Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: play hard to get (used idiomatically: yes)
When bonds came on the market after this time they were sold quietly by the Bondholders Committee to members of the Club with a long term , proven interest in its affairs , who had either enquired about bonds or were offered them being regarded as suitable individuals . This practice ensured as many bondholders as possible were reliable club members . And thirdly , when buying out looked more likely from the 1960 's onwards , as members increasingly voiced dissatisfaction at the Club 's management , some existing bondholders played hard to get , clearly reluctant in several instances and for reasons unrecorded , to give us what it had never been intended should be a permanent arrangement or the basis of an elite . Their right to elect a 2:1 majority of the Club Committee was regarded as undemocratic , and this was exacerbated by their relative numerical ratio to club members being greatly out of scale . Members also felt the constitution was counter - productive , especially when capital projects called for an injection of cash over which they would have no control , and which was seen as improving someone else 's investment .
Idiom: think the world of (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ He worked all hours trying to build it up . He started early and finished late . ‘ We thought the world of him and just ca n't believe he was involved . Gary was a hard - working lad just trying to make ends meet.’ Mr Larkin says he has learned from the criminal underworld about the events on the night of April 27 .
Idiom: body blow (used idiomatically: yes)
DAVID PLATT received a ticking - off from Graham Taylor last night for keeping the England boss in the dark over a knee injury which threatens to prevent him playing against Turkey next week . Taylor made it clear that he is not happy with Platt , scorer of England 's last five goals and widely regarded as the manager 's favourite footballing son . He is now resigned to selecting a side for the World Cup qualifier without the Juventus midfielder and described the news as ‘ a body blow’ . Problem Taylor said : ‘ I would have liked to have known about it earlier , to say the least .
Idiom: make someone's day (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ I was about to go.’ ‘ Just for a few minutes . It 'd make my day.’ She glanced at her watch . ‘ All right.’
Idiom: on the same wavelength (used idiomatically: yes)
Some of the disadvantages are : It is more difficult to establish rapport on the telephone . In face - to - face meetings all the visual signals are a great aid to getting on the same wavelength with someone . Without them this is tougher to accomplish . When you telephone someone you are more likely to intrude at an inconvenient time and not realize it .
Idiom: pay the piper (used idiomatically: yes)
Compulsory purchase order . There 'll be hell toupée : Levy grabs SOTW GARY CLAIL : Who Pays The Piper After a year off following his knee operation , Gazza is back ! And here he is , ' duckering ' his guv'nors and betters as only a plain - straight - talking Bristolian working man , with , erm , a huge sound system and a record deal , can .
Idiom: above board (used idiomatically: yes)
If there is no queen in the ith row , then this list entry is 0 . Thus , the empty board is [ 0 , 0 , 0 , 0 , 0 , 0 , 0 , 0 ] . In this representation , the above board appears as [ 8 , 6 , 4 , 2 , 0 , 0 , 0 , 0 ] . Representation 3 : This also portrays the board as a list , but it can only represent boards which have queens in the bottom i rows for some i , and none in higher rows . Thus , the empty board is [ ] and the board above is represented as [ 8 , 6 , 4 , 2 ] .
Idiom: slap and tickle (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ I think you 'll find that our plot varies a little from the history books,’ Jim says . ‘ But we have been faithful to the Carry On formula and that is what counts . There 's plenty of slap and tickle , nudge , nudge and wink , wink . ‘ I 've always thought Carry On films were like a pair of old jeans . As soon as you slip them on , they are nice and comfortable .
