand police get tough . And playing for time . The musical moves to save the rainforests . Good Evening : ANNE DAWSON
Idiom: take a dim view of (used idiomatically: yes)
Tibbles had got hardly any time left at all . She was bum up in the air , small head to one side ‘ gnawing her way through Donald 's portion and then on to the rest of the poisoned carcass of the chicken , which Henry added to her plate . If she was well enough to formulate a view on the question -and at the present rate of progress it looked as if she might be — Elinor would take a dim view of the poisoning of Tibbles . Cats did not rate quite as high on her scale of things worth fighting for as , say , dolphins , but their stock certainly stood higher than that of the middle - aged , white , heterosexual male . She seemed unable to appreciate the fact that Henry himself was one of a threatened species , even though that threat was treated with contempt by most ecologists and nearly all women .
Idiom: keep tabs on (used idiomatically: yes)
But they turned nasty and backed down . Now , Countrywatch … a firm from Herefordshire has been called in . They patrol land and keep tabs on the gangs after tip offs from gamekeepers and farmers . But they need strong evidence to secure a conviction . He says our basic equipment is a notebook to document evidence .
Idiom: run riot (used idiomatically: yes)
They seem incapable of going on holiday without a ) general mayhem breaking out and b ) losing wee Kevin . This , as you may have guessed , is the phenomenally successful Home Alone formula and all characters are firmly in situ for the sequel which opens in Britain on Friday . Kevin , alias Macaulay Culkin , this time runs riot through New York 's high life and low life . In his wake is left a highly - professional movie with some excellent knockabout acting and a level of pace and tension which exceeds the breakneck delights of its predecessor . Macaulay has certainly grown in acting stature if not in height .
Idiom: play for time (used idiomatically: yes)
Even this degree of recalcitrance put Henry in a difficulty . He could not afford to antagonize Anselm , but — with motives very similar to those which led Anselm to maintain the rights of his see as he had received them from his predecessors — he had no intention of abandoning any rights enjoyed by his father and brother . Henry 's only plan at this moment was to play for time . He did not press for an immediate renewal of Anselm 's homage ; and William Giffard stopped calling himself bishop of Winchester . It was agreed , with Anselm 's consent , to send messengers to Rome to discover whether the pope was inflexible : meanwhile Anselm was restored to his lands .
Idiom: fly the flag (used idiomatically: no)
But how to get that information to him ? The royal standard , Ramsay suggested . If the decoy party displayed the Lion Rampant of Scotland , that would surely indicate high authority , for only the King or his Regent were entitled to fly that flag . Murray was doubtful as to whether this would be enough ; but Heiton declared that he could send a couple of men into the Roxburgh township , to the alehouses and howffs , to spread the word that the Regent himself was in the vicinity . Undoubtedly someone would carry this important news to the castle .
Idiom: play games (used idiomatically: yes)
If some of these distracting behaviours in other people annoy you , remember that we are probably guilty of such behaviour as well . Indeed , organizational life encourages us to give incorrect feedback , to be less than honest , to pander to our superiors while neglecting our subordinates , to play a multitude of political games . In a hierarchical structure , where success is seen in terms of promotion but where promotional opportunities become increasingly limited , playing the power game is inevitable . However , games lead to communication breakdowns . For example , I tell you , my boss , what I think you should hear , and leave out much of the rest ; and you , in turn , are telling your boss what you think he or she should hear , again leaving out the rest .
Idiom: give and take (used idiomatically: yes)
' Purely coincidental , ' Merrill murmured . She wished that he would go . She longed to be back in his arms , to let his lips open her own , to melt against him , to give — and to take — the delight which instinctively she knew they could create together . He was the right man . Yet on all other scores he was the wrong man .
Idiom: in a nutshell (used idiomatically: yes)
NT makes such an easy target . This study , like others before it ( UX No 412 ) , finds it 's the Microsoft brand not the software that 's responsible for the momentum . In a nutshell Locus says , ' NT breaks little new ground technically . ' In addition , IDC has come up with some projections that indicate not everybody is buying the hype . Despite a 95.2 % compound annual growth rate , it says NT as a client system wo n't pass desktop Unix anytime soon .
Idiom: behind the scenes (used idiomatically: yes)
Cade could provide for both the Crown and its debtors credit and financial expertise . He was one of a select group , which included the justiciars Robert de Beaumont , first Earl of Leicester , and Richard de Lucy , and the treasurer Nigel , bishop of Ely [ qq.v . ] , who provided continuity between the old and the new regimes . Cade was the man behind the men behind the scenes . The evidence for Cade 's operations suggests that they shared many of the characteristics of the better known Italian merchant bankers of the late middle ages . It was a family firm .
