Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: mend fences (used idiomatically: no)
The only solution lies north of the Border — with you . After all , it is a noble part of your heritage which is being destroyed . With the Westminster Government 's small majority , its situation is precarious and especially so in Scotland , where it is supposed to be doing all it can to mend its battered fences . Ministers never know when a sudden by - election may be forced by death , sickness or resignation . So , right now , they are more than usually concerned about your votes .
Idiom: flat out (used idiomatically: no)
Mr. Robert Hughes : The issue of who receives assistance and who does not is extremely important . Will the Minister confirm that the Scottish Office , or somebody , will carry out an initial selection process if there is more than one employee-management buy-out effort and that there will be , in effect , a preferred bid for assistance ? If a bid falls flat quickly , will it be possible for the Secretary of State to switch the assistance to the other bid which was previously ruled out and to give those involved the chance further to develop their proposals ? Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : If more than one bid is forthcoming from different management or employee teams in a given company , we shall , of course , consider those bids . All bids , from whatever source , will be given due consideration .
Idiom: point the finger (used idiomatically: no)
Mr Justice Ognall said that after carrying out the killing , Green ‘ took determined and sophisticated steps in an effort to mislead the police’ . He added : ‘ These steps included maligning your dead wife as a criminal drugs dealer.’ Green had also pointed the finger at his wife 's lover Stuwart Skett . ‘ Sensibly the jury saw through your wickedness,’ added the judge . Green had pleaded not guilty to the murder at the couple 's home in October 1991 .
Idiom: on the game (used idiomatically: yes)
Reeves , the Bolton striker , was so certain his header had beaten Digby that he turned away to celebrate , but somehow the effort went wide . And the goalkeeper made a brilliant save to tip Philliskirk 's long - range shot over the bar . Swindon lost Hockaday with a fractured cheekbone just before half - time as they were beginning to make an impression on the game . Both sides have been soaring up their respective divisions . Bolton play the same sort of attractive passing football as Swindon under the influence of Ossie Ardiles .
Idiom: go hand in hand (used idiomatically: yes)
Because it is both difficult and painful to maintain one 's stomach in a state of emptiness , we can not doubt that there are powerful psychic motivations for sustaining such an activity , which is not only abnormal , but directly contrary to both physiological and social pressures . Selvini Palazzoli has found that , this psychobiological sensitivity invariably goes hand in hand with a remarkable elan vital , a passionate though suppressed love of life , a ‘ sthenic spur’ which alone explains [ the anorexic 's]heroic defence reactions . Let me add that it is this very spur … which has made her choose anorexia in preference to , say , toxicomania or obesity , two conditions that spell surrender to her own greed . It is , I believe , this same ‘ sthenic spur,’ or determination to survive as a self - defined individual , which causes the anorexic to reject suicide — another form of surrender — and to choose the more arduous life of self - starvation , not in order to die , but in order to live and go on living .
Idiom: left and right (used idiomatically: no)
The first settlers received broad support from most politicians , left and right , from Yigal Alon ( the Jewish settlement in Hebron ) to Shimon ~ Peres ( the Kdumim settlement ) .
Idiom: come to mind (used idiomatically: yes)
This is just one that 's come to mind , I 'm not saying it 's the correct one at this stage because as I have said I would like to go away an work on these plans Mhm . but one that comes to mind is where you would have er life cover which is what you want Yes . and then it 's , it 's a low level and then plus the er the higher , more of the contribution goes towards the investment risk .
Idiom: on the make (used idiomatically: yes)
Not poverty beaten down , poverty rather on the make , without being clever enough to make it . Smallish sums pass hands .
Idiom: out of sorts (used idiomatically: yes)
Is there room for improvement ? Should you widen your options ? Everyday life takes a nebulous turn Wednesday and everything looks so out of sorts . What you need is a break or a holiday so count your pennies and weigh up your chances of a few days in the sun or short spell staying with friends . Expect everything to take longer than anticipated and you wo n't be disappointed by the slow pace of events and developments in the days to come .