Idiom: on the back of (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ Mind the swings,’ shrieks Preston as his charges finally reach their goal and narrowly escape decapitation by one , propelled through the air by a boy who is old enough to be banned , or , if he is not , should be . Mind the swings , mind the shit , mind the psychopaths , sadists and prowling malignants , mind the drunks who should never be allowed out on the road , mind the child molesters , torturers and Satanists , mind the mass slayers and maimers of innocent victims , mind the drunk drivers , mind the aeroplanes that fall from the sky and the ones that are aimed at you , MIND THE HOLES IN THE UNIVERSE , PRESTON , MIND YOU DON'T DROP THROUGH . And here is William , medieval scholar , sitting on a park bench , a plaque on the back of which informs the enquiring public that it is dedicated to the memory of a Mrs C. M. Elliott who so loved … Quite what is obscured by William 's lanky , sprawling , untidy frame . William 's young son , Edwin , plays on the Adventure Playground nearby .
Idiom: take someone to the cleaners (used idiomatically: yes)
lock Peter Bell got them going with the opening score … and then scrum - half Bruce Fenley rounded off another charge with the second try … 14 - 6 at half - time … and with so much steam coming from the forwards all the signs were that Gloucester were going to take sale to the cleaners … the cherry and whites pack bulldozed their way to the line and sure enough after lots of huff and puff pushed over and touched down for try number three … Andy Martin the scorer …
Idiom: give someone a piece of your mind (used idiomatically: yes)
Taurus April 21–May 21 Although tokens of affection or messages from afar will lift your spirits around the 8th , this is likely to be a month of strained relationships . The Full Moon in your own sign on the 10th urges you to give others a piece of your mind . But , before you do , wait to see what is proposed around the 19th and then again on the 24th , because the chances are that someone will feel embarrassed and may even offer you the earth when all you wanted was an apology . Gemini May 22–June 21
Idiom: lone wolf (used idiomatically: yes)
They also suspect that the move against wolves is part of a wider campaign against predators . Plans are under way to license the killing of wolverines and eagles . Meanwhile , the conservationists have until 14 March to persuade Norway 's environment minister , Mrs Wenche Frogn - Sellag , to commute the sentence on Vegarshei 's lone wolf . Congress seeks science teachers THE US Congress last week made its pitch for a massive increase in spending on maths and science education .
Idiom: come up smelling of roses (used idiomatically: yes)
This is because they look like three sixth - formers farting around in their bedroom with a drum machine , busy drowning in a prog - rock flood of their own ideas . And first impressions last . But this first impression is grossly misleading — as you 'd realise if you heard Diversion 's rather wonderful EP , ‘ BZ’— four short , sharp pop songs which roll around experimentally in a wide field of influences and still come up smelling of roses , mainly because they 're all squashed together into spunky two and a half minute blasts . Tonight , though , they rarely come across as well , because instrumental fluff and dead wood have crept in between the sharp spikes . The 13 headfuls of ideas they 've got show occasional but disturbing signs of driving them aimlessly away from what makes them so good in the first place and into acid rock tedium city .
Idiom: down the road (used idiomatically: no)
Which is this one ? Does ha have n't you got one on , on that one you 've been to see , no ? Yeah that 's down the road . Where 's it say ? Let 's have a look .
Idiom: in light of (used idiomatically: yes)
( b ) The drafting of an internal report based on raw data given in the form of graphs , notes , press cuttings , charts , tables , etc . Candidates will have to understand , select , collate and , if necessary , supplement this data in order to write the report in the light of the instructions given . The report must be clear , well - organised and logically paragraphed and — where appropriate — numbered . The language must be correct and stylistically appropriate , so the report will be fit for internal distribution .
Idiom: break the back of (used idiomatically: yes)
They were not deterred by air action . Despite a statement by Selwyn Lloyd , the Foreign Secretary , in the House of Commons on 23rd July that there was ‘ no question of large - scale operations by British troops on the ground’ , Army units had to be flown up to the Oman from Kenya to support the Sultan 's armed forces in crushing the rebellion . A combination of ground and air action broke the back of the rebellion . The Sultan 's writ was re - established throughout the Oman , except in the mountain fastnesses of the Djebel Akhdar , which were eventually cleared by the SAS in 1959 , while on their way back from Malaya for probable disbandment under the Sandys cuts ! This minor affair underlined the Army 's contention that nuclear weapons and air power were no substitute for troops on the ground in the type of fighting in which Britain was likely to be involved as long as she remained a colonial power .