Idiom: heart of gold (used idiomatically: yes)
Victim , 70 , had ‘ a heart of gold’ By Lynda Roughley Daily Post Correspondent AN ELDERLY spinster with ‘ a heart of gold’ was battered to death in her home by a man she had minded as a boy , a court was told yesterday . Muriel Brunton , 70 , was found a few hours after ‘ a ferocious attack’ lying dead in the hall of her home in Haigh Road , Aspull , Wigan . Her attacker was staying with his parents just yards from her house , Liverpool Crown Court was told .
Idiom: take liberties (used idiomatically: no)
After all , Fidel Castro managed to give up smoking , and urged his people to do the same . George Orwell died at the age of 47 , from tobacco - assisted tuberculosis . TAKING LIBERTIES The government has nothing to offer on home affairs but toughness , says Jolyon Jenkins The IRA said it with Semtex . As a piece of theatrical violence , a 100 lb bomb blast in the heart of the City of London , 23 hours after the polling stations had closed , was a triumph of the terrorist 's craft — more eloquent a comment on the election than any number of Sinn Féin leaflets .
Idiom: tread the boards (used idiomatically: yes)
Powerful punch for Strindberg Christopher Grier catches a new London theatre group with an enterprising production of ‘ Miss Julie’ STRINDBERG 'S Miss Julie ranks among the most tiresome female characters to have trod the boards over the last 100 years or so . Perhaps the only thing to do is to make her dance as Elizabeth von Rosen so memorably did for the Royal Danish Ballet decades ago . Nevertheless , here she is again a vociferous pain to the last in a gripping production by Charlotta Martinus for a new and enterprising group called Confederate Spirits in a pub - theatre in North London , the Duke of Cambridge .
Idiom: eyeball to eyeball (used idiomatically: yes)
The people of West Belfast are deliberately made to look different . Not only is West Belfast discriminated against by the IDB , but the IDB discriminates in favour of other areas . Richard Needham has talked of ' facing Gerry Adams eyeball to eyeball eyeball ' , but the truth is that Richard Needham refused to talk to the MP about development in West Belfast . Richard Needham , it was said , is only interested in appearing to develop the area in so far as it would assist him in his fight against ' terrorism ' . One participant had conducted some research into small businesses in West Belfast for a research report .
Idiom: on and off (used idiomatically: yes)
Check if your PC can detect a wireless network . Otherwise , the wireless card may be disabled . Sometimes , computers have a physical button or switch that can turn the wireless network card on and off .
Idiom: at a pinch (used idiomatically: yes)
Then , looking up , she said , ‘ I 've had a thought . If Robert really is going , then what about Ian coming here as assistant ? There 'll be all the farm work that Robert is leaving behind , so we could probably afford to pay him , at a pinch . Later on — when you decide to go — I could get a new assistant.’ She was thinking quickly , trying to ignore the aching pain in her heart .
Idiom: rise to the occasion (used idiomatically: yes)
Middlesbrough tried everything to complete a grand slam of derby wins , but the midfield prompting of Peake and the dangerous flank attacks of John Hendrie , failed to wrest victory from Sunderland 's unyielding grasp . And while Boro could point to Norman 's two brilliant stops as the reason for coming away empty handed , they had to thank Pears for saving the day in the 71st minute when he saved point - blank from Mohan to prevent an own goal . Sunderland again rose to the occasion against better opposition and just about deserved to get the points to ease their relegation worries considerably . But Middlesbrough showed that they have the skill and fighting spirit to fulfil their Premier League dream and make this only a temporary set - back . MATCHFACTS Goal : Davenport ( 21 mins , 1–0 ) .
Idiom: fly the coop (used idiomatically: yes)
None are to be taken of the flier , under any circumstances . At first they lived in hope , I think , they were willing Hamilton to be wrong , they needed it to be their man . Then Deutschlandsender made their announcement yesterday that Hess had flown the coop and I think that clinched it for them . It was Hess , it had to be , but even if it was n't , they were safe . The Nazis had lost him , and we had someone who would do .
Idiom: beg the question (used idiomatically: yes)
Stage of problem development . Primary prevention is normally understood in terms of universal needs and services : sufficient income , adequate housing , appropriate health care . Parker ( 1980 ) associates primary prevention with efforts to prevent problems from ever arising which begs questions regarding the nature of the problems under review . In social work these can be defined as difficulties in personal and social functioning . However , since personal and social difficulties are experienced by most people , the problems addressed in primary prevention in social work also include those complex processes whereby individuals become separated out from the general population , entering client careers with welfare agencies ( Greenley and Kirk , 1973 ; Hardiker and Barker , 1985 ) .