Idiom: on the ropes (used idiomatically: yes)
It seemed Lady Luck was still smiling on them . He hoped she would n't turn fickle when he was half way up the wall . Placing a foot against the wall , Grant leaned back on the rope . Then he lifted his other foot from the ground and set it firmly on the rough stone surface too . Now his full weight was on the rope , but it held .
Idiom: go straight (used idiomatically: no)
Indeed , the annual survey for 1980 , produced by the Association of Colleges Implementing Dip . HE Programmes ( ACID ) early in 1982 , revealed that although the number of students entering Dip . HE courses rose in 1980 , the proportion with two A levels dropped . About 70 per cent of new entrants were over twenty - one , half of whom lacked two A levels , and fewer than a quarter were school - leavers with these qualifications or their equivalent . The survey also showed that the great majority of diplomates transferred directly on to a degree course either in their own or another institution and that relatively few went straight into employment . One of the factors which will determine the eventual success or failure of the Dip . HE is the extent of transferability which develops . The DES has been anxious to promote a national system of transferability and , to this long - term end , it set up a working party in June 1977 to examine all aspects of a national credit transfer agency , under the chairmanship of Peter Toyne , formerly of Exeter University and now Deputy Director of the West Sussex Institute of Higher Education .
Idiom: in the short run (used idiomatically: yes)
However , apart from the question of whether the British economy will be in this condition in the future , the experience of the last attempt , in the 1940s and 1950s , to keep older workers in the labour force is not very encouraging ( Hannah , 1986 ) . It was not very successful , and reversing culturally well - established retirement practices is unlikely to be easy . In the short run it may be more realistic to build upon the commitment of formal and informal voluntary service which already exists among the elderly . Indeed they are being mobilized in some of the innovative caring schemes mentioned above . The fit ' young elderly ' are already an important resource for caring for the very old and may more become so .
Idiom: go with the flow (used idiomatically: yes)
Does she really like them , then ? Well . I think she 's somebody that just like , has to go with the flow , with what her friends are doing , and all her friends back home are really seriously into them . Really ? I just think what a load of rubbish .
Idiom: high and low (used idiomatically: yes)
The classic work on the subject is Pike ( 1948 ) , while more modern treatments are Hyman ( 1975 ) , pp . 212–29 and Katamba ( 1989 ) , Chapter 10 . 15.3 Many analyses within the British approach to intonation include among tones both ‘ high’ and ‘ low ’varieties . For example , O'Connor and Arnold ( 1973 ) distinguished between ‘ high fall’ and ‘ low fall’(the former starting from a high pitch , the latter from mid ) , and also between ‘ low rise’and ‘ high rise’(the latter rising to a higher point than the former ) . Some writers have high and low versions of all tones .
Idiom: pissed off (used idiomatically: yes)
he was n't playing peculiar and the teacher say said something about , he was reading it out and the kids said oh what 's his name then and she said he 's names Geoff and they were all going ooh Geoff and she said , he says I think she does it on purpose mm but he 's proper pissed off , what can he do ? , because its not just him , its not just Stuart because she , cos Geoffrey says oh half the kids in the class are all bloody weird he said , they 're supposed to be me friends he says there 's only one kid in the class that does n't join in and its Indipau mm all the rest join in with Stuart , and Indipau says oh take no notice Geoff , do n't let them get you down , but its only Indipau that 's not , all the girls they all join in , bloody Colin who , he borrowed his computer that time , remember ?
Idiom: rule of thumb (used idiomatically: yes)
In Walton 's view , there is a need to consider factors to be taken into account if the phrase is to be infused with greater meaning , and to clarify whether what is meant is the best interests of all children in a particular community , or of deprived , maladjusted or delinquent children , or of one particular child . Otherwise there is a danger that the phrase will be used merely symbolically , to create the illusion of change , to deflect criticism , or to discredit opposition ( because no one would want to be seen to oppose ' the child 's best interests ' ) . Walton stresses that there is no simple concept or criterion of the child 's best interests which can be applied in a crude rule - of - thumb way , and no group or individual which has sole authority to assume that generally it has the best conception of the child 's interests . Both schools of thought defined here , then , would claim to have as their central focus the child 's welfare , although it appears that the ' society - as - parent ' school more often uses this phrase or phrases like it , while the other group tends to talk about the family . Another area of apparent convergence is that both schools of thought would acknowledge that in some situations parental care is so bad that children should be removed and kept away from their parents .