Idiom: turn someone's head (used idiomatically: yes)
He stayed in most evenings now , spending some time in his study and some time chatting to his benefactress . Her hands stiffened on the keys as she heard the door open . She had no need to turn her head to see who it was , for she knew his step . The piano was situated at the far end of the drawing - room . She continued to play until his hands came on her shoulders , and somehow she kept on playing until his hand lifted her loose hair behind the ear and his mouth came down and touched it .
Idiom: step on it (used idiomatically: yes)
HP READIES LOW COST HUMMINGBIRD 7100 FOR ENTRY LEVEL TSUNAMI KILLER The Lord High Muckamucks at Hewlett - Packard Co always figured there was a cheapo HP workstation on the cards . Now with Sun Microsystems Inc doing Tsunami at $ 3,995 there 's more reason than ever to step on it . HP has a low - cost entry - level 7100LC chip in the works called Hummingbird apparently bound for an under-$5,000 box possibly due in the second quarter . The Microprocessor Report reckons these boxes will make Sun 's new Tsunami - based machines look ‘ truly anemic .’
Idiom: break even (used idiomatically: yes)
Mm and it 's usually about , we make ten pound a morning thirty pound Mm , and what are they , are they , are , are they actually supposed to make money off it or is it just supposed to be a break even thing or are they quite happy No it 's not supposed to be profit making Mm
Idiom: on the level (used idiomatically: no)
Apply rubble and tamp well down , leaving enough space for 75mm of concrete on top 6 Tip on the concrete and level out with a rake until it is just about the level of the formwork 7 Select a straight board which is wider than the base and use it to tamp down the concrete …
Idiom: point the finger (used idiomatically: yes)
PUNISHMENT AWAITS YOU In the soft air , against the gentle green of the trees and the peaceful fields , these great red words stared at Tess . They pointed a finger at her . This man was a stranger and could not know her story , but the words accused her . ' Do you believe what you paint ? ' she asked in a low voice .
Idiom: hold someone's hand (used idiomatically: yes)
There were great pots of food steaming on the stove and dishes piled with fruit on the sideboard — pineapples , bananas , strange plum - looking fruit , and fruits she did n't know the names of . As soon as she could , without appearing rude , she said she 'd better take Lisa home . Daryl , a very tall thin young man with a neatly - trimmed beard , with a red knitted stocking tammy buffon'd up on his hair , with thin features and a beautiful skin , more black than brown ( his mother 's face was a shiny cinnamon ) black and pointed like the African in pictures of the three kings , came down the steps into the kitchen with this tiny fair mite at the bottom of his long arm holding his hand . She was also clutching his knee and he was swinging her up on his foot at every step and she was screaming and laughing . When they came into the light her mother saw the child 's face covered in blood and felt faint .
Idiom: way to go (used idiomatically: no)
it does n't feel any different . He 's glad to be back home . He has a long way to go but will keep playing as an amateur and then try to qualify for the Britsh open … Voice over Another winner at the weekend was the Oxfordshire based rider David O'Connor who rode home to take the big prize at the British Open Horse Trials at Gatcombe Park .
Idiom: on and off (used idiomatically: yes)
His ex - girlfriend was no more of a cook or a home - maker than he was . Her speciality was a kind of uncooked avocado mousse that was better avoided , although her martinis were good . She was a celebrated actress whom he had known and loved , on and off , almost since her first appearance on the stage . They had drifted into a brief alliance now because she was out of work and he was at a loose end emotionally , but it had not worked . It never would , she was too sophisticated for him , and he was too clever for her .
