Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: point the finger (used idiomatically: yes)
Now it contains a sealed crate belonging to Werner Freight . What we do n't know is whether that crate contains the kegs . If we jump the gun and point a finger at Stefan Werner without sufficient evidence and it turns out we were in the wrong he 's got enough sway to splash UNACO across the front page of every newspaper in Europe . ' A light flashed on the desk and after checking the video camera Rust activated the door . He handed the plastic bag to the white - coated technician and asked to be told the moment the fingerprints were identified .
Idiom: the rest is history (used idiomatically: yes)
ALL Ireland champions Donegal ring the changes for this afternoon 's Dr McKenna Cup meeting with Derry at Ballybofey . In the absence of the injured Matt Gallagher , Brian Murray switches to full back with Anthony Molloy and Barry Cunningham teaming up in the middle of the field . There was a time last season when manager Brian McEniff contemplated playing Murray on the edge of the square , but then along came Matt Gallagher and the rest is history . The versatile Noel Hegarty , an outstanding corner back when the county lifted the Sam Maguire , will play on the ‘ 40’ with the emerging and gifted John Duffy in the right corner of the attack . League champions Derry are resigned to being without Bank of Ireland All Star defender Tony Scullion , until the championship at the earliest .
Idiom: go through the mill (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ It 's not sudden,’ he said , finally . ‘ And I do n't really think you need to ask why . We went through the mill together , Franklin . We both know how it was . The only difference between us is that you have a wife and three kids .
Idiom: to say the least (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ Mr Fearon!’ There was no reply . She could imagine that Tom would go out and leave his door open if he was working about the place but not if he had quitted it , and in winter it seemed foolhardy to say the least to leave it and let the cold air invade the house . She stepped into the narrow hall and called again , ‘ Mr Fearon , are you here?’ A faint moan from the door to her immediate right answered her .
Idiom: seen better days (used idiomatically: yes)
We go down . A lopsided notice on a door says ‘ Guest Lounge’ . Inside there 's no carpet , just old lino , a few vinyl - covered stacking chairs , and two tables that have seen better days . You can smell the lack of money . It reminds me of that make - the - best - of - it jollity in a jumble - sale hall .
Idiom: touch and go (used idiomatically: yes)
Democrats sound as interested in Perot as Republicans do , though most pundits think his pro - business background would attract more disaffected Republicans and hurt Bush hard in Texas . For Bush , the economic indicators are improving , but not by much . It is still touch and go whether Americans will go into the election feeling better off than four years ago or whether they will still be blaming their President for keeping them comparatively poor — that 's to say , better off on average than anybody else in the world but not by as much as before . Democratic optimists say Clinton will now shift gears , promoting himself as the candidate of energy and change against Bush 's stuck - in - the - mud , colourlessly pragmatic , status quo conservatism . Sighing deeply , Democratic pundits and brokers are beginning to rally to the Clinton flag .
Idiom: with a vengeance (used idiomatically: yes)
No scene could have been more peaceful . But it was all a bluff . This may be the season of goodwill , but the Imperial Presidency is back with a vengeance . Nobody kicks sand into George Bush 's face and gets away with it . We can dust off the Rambo movies , and Mikhail Gorbachev can sit back amid the ruins of the Soviet empire and watch how a superpower really behaves .
Idiom: open someone's eyes (used idiomatically: yes)
Ah ! It 's going round our nursery . I woke up yesterday morning , I could n't open my eyes ! At our day nursery . Urgh !
Idiom: by the back door (used idiomatically: yes)
The metal tore into his flesh , ripping it away , slicing effortlessly through skin and muscles , exposing a portion of the middle - finger knuckle . Ryker ran for the shattered back door , out into the driving rain and the darkness , which suddenly seemed welcoming . Julie stood by the back door , rain drenching her , mingling with the tears of rage and fear on her cheeks . She tasted blood and thought that it was Ryker 's , but then realized that her own face was gashed just below the left eye , she guessed by flying glass . Panting breathlessly , she turned from the door and moved through to the hall , where Donna was trying to make her way down the stairs .