Idiom: once and for all (used idiomatically: yes)
Whereas the wide range of earlier criticisms of the portfolio - grid approach could be countered , this form of criticism , which strikes at the heart of the construction of the matrices and their SBUs seems devastating . Things look black for the portfolio matrix . But , just before the reader buries the portfolio matrix once and for all , he or she might remember that I said that my case would not be complete until the end of chapter 8 , where more organizational and behavioural matters will be considered . It will be shown how conclusions based upon the analytical economic framework may need at least some qualification when these other matters are brought into account . Then it will be clear that a ( pre-1989)‘Soviet’ dirigiste planning style is not inevitable .
Idiom: game on (used idiomatically: yes)
TIM RUSSON Voice over first action on Goals Extra tomorrow tea - time … the live game on sunday comes from Filbert Street … it 's Leicester against Peterborough … we're off to the rugby next … the big local game tomorrow is at Kingsholm … its Gloucester against Bristol … Voice over we 've a new champion to celebrate tonight …
Idiom: make heavy weather of (used idiomatically: yes)
My life is fill and rich and there is nothing to fear . Or : The work that I find so hard will become easy , for it is my attitude and inner blocks that make such heavy weather of it . These will fade away and I will find joy and enthusiasm for what I do . Or :
Idiom: claim to fame (used idiomatically: yes)
So deep - rooted were his various obsessions and so pronounced his self - importance that he came to be regarded in some quarters as not merely an individualist but something of a crank . Out of Parliament in Queen Anne 's reign he retired to his study and began to write — fragments of history , religious meditations , political satires , in prose , verse , and even in dramatic form — none of which were published , though some circulated in manuscript among his friends . From notes and other materials he was also able to construct in retrospect a diary of his parliamentary career , covering in particular detail the sessions of 1701–2 , which , surviving in manuscript form , now constitutes his chief claim to fame . Not until 1717 did he appear in print , with a grand jury charge denouncing Jacobites . Then in 1721–2 he waded into the paper war over the so - called ‘ Bangorian controversy’ initiated by the sermon on church government by Benjamin Hoadly , bishop of Bangor [ q.v . ] .
Idiom: flat out (used idiomatically: yes)
I think I heard that White set up Jamie 's first goal , any details about the second ? I could n't see it too clearly 'cos it was at the other end of the pitch , but it seemed that Jamie had the ball around the right hand edge of the box and curled it into the top left hand corner . There was a bit of a fuss because a Crewe player was flat out on the ground injured and had to be carried off afterwards , but it was all over by that point anyway , really . To be fair , Crewe deserved a goal . They played some good passing football and had us looking very worried until half time .
Idiom: lose heart (used idiomatically: yes)
The public shows are taped . Most evenings the dome reverberates to a double onslaught of the sound of heavy rock coupled with a laser lightshow . But the London Planetarium has not lost its heart . There are live presentations , to fire the enthusiasm of the thousands of schoolchildren who visit every morning throughout the year . It acknowledges its position as a London Landmark ( and one of the top 10 London tourist attractions ) in hosting dozens of product launches , promoting goods ranging from books , colour transparencies and magazines to washing machines .
