Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: run a mile (used idiomatically: yes)
He immediately took to coaching , aiding the sculler , Carl Smith , to the world championship in 1986 , and has already had three successful years with the Nottinghamshire County club . He has also taken quickly to the Boat Race . ‘ If you ran a mile race , you would go off fairly quickly then settle at an even pace before building up towards the end . If you did that in the Boat Race you would get left behind . It is like running the first 100 metres like Carl Lewis , getting into gear but pushing really hard for the whole race as you go along .
Idiom: chapter and verse (used idiomatically: yes)
So they knew about that . The old bitch would have told them . They would have dug out his file from the Ministry of Defence , and got chapter and verse on his time in the army . And that would have led them to their own Special Branch registry , where there must be a file on his career as a freelance ; it was inevitable after that damned publicity . Lorton shrugged .
Idiom: put a damper on (used idiomatically: yes)
The Queen met members of the police , Army and prison services at a reception in the castle and attended a private luncheon party , hosted by the Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Patrick Mayhew . The high point of the day came when the Queen mingled with more than 1,200 guests invited to the Secretary of State 's annual garden party . Torrential rain put a damper on the event , sending bedraggled guests squelching across lawns to seek shelter . But the Queen , well protected by raincoat , hat and umbrella , smiled through the deluge as she chatted with those brave enough to stay out in the open under a gaily - coloured sea of umbrellas . The Queen also stood briefly with politicians including Democratic Unionist leader the Rev Ian Paisley .
Idiom: out and about (used idiomatically: yes)
He 'd put his stamps away later . He intended , as he hurried out , to be back in time to clear up before his Mum got back . There were probably as good as two hours ahead when he would be among company , among conversation , in the throng , the best time of day to be out and about and in a pub , in the middle of it all , all going on , him with it . The spring rain soaked him but it was warm and he licked it as it trickled down his lip . With a whoop he leapt over a huge spreading puddle where a drain was blocked with litter .
Idiom: pie in the sky (used idiomatically: yes)
We should establish models of post - conflict transition like the one advocated by the g7 + , a group of eighteen fragile states . The model is simple : Countries assess their own situation , using tools that they develop and that are appropriate to the context , in order to formulate a vision and a plan to consolidate peace and achieve prosperity . This may sound like pie in the sky , but we have already tasted it in Africa , where Sierra ~ Leone ’s Agenda for Prosperity 2013 - 2017 and the Liberia Vision 2030 exemplify the potential of such programs . Progress on meeting national priorities such as peace consolidation , expanding access to justice , or increasing security is monitored locally . Using local systems and capacities , it turns out , can strengthen them .
Idiom: the icing on the cake (used idiomatically: yes)
I am happy there at the moment , and I want to repay Yorkshire for all the support they have given me over the years.’ For the moment , though , his mind is firmly set on India and proving the knockers wrong . A successful tour is the priority — the icing on the cake would come if wife , Wendy , could hang on a week or so for the birth of their second child due a month before the end of the tour . ‘ ‘ I 'll be keeping my fingers crossed , it 's late,’ says the newly - enthusiastic and , he promises , fit Jarvis . Marie 's peak perfomance
Idiom: behind bars (used idiomatically: yes)
I found myself humming to the tune of the violin an old man was playing for sous . I would have liked to drink coffee in one of the smoke - filled cafés lining the boulevard , but I did not dare enter . In each place a crowd of men in blue overalls , each with a Gauloise stuck in the corner of his mouth , stared into the mirror behind the bar at the reflection of any women who braved their domain . I was not up to such men . I can remember wondering whether I ever would be .
Idiom: get to grips with (used idiomatically: yes)
Mm . So you get referrals that way by using the magazine . Tt erm and explore the salary a bit more because again I said it 's basic at thirty five and there 's a few other bits and pieces but you never really got to grips with what those other bits and pieces are , yeah there 's performance related pay , location allowances , a company car , there 's BUPA , all those bits and bobs need to be identified . Mm . That 's er and that 's it Mark .