Idiom: hands down (used idiomatically: no)
This development has , in turn , reacted on the extension of industry ; and in proportion as industry , commerce , navigation , railways extended , in the same proportion the bourgeoisie developed , increased its capital , and pushed into the background every class handed down from the Middle ~ Ages .
Idiom: on the face of it (used idiomatically: yes)
In their terms , each linguistic act is an " act of identity " by which the speaker demonstrates his / her group allegiances . Thus , " the individual creates for himself the patterns of his linguistic behaviour so as to resemble those of the group or groups with which from time to time he wishes to be identified , or so as to be unlike those from whom he wishes to be distinguished " ( Le Page and Tabouret - Keller 1985 : 181 ) On the face of it , this is similar to accommodation theory : speakers approximate their interlocutors ' linguistic behaviour , or distance themselves from it , depending on whether or not they wish to identify themselves with that individual . But Le Page and Tabouret - Keller 's hypothesis is not primarily concerned with interaction between an individual speaker and an interlocutor , although this might follow from it as a special case . Rather , speakers are seen as modifying their behaviour to accommodate to group norms , where both the group and the norms themselves are as perceived by the speaker .
Idiom: round the bend (used idiomatically: yes)
Barmy . Out of its tree . Round the bend , out to lunch . You know . ' ' Well , ' the Doctor 's brow furrowed , ' let 's just say that Pool is a little out of touch .
Idiom: on the carpet (used idiomatically: no)
' It looks romantic , ' Vitor remarked , his eyes travelling around . The light from the half - dozen candles was flickering over the glossy surface of the azulejos — the traditional blue and white tiles which , in Portugal , covered the walls of palaces and cottages alike . It cast dancing shadows on the thick white carpet and gilded the green leaves of the plants which spilled from ceramic pots . ' Yes , ' Ashley agreed , with a tight smile . ' I 'd like to have a bath in here in the candlelight , ' he said quietly .
Idiom: strike a chord (used idiomatically: yes)
At the time of writing it is too early to determine whether the IEBPC 's Frankfurt seminars , presentations and cocktail parties will lead to a significant international force stimulating a vigorous wave of Data Discman publishing . There is , however , a clear momentum growing . The Sony platform has struck a strong chord among normally highly conservative publishing organisations . It will now be essential for Sony and its allies to maintain the gathering momentum and to spread its influence as widely as possible if their impressive new platform is to become — as they hope and intend — the de facto world standard for electronic book publishing in the 1990s and beyond . 3.4 Handheld Multimedia
Idiom: on your toes (used idiomatically: yes)
On the early levels the tiles are offered in obvious pairs making them easy to vanquish , but as you progress tiles are offered in odd numbers , forcing you to bring three together simultaneously . Later still , immobile blocks intrude on your playing area , and moving bricks can ( must ? ) be used as lifts . Worst of all , some tiles are inaccessible without forming a bridge with others — think on your toes and pair them off in the right order , or it 's back to the beginning . Carry on playing In the lastability stakes , Puzznic is , erm , lastable — with 144 screens covering 36 stages you wo n't be contemplating it in a hurry !
Idiom: call someone's bluff (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ You 're not really a journalist , are you?’ she said quietly . Whitlock felt cornered . His stomach was churning but he knew he could elude her if only he could remain calm and call her bluff . ‘ You 're an intriguing person . This morning you mysteriously slide me a note telling me to ask you out and now you claim I 'm not really a journalist even though my credentials were thoroughly checked out by your plant manager before he let me near the place .
Idiom: give someone pause (used idiomatically: yes)
Berwick was still besieged and would fall . Surrender now , or the hostages would be hanged . This dire threat , of course , gave them pause . But surely it was only a threat ? No Christian prince would do such a thing to innocent hostages ?
Idiom: break someone's heart (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ It comes from a villa in the hills outside the city . They were going to destroy it , can you imagine ? It broke my heart when I heard , and Nicolo — oh , he was so upset ! That floor is too beautiful to suffer such a fate , he said.’ Anna had dropped her voice to a whisper .