Idiom: forbidden fruit (used idiomatically: yes)
Why were all the women here called Caroline ? She leant , lower than usual , across his desk . Mick stared hungrily at her breasts : small , pale , and tight , like under - ripe fruit … he thought of Amanda … forbidden fruit . Mick bit the end of his pencil , harder than usual . ’‘Strange world,’ he thought , ‘ this world of sex , intrigue and ambition I 'm moving into … ’
Idiom: at a canter (used idiomatically: yes)
Once up , she felt she was straddling an eel . Every male from the neighbouring estancias , except Luke , who was off moving the cattle , seemed to be gathered round the paddock to watch her as she set off in the milky , misty morning light towards a row of poplar trees . Alejandro shouted after her to do turns at the canter . ' I 'll show them , ' she thought , shoving her nose in the air . ' Do n't jibe at me , Argentina . '
Idiom: keep a lid on (used idiomatically: yes)
A wave of panic selling in Hong Kong shook the City yesterday . Fears that trade between the Crown Colony and the Chinese mainland will dry up triggered frenzied dealings , with the Hang Seng Index — Hong Kong 's equivalent to the FT - SE — slumping by 8 % . This kept the lid on shares in both London and New York , and at the close of trading the FT - SE Index was up , but only marginally . Sterling bucked the trend and gained against the dollar and the mark . There was a strong upward surge in drugs shares early , but The floods swept insurance prices lower , with talk of big claims lopping 9p-12p off General Accident , Royal , Sun Alliance and Commercial Union .
Idiom: tell tales (used idiomatically: no)
There was no indoor lavatory at Mrs McIntosh 's establishment ; only the well - to - do had them . Each young gentleman was provided with his own chamber - pot , which he was expected to empty for himself on the common midden , situated behind the houses . Paul had reasons for the private emptying of his ; he was still treating himself with a solution of the doctor 's recommended potassium permanganate crystals , and had to make his exit quickly when Willie was out of the room , as that gregarious gentleman would have come with him on the same errand ; then hurry outside with the tell - tale purple contents , empty them , rinse the pot at the pump , and come back . As a rule he was unobserved , as he took care to go out at a time when everyone in the house was occupied elsewhere . He would turn and leave the purple streams puddling among the rest of the garbage from other houses , carrying the empty pot thereafter with nonchalance .
Idiom: lie low (used idiomatically: no)
Marsh St. John 's wort community ( Hypericum elodes — Potamogeton polygonifolius ) in peaty pools . Constants are Hypericum elodes and Potamogeton polygonifolius . Amphibious bistort community ( Polygonum amphibium community ) in mesotrophic and eutrophic low - lying lochs and lochans . Constant Polygonum amphibium with various species of Potamogeton . White water - lily community ( Nymphaea alba ) in more oligotrophic lochs and lochans , dominated by the floating leaves of Nymphaea alba .
Idiom: in a fog (used idiomatically: no)
It is possible to see that they had never been lived in , could never be lived in , though front door and portico are present and their ranks of windows , the spaces where the glass should be painted a dull blue . On that first occasion my father took me through Craven Hill Gardens into Porchester Terrace , showed me the blank brick back of the facades and lifted me up on to the wall so that I could look down into the shaft . I asked my father about the people in the adjoining houses , they must have lived in perpetual fog , and I remember he told me that perhaps they got their houses at a reduced rent . Mrs Darne was coming back from Tina 's . She had a shopping list in her hand which she put into her handbag when she saw Alice .
Idiom: grasp the nettle (used idiomatically: yes)
What counts right now is dealing with a very good looking England B.’ Gerber said : ‘ I will go home , play for Western Province and see if the selectors want me . If they do , then I will give my best every time.’ Williams 's plans could lie in ruins tonight if Graham Smith 's B side grasp the nettle , particularly those with immediate Test hopes . Ian Hunter , the two - try hero against Canada on his debut , reverts to his preferred full - back role knowing winger Nigel Heslop will go all - out to recapture the shirt he lost to Simon Halliday last season . Brian Moore and Jeff Probyn , dropped for the Canada international , will take no prisoners in the front - row war to ensure they join Jason Leonard against the same three Springboks at Twickenham .
Idiom: on the ball (used idiomatically: yes)
However , his spectacular run came to an end in a 15 - 12 , 15 - 7 , 15 - 13 defeat from the 24-year - old Londoner . Gregory , clearly intent on revenge for the league loss , was always in command in the first two games , but did trail 1 - 6 and then 7 - 12 in the third . However , Nicol failed to capitalise on his lead and went out on the second match ball . For Gregory , the reward is a match against the World No 5 and British No 1 , Peter Marshall , in today 's quarter finals . For Nicol , the next test will be the French Open next week .