Idiom: take the piss (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ I would n't have done that,’ Norman protested : ‘ I would n't have made her cry.’ And then , after a pause , he added : ‘ But I might well have mildly taken the piss … ‘ Once you get to know Norman Croucher , often billed as ‘ Britain 's most famous double amputee,’ the possibility that he had indeed ‘ mildly taken the piss’clarifies out into near - certainty . Which is n't to imply that flippancy is his stock - in - trade . Far from it — where other people 's welfare is concerned , or the mechanics of his own achievements , he is as serious and practical as the world out there might require .
Idiom: on the game (used idiomatically: yes)
I get the impression that opposition teams have unconsciously downgraded Leeds because of the last twelve months and are caught offguard . Leeds are the same team basically but needed a spell out of the limelight : everyone is totally obsessed with Man United now and lets hope it will tell on the scum — we are definitely benefitting . The Grauniad reckoned Vinny seemed totally confounded by the affection radiated at him by Elland Road and this had an effect on the game ! The first recorded example of a team ( player ) being loved to death possibly . Whoever said Elland Road was an intimidating atmosphere ( - > )
Idiom: on the run (used idiomatically: yes)
Making it all the stranger that he should decide to lug his camera down the well - worn path of the court room drama . Tightly sprung performances from Jessica Lange and Armin Mueller - Stahl fail to disguise the padding . Hard to Kill is a stuttering con - on - the - run action thriller squeezing second division Hollywood couple Steven Seagal and Kelly LeBrock into a third - rate corruption and conspiracy plot . Seagal used to be a martial arts expert , so at least the stunts are worth watching , even if the principals are n't ( Seagal looks like Chuck Norris on Mogadon and LeBrock really should n't be wearing such a tight skirt ) . Steve Beard / Jim McClellan / Amy Raphael
Idiom: keep the wolf from the door (used idiomatically: yes)
London Poor Dulwich Vivien Duffield keeps the wolves from the door — this year Last month an exhibition of pictures from the Dulwich Gallery was held at Christie 's . The principal aim of this event — which features paintings by Poussin , Lely , Gainsborough , Canaletto , Dujardin , Murillo and Tiepolo — is to draw attention to the current financial plight of the Gallery , which houses one of London 's finest collections of Old Master paintings .
Idiom: out of sorts (used idiomatically: yes)
He 'll do well enough . " But twelve months after they had married with such discretion , Lovat announced that he wanted to return home . " Out of sorts , d'yer see , m'dear ? " he had gone to bed early , not even wanting his supper . " Would you mind that much ? " " Of course not . "
Idiom: play games (used idiomatically: yes)
He plays for Western Suburbs against Newcastle in Sunday 's Winfield Cup play - offs . ' If we get eliminated on Sunday I could have come over straight away . ' But I 've told Leeds I would prefer delaying it until after the World Cup final , especially with the Aussies playing three warm - up games in England . ' New Zealand Test star Iro has not been given a new contract by Manly and was offered back to Wigan last week . But the champions had already filled their overseas quota with Andrew Farrar .
Idiom: throw down the gauntlet (used idiomatically: yes)
Close To The Knives A Boy 's Own Story for today — artist Wojnarowicz 's observations on Aids , America and obscenity cut deep , counterbalanced with snapshots from his own brutal childhood . Shocking and essential Bridal Gown It 's that time of the month : Gladwell 's debut collection evokes the cyclical nature of womanhood , throwing down a bloodied gauntlet in the shape of these gripping stories and essays TAZ Bey 's theory of the ' temporary autonomous zone ' has been floating around on the margins of Stateside cybertippy culture for a couple of years and has now drifted over here . The TAZ is not a place so much as a mobile event compressing punk nihilism , neo - paganism and radical information .