Idiom: at sea (used idiomatically: yes)
I took her hand as we walked to my house for breakfast , and did n't let go until we got to the verandah steps . As I kissed her there ( quickly , in case my parents were looking ) , I was lulled , and calm . It was like falling asleep after a stormy night at sea . It was , I assumed at the time , perfect love . That same evening , my parents played bridge with some people called Constantine .
Idiom: at sea (used idiomatically: yes)
Israel 's Debacle at Sea HAIFA – Israel was dead wrong in launching an attack by naval commandos against a flotilla carrying pro - Palestinian activists who were making an attempt to break the Israeli - Egyptian siege of Gaza . That long - term siege , put in place after Hamas assumed sole control of the government in Gaza – breaking with the Palestine ~ National ~ Authority in the process – is a humanitarian catastrophe and a grave moral error .
Idiom: in the nick of time (used idiomatically: yes)
How have you been?’ ‘ Hectic , as ever . I managed to hammer out the brief for the marioc debate in the nick of time . The final information turned up late and we were at it till the small hours . Still , glad to hear that it pulled the President through.’
Idiom: put paid to (used idiomatically: yes)
You ca n't — you pick six instead , and that 's just how it was at the Delacroix in Derry . A firm decision was taken at the onset of the competition to have 12 finalist . The Delacroix date put paid to that idea . Through to the final go singers , Denise McGrory , Lorraine Walker , Clare McLoon and Sharon Nixon . The boys did their bit , too .
Idiom: get the picture (used idiomatically: yes)
You had to have legs like Marlene Dietrich to triumph over that get - up . She had an American boyfriend whom she was cultivating like mad and apparently he was so stunned by the first sight of Rosie 's straight grey legs and black feet pointing to twenty past eight that he took several photos of them with his expensive Leica camera , exclaiming joyfully , ' Oh boy ! I have to get a picture of those feet ! They 'll never believe this back home ! ' Rosie 's one ambition was to get to America , and the easiest way was to marry a Yank and become a GI bride .
Idiom: by the same token (used idiomatically: yes)
They had sent a message to the country stating that Amy was ill , shortly before her death . At this time and prior to the fatal evening , Amy Robsart had enjoyed the most robust of health . There was little , if any , evidence to substantiate the gossip and , by the same token , there was little to disprove it . It did , however , come to light some seven years later that a Dr Bayley , a professor at Oxford , had been approached by one of Dudley 's servants shortly before Amy 's death . This servant had asked for a physic as his mistress was unwell .
Idiom: in the bag (used idiomatically: no)
' We had to stop selling the turf then , ' he said . ' What turf ? ' she asked . ' We took a lorry load of turf for our own fire and sold the rest in bags door to door . ' He pointed out the pebbled street in front of park 's Guest House where they had first stayed and a bungalow they had taken between the church and the golf links . ' We sold the turf from there .
Idiom: in the loop (used idiomatically: yes)
The procedure assigns the weighting between the top and bottom halves , saves a set of measures to be used for reference and initialises the fields norm , max , min , subjMeas of the sub - records top , btm . autoMeas — Top level measuring procedure . The main measurement is done by calling a function avgAreaMeasure in a loop at this level . Also here are some onscreen messages and a provision for resetting the saved ' good ' reference values if the number of accumulated bad readings exceeds a predetermined level . To do this the procedure refAndWgt is called .
Idiom: for Africa (used idiomatically: yes)
Worn out FROM A CORRESPONDENT IN ABIDJAN IN THREE decades at the top , President Félix Houphouet - Boigny transformed a tropical slum into a model for Africa . Now it is being transformed back again . In 1980 the Ivory Coast was the World Bank 's star pupil ; in December 1989 Mr Michel Camdessus , managing director of the IMF , said its economic crisis was ‘ deep and serious’ .
Idiom: in the offing (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ You seem to have changed your tune since yesterday , Bragg.’ The coroner glared at him through narrowed eyes . ‘ I suspect that some devious ploy of yours is in the offing.’ ‘ It is n't in my nature , sir.’ ‘ Hah !