Idiom: curry favour (used idiomatically: yes)
Sandy McGlashan — why had he been off work that Tuesday ? He was notoriously avid for every shilling he could earn . And he had seemed almost to be currying favour when he was tumbling out the story of his family 's lost lease , trying to get Cameron to agree that the lairds were done for now . Cameron thought of the wee man 's rubbery face , his busy scurrying movements — his compulsive drinking . He must have needed money badly for that …
Idiom: round the bend (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ Or rather I would if you 'd give me the chance.’ ‘ He does n't get on with me . Anyway , he drives Kate round the bend . How was Mother when you saw her?’ ‘ She 's fine.’
Idiom: out of pocket (used idiomatically: yes)
This flexibility includes job mobility , which may require you to do different jobs in the office , or being asked to take up a job at another office within a reasonable travelling distance . If you are at EO grade or above , working full time , you may be required to take a job beyond daily travelling distance which would require you moving house . In most cases , you will be entitled to some financial assistance if you will be out of pocket . We will always take your personal and domestic circumstances , and those of your colleagues , into account when deciding on transfers . DISCIPLINE
Idiom: go without saying (used idiomatically: no)
Well it 's very , they are talking about er other issues up to they are talking about the workforce and of the erm the the report from the and er it seems that they do n't really want much to programme forward which I have put for next year very structural maintenance of the and I what the services are actually doing , they have lost council probably say that they are out of control . Erm and their approach seems to be where we 're not going to be able to get our budget through . Erm let let 's sort of cut or let 's go without our saying erm we will keep you off the council . Well it ai n't going to work because for a part that have slammed V A T on domestic fuels and in fact if all of the cuts of the conservative government , all the tax increases you have quoted cuts . It actually amounts to an increase of ten p in each
Idiom: look the other way (used idiomatically: no)
It was at this point in Morse 's recapitulation that the forensic brigade arrived ; and soon afterwards a royal - blue BMW carrying no lesser a personae than Chief Superintendent Bell from the City Police . ' You know , Morse , ' began Bell , ' you seem to breed about as many problems as a pregnant rabbit . ' ' You could look at it the other way , I suppose , ' replied the radiant Morse . ' Without me and Lewis half of these fellows in forensics would be out on the dole , sir . ' About an hour before these last events were taking place , the American tourists had registered into the two - star Swan Hotel in Stratford- Stratford - upon-(definitelydefinitely ' upon ' ) Avon .
Idiom: down and out (used idiomatically: no)
We 'se jest goin' . ' Tom looked at Willie 's mac on the way out and noticed how thin it was . They walked down the pathway and out of the gate , Sammy leading , Tom striding after him and Willie running to keep up with them . It was late afternoon now . The sun hung in a fiery ball above the trees .
Idiom: taste blood (used idiomatically: no)
She sprawled flat on the hard wooden floor , her cry abruptly silenced as all the air rushed out of her body . Before she could recover he was upon her , his ale - scented breath almost making her retch when his mouth crushed down on hers . She felt the sharp edge of his teeth trying to force her lips apart and tasted blood . Choking with revulsion , Isabel tried to fight him , but her own fear made her helpless . She could n't see , could n't breathe ; her entire body was immobilised by the weight of her attacker .
Idiom: draw a blank (used idiomatically: yes)
Since the whole sequence of events begins with an external event , one option is to identify what external events tend to trigger unproductive feelings and to arrange to avoid or change the external events themselves . The snag with this is that it is often impossible to avoid the triggering events altogether and in any case it might be better to face them squarely and control your reactions to the events rather than the events themselves . However , even if you draw a blank , it is always worth checking to see whether or not you can influence the external event that starts the sequence , so either while you are being hindered by an unproductive feeling or after an experience where you were hindered ask yourself : ‘ What external event has triggered this feeling?’ If you can identify it , ask yourself ‘ can I do anything to avoid or minimize my exposure to this external event in the future?’ If the answer is yes , firm up an appropriate avoidance plan .