Idiom: at the end of the day (used idiomatically: yes)
Network SouthEast has improved its performance beyond what anyone could have dreamed might be possible . And now that Provincial has sorted out its rag-bag inheritance into clear service-groups , it too can show great steps forward in many areas . There is a need for close and on-going liaison with the regions and PTEs , but at the end of the day it is the sector that calls the tune . Each sector director looks at his business on a national level , ignoring regional boundaries , and has the power to deploy all his resources to the best commercial advantage . The best example of this has been the deployment of the HST fleet .
Idiom: in the can (used idiomatically: yes)
Seven - year - old Redmond , whose father is Farrah 's longtime darling Ryan O'Neal , coolly sipped a soft drink while strolling alongside the former Charlie 's Angel in Los Angeles . Farrah , 45 , is said to be shopping for a challenging film role . But her boy , who already has one success in the can , would settle for a shiny new toy . WE WARNED TEN AGO ABOUT TRAGIC KIDS Outcry over double death
Idiom: lend a hand (used idiomatically: yes)
The opening words of the Brownie song flashed through her mind . She would n't be a real Brownie if she flew home and left them stranded out on the snowy woods . She must lend a hand . And there was only one way she could think of to do that . ‘ I must guide them home — somehow!’ murmured Carol .
Idiom: follow suit (used idiomatically: yes)
However , we monitor all reports of building failures in Britain and we have come across no evidence of interstitial condensation causing structural rot in practice . The upshot of this was that a number of companies pulled out of the timber - frame house - building market and the proportion of houses built by this method had dropped from 24 to 17 per cent by the beginning of 1984 , and is even less now . For new home - owners , some builders have now given a 20-year guarantee against structural defects , but the NHBC has not followed suit . What of those stuck with a 10-year guarantee , or none at all ? The fact is that the rotting process in timber can be long and slow , and may not be observed by the householder until a very advanced stage of decay has been reached .
Idiom: kiss of life (used idiomatically: no)
MORE CHAT , LESS CHART Pop fans forgotten in Radio One rescue plan AFTER failing to give the kiss - of - life to Top of The Pops the Beeb now seem hell - bent on wrecking Radio One . The national pop station that once boasted it was ' One - derful ' is to get a long - awaited shake - up . But bosses plan to KEEP the patronising comments of DJs , their never - ending phone - ins and cringe - making jokes .
Idiom: clear the decks (used idiomatically: yes)
I caught the next train back to London and my office . ‘ Thank goodness you 're back’ said one of the clerks who had been seconded to us from County Hall . ‘ It 's clear the decks for action.’ I was quite sure of that for my father had again gone back to Rye marshes to reinforce the defences . The following weekend I dashed down to Bromley , Kent , to see my aunt .
Idiom: beside yourself (used idiomatically: no)
She filled the glass and drank . He said , ‘ Taken your time , have n't you ? Other people in the world beside yourself , you know . Waiting for their tea.’ The water ran down inside Carrie like a lovely cold pipe , making her gasp .
Idiom: play the field (used idiomatically: yes)
It would be a Frenchwoman , naturally , said the hopeful mothers of ancient lineage and impeccable Catholic upbringing , when they discussed the matter in their Paris drawing - rooms . And not a Frenchwoman like Clara Delluc , either , but one of his own class , and a virgin . A man like Edouard de Chavigny liked to play the field , so much was understood , but when it came to choosing a wife , well , then the qualifications required were somewhat different . Meanwhile , there was the question of his presents , to which much time and many column inches were devoted . Edouard de Chavigny was a Frenchman ; he understood that women , when abandoned , liked some small remembrance to soften the blow and to remind them of tender memories .
Idiom: in the running (used idiomatically: yes)
The limited partner(s ) contribute a fixed amount of money when joining the partnership , and this money must remain in the partnership . The limited partner must not participate in the management of the partnership . Any interference by limited partners in the running of the enterprise will render them personally liable for all debts , as with full partners . Limited partners do , however , have a right to advise full partners , though it is a matter for the full partners whether or not they follow such advice . Limited partners , provided they fulfil the above investment criteria and do not participate in the management of the partnership , may claim limited liability .