Idiom: bite someone's head off (used idiomatically: yes)
Oh ! Well it 's No I do n't wanna bite your head off . No it 's That is that I do n't mind .
Idiom: tell tales (used idiomatically: no)
' It 's up to you , Sir Daniel . ' Graham looked as though he would gladly kick the Old Man , Mike thought , beginning to enjoy himself . Whatever this is about , there 'll be a great deal of pleasure to be got out of telling the tale around afterward . ' Right , then , Mr. Bridges . Mike .
Idiom: count your blessings (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ You 'll have to wait for your supper tonight,’ announced the old girl . ‘ You 've got a visitor coming . A fine , grand lady who 's going to give you a talk all about people what are worse off than you are , so you 'll learn to count your blessings.’ ‘ Who is it?’ ventured Sam . ‘ It 's Mr Harker 's cousin,’ said Biff .
Idiom: in the offing (used idiomatically: yes)
On 3 March the heads of the two universities spoke by phone , and discussed the importance and complexities of the test - tube fusion research at the two institutions . Brigham Young University and the University of Utah are great rivals and the presidents saw this as an opportunity to ‘ fuse’ the two institutions to their greater mutual glory . In particular Peterson of Utah reportedly claimed that ‘ there are billions of dollars at stake and Nobels in the offing’ . Thus it was that on Monday 6 March the summit took place at Brigham Young University involving administrators and scientists from the two universities . Before the meeting began , at 9 a.m. , Chase Peterson met with his opposite number at Brigham Young University and with Joe Baliff , the Brigham Young University Provost , to discuss the agenda .
Idiom: get to grips with (used idiomatically: yes)
Hence the comfort from eating , sucking sweets or a pipe , and drawing on a cigarette . Nicotine chewing gum helps in more than one way , I explained . He thought these were helpful plans — something positive to get to grips with the habit and see an end to cash shortages in the housekeeping as money was siphoned off for another packet ; no more sandpaper taste in the mouth ; no clothes reeking of stale tobacco and an end to the shakes . He did n't like the tremors that went with the addiction — the wavering match as he lit up again and spilling his tea during a work - break was embarrassing . ‘ I 'll start now,’ he vowed , suddenly making up his mind .
Idiom: in living memory (used idiomatically: yes)
The computer went down for a while , it 's probably full of water Voice over It 's not the first time Faringdon 's been flooded , but in living memory this may be the worst deluge Male speaker I 've lived in this area for 25 years .
Idiom: second nature (used idiomatically: yes)
We had a head start as far as integration is concerned , because last year we offered a business administration ‘ fast track’ access course which involved a lot of integrated teaching and assessment . This showed us that integration saves time and duplication , and makes the programme more interesting for the students . Integration is starting to become second nature for us . Lecturers will now come to me to check what modules the students are doing with other staff , and we 're taking much more of a team approach . We 're also starting to use flexible learning , through the college 's new Business Administration Flexible Learning Unit , and open learning packs are now available for some of the general SVQ modules .
Idiom: cold feet (used idiomatically: yes)
Slipper of the Yard objected to some passages in Delano 's book but did not resort to litigation . He was shown my television script and took objection to some passages in that also Some amendments were made , not entirely to his satisfaction but certainly to the satisfaction of the BBC 's legal department , since the thumbs - up was then given for the production to go ahead . Why , then , the attack of cold feet when the programme was in the can and the billing in the Radio Times ? Our distinguished , and rightly furious , director James Cellan Jones s quoted in the Times as believing that the BBC has lost its nerve in the wake of the Panorama libel case , which ended in a £ 250,000 settlement . For myself , I believe the BBC has gone generally chicken in the wake of Norman Tebbit 's assault , and is simply keeping its head below the parapet .
Idiom: on someone's mind (used idiomatically: yes)
No , it 's not about taking chances in the commodities market but rather a kind of theatre of concern about human potential in our era of heightened environmental concern . There Is a vast backdrop - like painting — 200 feet long by twelve feet high — against which is set up an array of further paintings , drawings and sculptures , some of which incorporate scientific writing . Bio - technological concerns are also on Laurel Katz 's mind in her show at Postmasters ( 19 March to17 April ) . In it she has provided a life - size cast of a cow with a kind of knitted suit and populated a wheat field with mannequins sporting space suits . And Carter Kustera , at Josh Baer , presents ' Based on a True Story ' , an installation examining distortive media responses to real - life incidents ( until the 27th ) .