Idiom: few and far between (used idiomatically: yes)
Smash in and risk death , or negotiate HANDLING siege scenarios such as the North Belfast Tiger 's Bay stand - off this week poses huge operational problems for security force strategists . In a strife - torn country where terrorist hijacking and hostage taking is a common occurrence , full - blown sieges have been few and far between . But when they do arise , police and military planners are caught on the horns of a dangerous dilemma : do they smash in quickly and run the risk of death or injury ? Or do they bide their time and seek to defuse the situation by negotiations via a mediator ?
Idiom: keep someone posted (used idiomatically: no)
Yellow Post - it notes , glowing with the thoughts of the day , stuck to the shelves of his voluminous bookcase . ‘ What are all the Post - its , Carl?’ we asked . ‘ There are no provisions for new ideas , so I keep them posted in my office until I need them,’ he said . Within large organizations innovation faces special problems . As size increases , there is a tendency towards greater depersonalization coupled with a decrease in lateral and vertical communication .
Idiom: out of the woods (used idiomatically: yes)
and she said , I told you he had been licking , she said oh , even with the licking , that 's excellent I 'm very pleased . Oh really has healed nice . And she said he 's not out of the woods yet , but , I 'll give you a collar , if he 's naughty , very crafty , and then I looked through the crack in the door and his looking . But how can he reach it with the collar on ? Well I
Idiom: to the bone (used idiomatically: no)
She loves the place for its pace , the quality of its light , the softness and delicacy of much of its thinking , its acceptance of whatever comes . She believes that what makes the South different from the rest of America is not just a matter of perception but almost a physical phenomenon . ‘ Mississippi’ , she says , ‘ goes clear through to the bone.’ Pornography and the arts The dragon recast as St George
Idiom: sign of the times (used idiomatically: yes)
Greenways which runs this landfill spends more than it has to by law to make sure the site is safe . It spent a third of a million pounds on this flare siphoning off dangerous methane gas — and has these Nigerian Lanner Falcons on constant guard against flocks of seagulls which can be a danger to planes from nearby RAF bases . There are plans to build a recycling plant here — that 's a sign of the times with the insistence by the government that 25 % of all household waste is recycled by the year 2000 . The weekly shopping for a family of 4 . Out of this , the glass , food tins and paper can be recycled .
Idiom: hear things (used idiomatically: no)
So on this tour , because I 'm playing so much off stage , I have the opportunity to work on certain things , certain licks here and there , and then the next night I can go out and actually play them live . ' There are certain songs now that I leave open for improvisation ; I play something different every night instead of playing the solo from the record . Obviously I do n't do that with every song because a lot of people like to hear certain things as they are on the record . But learning things in the hotel room and trying them out on stage the next night leaves it fresh , but gives me room to interject new ideas and see if I can pull them off or not . I also play an open solo and I play that differently every night .
Idiom: grasp the nettle (used idiomatically: yes)
In their election manifestos , Labour , and to some extent also the Liberals , have professed loyalty to the arm 's - length principle while at the same time proposing to set up large culture ministries on the continental European model . If they come to power , such institutional changes would of necessity lead to a review of the Arts Council 's role and therefore of the arm 's - length principle . Tim Renton could be said to have been the first to grasp this nettle . Washington D.C. Fumigating the N.E.A. in pre - election America
Idiom: catch someone's eye (used idiomatically: yes)
Billy and Mary were fooling and rolling about in the sunbeams on the edge of the clearing . The sun and cider were also having their effects on them . Yanto silently caught Billy 's eye and flicked his own eyes to the right . Billy got the message . ' Come on gal , ' he shouted , laughing as he stood up , ' let 's see if I can find a deer to show you . '
Idiom: spring to mind (used idiomatically: yes)
Yeah . Quite good , I like that . One of the questions that does spring to mind is which of these three people have an I Q er four times their chest size , is it A I ca n't remember the woman , erm with a thirty two inch chest B I ca n't remember , Jane Mansfield with a forty three inch chest Yeah . or C , Albert Einstein with a forty seven inch chest ?
Idiom: fill someone's shoes (used idiomatically: yes)
Miss Drax seemed to have caught the frog Williamson had had in his throat . Williamson , coming back from his second trip to the lavatory , passed Boddy on the way out for his third . Westerman , shuffling the cyclostyled papers about in his hands , dropped his glass and filled his shoes with brandy . Dyson watched them all with amazement . He himself was greatly excited , but not nervous in the least .