Idiom: cut loose (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ It 's a trap,’ the thin man moaned . No - one answered that , but the thought was in all their minds . The thin man returned to his earlier plan that they should cut loose the horses and make their way back as inconspicuously as possible by the paths and game - tracks . For the first time Michael sided with him . ‘ We 've a good chance that way,’ he said .
Idiom: off the wall (used idiomatically: yes)
Beyond the court , beyond the wall with its globes of protecting lights , I could see the bulbous tower of the family mosque . Once upon a time muezzins had had to climb such towers to call the people to prayer , the little round room at the top giving resonance , enlarging the human voice . Now they used a microphone and loudspeaker system and the mechanically multiplied sound echoed off walls . The bedroom door pushed quietly open . Amina and Miriam crept in , clutching each other 's hands .
Idiom: put paid to (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ The replacement word is ‘ very’,’ Thom tells me . I ca n't help laughing . ‘ It 's the best option , really,’ he explains , putting paid to my chortling with a very level - headed examination of the choices that were available . ‘ The alternative was putting in a bleep , and that was never going to work . At least‘very’ sounds sarcastic .
Idiom: in the works (used idiomatically: no)
It became evident that young people were a particularly vulnerable group and that in times of economic hardship , firms cut back on training places . Figure 5.1 indicates the destinations of school leavers in 1983/4 . It can be seen that 17 per cent altogether were employed , including 6 per cent with part - time study and 11 per cent without ( this is an overestimate as it is a category which also included the ' unclassifiable ' — not all of whom were in work ) . Fourteen per cent went on to do some study in Further Education and 25 per cent joined YOP ( Youth Opportunities Programme ) or YTS ( Youth Training Scheme ) schemes . Whilst previous research had analysed how the workforce was reproduced — how young people became young workers — the problem now was to explain the consequences of Government schemes , new kinds of training and the responses to unemployment .
Idiom: knock it off (used idiomatically: yes)
Hmm ? Hmm The Spider Affair , alright ? Knock it off . The first lesson that aft leave it alone and just forget about it hmm ? The first lesson that afternoon was mental arithmetic .
Idiom: give and take (used idiomatically: no)
He liked young women students , and they responded with delight to him . I suppose you could call him something of a gear freak . His child-like enjoyment of the new equipment and gadgetry he came to be able to afford in later life gave warmly affectionate amusement to his friends especially when they found him camping in his own front garden in the latest tent and sleeping bag , or were asked to take him , when he was stone-blind from glaucoma , to the locations of his favourite plants to photograph them with an auto-focus camera . Before the darkness came , you might have come across him at times pushing a pramful of camping equipment , perhaps with a grandson straggling at his side , on some remote road through Eigiau , Abergeirw or Pennant Lliw . If that 's to be counted eccentricity , then Evan was an eccentric .
Idiom: down and out (used idiomatically: yes)
Renters were younger and at an earlier stage in the developmental cycle . Many of the owners had once been renters , thus , suggesting a pattern where young migrants , who can not afford land or property rent until they have sufficient savings to set up a home of their own . Renters are not ' down - and - outs ' , but those who do not yet have the opportunity to own a home , though they may well do so in later life . Another reason why the increase in renting is likely to continue is its relationship to land prices and availability . Gilbert and Ward found the highest ownership levels in Valencia , where land is cheap and the highest levels of renting in Bogota , where land is expensive ( Gilbert and Ward 1985 ) .