Idiom: hot air (used idiomatically: yes)
experience of trying to , trying to put through land reform in erm areas which then led to just incredibly bad Yes . cos all the sort of people communists they 're all just full of hot air and just really get lost Right . the important lessons they learnt cos at first they thought land reform would enable them to achieve mass mobilization
Idiom: off the hook (used idiomatically: yes)
Lili agreed with me , saying that a reddened nose did n't count as crying , not in her book . ‘ I have a good cry sometimes,’ she said , ‘ in the same way that I sometimes have a spring - clean . I close the house and take the phone off the hook and I cry.’ ‘ Why?’ asked my mother . ‘ It 's good for me,’ explained Lili .
Idiom: hot air (used idiomatically: yes)
The going looked even worse ahead , so I left the wheelbarrow and scouted around . I felt liberated without the load , as if I could fly , and I found the cruel surroundings suddenly beautiful . In the hot , quivering air , the bright - peach floor was rippling like canvas , and the sun was bouncing like heavy rain at my feet . No longer the rattle of metal . Every scratch and whisper was loud like the crackles in the silent moments of a film .
Idiom: under the microscope (used idiomatically: yes)
Mobile forms of macrophage circulate in the blood , ready to be recruited into inflamed tissue to reinforce the cells already there . The macrophages are particularly useful in the lymph nodes , where they filter the tissue fluid ( lymph ) and can then offer the antigens ( immune response stimulators ) of the invader to the lymphocytes concentrated there . Lymphocytes are small round cells which appear under the microscope as black dots , like tail - less tadpoles , working their way through the tissues . Despite their uniform appearance , each has a unique identity conferred by the receptors it bears for antigens . When a lymphocyte is presented with an antigen that fits its receptor as a key fits a lock , the lymphocyte is literally ‘ turned on’ , with its metabolism rapidly increasing .
Idiom: on the game (used idiomatically: yes)
Round counters can then be formed from different colours , and two cubes for the dice made from the reserved piece of white fondant . 9 Place some royal icing in a piping bag with a medium writing nozzle and pipe thin white lines between each square on the game board . Colour the remaining royal icing black , and place in a bag with a fine writing nozzle . Pipe the words START and FINISH on to the top left and bottom right squares , and then pipe numbers on to the squares in consecutive order .
Idiom: draw stumps (used idiomatically: yes)
" The cricket ground recently acquired by the Institute , is in fairly good order , and the first cricket match played thereon , took place on Sat . June 13th . The match was Halling Institute v Snodland , and was decided by the first innings Snodland scoring 77 and Halling 49 , Halling were playing valiantly when stumps were drawn at 6.30 . " A team existed before this as in February of the same year there was held at the Institute a cricket concert attended by a large audience . On August 1st 1891 , a cricket match between Halling Institute and Mr G.K. Anderson 's eleven , was held on the Hundred of Hoo cricket ground .
Idiom: fall into place (used idiomatically: yes)
Deliberately buried either as ritual offerings to accompany the burial of the dead , as gifts to the gods , or else to keep objects safe , finds can also be buried as a means of disposal . Rubbish from a household was often buried in pits , and would have included worn out and broken objects in addition to food debris such as animal bones and oyster shells . Most finds that were simply lost ( small and easily mislaid , such as coins and brooches ) or objects that fell into places from which they could not be retrieved , such as wells , are often complete and may be in very good condition , depending on the materials from which they are made and the conditions in which they have been buried . By contrast , most objects thrown away were by definition worn out , broken , or regarded as useless . Discarded fragments of objects are the most common type of find on archaeological sites , and consequently it is this ‘ yesterday 's rubbish’ that provides most information about the site and the people who used it .
Idiom: play games (used idiomatically: yes)
Football : Robson 's tact is strained by Barnes blow By JOE LOVEJOY BOBBY ROBSON tried his best to be diplomatic , but his face is too expressive to play that game , and the fight to conceal his true feelings was well and truly lost . The England manager was surprised and disappointed by Liverpool 's decision to withdraw John Barnes from Wednesday 's decisive World Cup qualifier in Poland — and it showed . Barnes has been suffering from a hamstring strain , but he was able to train on Thursday and yesterday , and Robson had expected him to be fit for Chorzow , where a point will be enough to take England to Italy as winners of Group Two .
Idiom: out of line (used idiomatically: no)
The experiment worked ; now all fabric is given an initial staining before the main production run , in a colour most accurately described as ‘ tea dust’ . If professional textile designers had translated the patterns , they would probably have perfected the colour register — the correct alignment of the plates in four - colour printing . But the Stotherts prefer the more haphazard look of the old wood - block printing , where colours out of line , gaps and smudges , all add to the authenticity . Tim believes they are breaking new ground as antique dealers producing a fabric range , though in America he says the best decorators are also antique dealers , a trend which he predicts could grow here . ‘ The furniture and fabrics should go together , because what you 're selling is a complete look.’