Idiom: horses for courses (used idiomatically: yes)
If you have a particular task in mind it may be that a 2.4 volt drill will perform quite adequately , although as a general rule the lower voltage drills are best suited to small diameter pilot drilling and countersinking . Heavy duty drills can drill bigger holes and more of them ! It really is a case of horses for courses , and is further complicated by the duration of some woodworking operations , such as power sanding . Sanders are operated for much larger periods than drills . Drills are generally subjected to harder work , with variables such as the nature and density of the material ; from soft deal to hard oak , even metal and concrete .
Idiom: come clean (used idiomatically: yes)
She could not think of any means of doing it without involving Andrew . She was still no further forward . Perhaps the best course was simply to come clean — to explain how she came to be involved in the case , and enlist Veronica 's help ? Loretta was not enthusiastic . It would mean putting herself in the hands of a complete stranger , a stranger who might even be involved in Puddephat 's murder .
Idiom: take heart (used idiomatically: yes)
Time will tell whether there is widespread demand for the Discman and the other formats . In some respects they are clearly superior to normal books , for example they have database cross - referencing facilities ordinary volumes lack . But lovers of novels in everyday ink and print can take heart from the fact that electronic book publishing lends itself best to reference material . Even electronic publishers can be sniffy about novels on disc . ‘ I think there 's a gimmick market,’ says one .
Idiom: go all the way (used idiomatically: no)
Thank you chairman . I mean , wha what I would like to go on and say is , that er , which the change of administration it has been necessary to er , adopt a different way of , of developing the budget , and I think you 're quite right to erm , pay credit to the effort of the er , budget review er , sub - committee . I think we also need to recognise that there has also been a er , high level of er , commitment from er , officers employed by this council to achieving the changes that we have asked in terms of financial management , now I 'm not going to pretend for a moment that er , we 've gone all the way there yet . But I think in the few months that this administration has er , has been in office , it is encouraging to see that the county council is operating inside the budget , er , which I believe was actually set by the previous administration , erm , er over which we had no influence whatsoever . Now clearly , we 're not going to pretend that there are n't going to be problems in the future that we may have to address .
Idiom: read between the lines (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ It 's more of a fantasy to a lot of people , not a religion as such . It 's about individual freedom of thought . There 's no given word that UFOs and aliens exist , but if you read between the lines , a hell of a lot of things have been taken away and readjusted . Even The Bible ! The Old Testament 's the most reliable book for ancient history we have , yet that was tampered with by Roman priests 400 years after the birth of Christ !
Idiom: all over the place (used idiomatically: yes)
Toby gestured for another glass of Bollinger and continued : ‘ No , the clues may perhaps lie in that contract between Supersight and Brian Harley . Try and tap up Mike Martinez’ people at this week 's tournament . I believe they are importing Carl Krantz at vast expense , so the clones from the Martinez agency will be swarming all over the place.’ Toby was referring to one of the great stars in the American golfing firmament whom the sponsors were said to be paying £ 50,000 in appearance money , much to the disgust of most of the other professionals . Predictably they said that the money should be going into the overall prize fund ; and , equally predictably , the sponsors replied that the money was being paid for Krantz to head up a special promotion for the company , and anyway they wanted some extra glamour and colour which a top American golfer would provide .
Idiom: rare bird (used idiomatically: yes)
She believed that she had accepted . Several times that evening at Therese 's house , Flavia was on the point of saying , Rosette Fournier turned up with an apparition — who can she be ? Or , The Fourniers have got hold of a rare bird , you know . Each time she felt that she could not say it . II
Idiom: come clean (used idiomatically: yes)
We believe the critically acclaimed PJ Harvey are in fact a record company hype and do not exist . Having attempted to attend two of their concerts we arrived only to find the gigs were postponed ( Leicester and Derby ) . Now come clean : PJ Harvey is actually Nick Cave in drag and too embarrassed to appear in public . At last ! A serious question about existence .