Idiom: from scratch (used idiomatically: yes)
During the year , traffic with China grew more than 30 % against an average 26 % for all international traffic , and now accounts for 44 % of all international traffic ; it should pass 50 % in the next two or three years , the company says . The company retains major ambitions in China and says it wants to help the country create by the end of the century a network that would be over twice as big as the one operated by British Telecommunications Plc — China plans to raise the number of telephone lines to 100 m nationwide by the year 2000 from just 25 m now . Despite the scale of the task — creating the equivalent of two and a half British Telecoms from scratch in seven years , China has ruled out foreign equity investment in telecommunications projects . But Gale expects that to change . A key benefit for Hong Kong Telecom is that it already has a major Chinese investor in the shape of the Peking - owned China International Trust & Investment Corp , which bought a 20 % stake in 1990 . FUJITSU MAKES BIG LOSS AS TOSHIBA AND HITACHI PROFITS PLUMMET
Idiom: in Dutch (used idiomatically: no)
The French and Arabic translators of the above extract are therefore able to follow the same method of thematic development by placing the temporal adjuncts in theme position . This document has not been translated into Dutch , but I imagine that , had it been , extracts such as the one quoted above would have presented the Dutch translator with a problem ( bearing in mind that the above is only a short extract and that a similar pattern of thematic development runs throughout the Foreword ) . On the one hand , placing all the above temporal adjuncts in theme position would be highly marked in Dutch ; on the other hand , changing the thematic structure of the original may disrupt the natural development of the text — unless the translator finds a thematic element other than time which can provide a consistent point of orientation . Fronting of object or complement Object : A great deal of publicity the book received in China .
Idiom: on the level (used idiomatically: yes)
Researchers at Carlton University in Ontario interviewed 700 women up to three times during their pregnancy , focusing on their drinking and smoking habits . Neurological and behavioural tests were given to the children soon after the birth , and at regular intervals after that . When the children were between four and seven years old , they were each given a task — a video - type game — and were assessed on their levels of cooperation and concentration . The children of mums who smoked during pregnancy were far more likely to show signs of hyperactivity , suggesting that fetal exposure to tobacco can be linked to later developmental problems . Dr Richard Woolfson
Idiom: free rein (used idiomatically: yes)
In dealing with the difficult topics of his own day he resorted to silence and ambiguity . For the late fifth and early sixth centuries , however , he was less constrained . His moral reading of events was given free rein . As a result , although he is our major narrative source for the period , he is not a reliable guide to the opening decades of the Merovingian kingdom . The Establishment of Merovingian Power : the Franks before 537
Idiom: up in the air (used idiomatically: yes)
That 's it . Very good . Tim felt himself flying up in the air . A moment later he found himself back in the top of the tree . Nine .
Idiom: for the hell of it (used idiomatically: yes)
Shoplift . It 's so easy . I steal things I ca n't eat , just for the hell of it . Like tampons and plastic dustbin - liners and party - size packets of crisps and one hundred cocktail sticks and twelve cake - candles in various colours and photograph frames and steering - wheel covers in simulated leather and towel - holders and fabric - softeners and double - action air - fresheners to waft away those lingering kitchen smells and cute little boxes for awkward odds and ends and packs of cassettes and lockable petrol - caps and record - cleaners and telephone indexes slimming magazines potholders packs of name - labels artificial eyelashes make - up boxes anti - smoking mixture toy watches —’ ‘ Do n't you like crisps?’
Idiom: on edge (used idiomatically: yes)
Unlike us , the horse 's teeth continuously grow upwards to compensate for wear which is why they need regular checking and rasping . Why do the teeth become sharp ? The lower jaw is narrower than the upper jaw and because of this , the teeth become sharp on the outside edges of the upper molars and the inside edges of the lower molars . If the teeth are allowed to become sharp , the cheek then becomes bruised and cut , causing pain thus making it difficult for the horse to chew properly . The tack adds to this by rubbing the cheek against the sharp teeth .
Idiom: on the shelf (used idiomatically: yes)
He allowed himself one backward glance towards the estate , then turned his heels to the task of flight . Though classically it was the light of day which showed a painter the deepest flaws in his handiwork , Gentle worked best at night ; the instincts of a lover brought to a simpler art . In the week or so since he 'd returned to his studio it had once again become a place of work : the air pungent with the smell of paint and turpentine , the burned - down butts of cigarettes left on every available shelf and plate . Though he 'd spoken with Klein daily there was no sign of a commission yet , so he had spent the time re - educating himself . As Klein had so cruelly observed , he was a technician without a vision , and that made these days of meandering difficult .