Idiom: have a heart (used idiomatically: no)
Let us return to our pilgrimage . What might this theme , ‘ a home that is always open ’ mean to us ? Because God 's home is always open , it means that we are always welcome and there is always forgiveness , God is giving us space to present himself to our hearts as a God of love but at the same time as a God who wants us to grow into his likeness . There are things in all our lives that displease him : misplaced ambition , wrong relationships , lack of prayerfulness , slackness in spiritual things , and so on . We all have a great deal of business to do with our heavenly Father and it is in the security of God 's home that we can know that we belong and are special .
Idiom: come hell or high water (used idiomatically: yes)
Earlier jazz was also often seen in terms of a ‘ defence of individualism’(spontaneity self - expression , and so on ) . Škvoreck ý 's ; The Bass Saxophone describes the particularly intense form this has taken under totalitarian regimes — both Fascist and Stalinist — when ‘ the ideological guns and sometimes even the police guns of all dictatorships are aimed at the men with the horns’ . Jazz here is ‘ about fidelity , about the sole real art there is , about what one must be true to , come hell or high water ; what must be done to the point of collapse ( Škvorecký 1980 : 8 , 20 ) ; and in Škvoreck ý 's ; own Czechoslovakia , the persecution in the mid-1980s of the ‘ Jazz Section’— which has supported rock and punk as well as jazz — confirms the subversive potency and ‘ alternative’ status , still , of this music . The history of jazz and rock is no less littered with tragic deaths , breakdowns and martyrdoms — from six Beiderbecke and Charlie Parker to John Lennon , Janis Joplin and Sid Vicious — than that of the mainstream modernist arts . Blues too is commonly regarded as centrally to do with the expression of alienated subjectivity caught within oppressive social structures ; in a previous book ( Middle ton 1972 ) I argued that the effects of this are apparent in the musical form itself - in disjunctive structures , an immanently contradictory musical language and a commitment to ‘ authentic’ self - expression — and I drew parallels with modernist art .
Idiom: at sea (used idiomatically: yes)
There was more , of course , about sympathy and sorrow and about writing again when they had anything more to tell her . She had n't been able to read the signature at the bottom of the page , and that seemed wrong , somehow . A man from the shipping line tells you your husband has been lost at sea and yon do n't even know his name . There were the initials GWE / BW typed at the top of the letter but they had n't helped . Dead is dead , no matter who signs the warrant , though it might have been nice to think that BW had felt compassion when she typed that letter and a bit of respect , maybe , for Stoker Gerry McKeown of the Mercantile Marine .
Idiom: fall into place (used idiomatically: yes)
Whether then Berlin became the national capital would be a matter for the German people to decide . 6 . The question of Germany 's frontiers , still unsettled today as a matter of strict international law , will likewise fall into place as part of any new arrangement in Central Europe . This means the definitive and final recognition of the present frontiers of Poland . The territories beyond the Oder - Neisse line are already lost to Germany .
Idiom: face to face (used idiomatically: yes)
Williamson was fined £ 350 , ordered to pay Mr Coulthard £ 120 compensation and excluded from all soccer grounds in this country for 12 months . He was also ordered to forfeit £ 150 from a previous binding over and bound over again for a year in the sum of £ 250 . TWO North - East councillors came face to face in court for the first time yesterday over allegations that they assaulted each other . Cleveland County councillor John Garvey is accused of assault causing actual bodily harm to Middlesbrough Borough Council 's Mike J Carr . But Garvey , 40 , has brought a private prosecution against Carr , 33 , alleging Carr assaulted him in the same incident in Middlesbrough Town Hall in October .
Idiom: bear in mind (used idiomatically: yes)
responsibility should be exacted from the subordinate by the superior for results obtained ( because ultimate responsibility remains with the superior ) . In addition : the subordinate 's ability and experience must be borne in mind when allocating tasks and responsibilities , since it is highly damaging to allocate tasks beyond a subordinate 's capabilities ; and frequent contact must be maintained between the boss and subordinate to review the progress made and to discuss constructive criticism . A subordinate may have written or unwritten authority to do his job .
Idiom: lay eyes on (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ Men - at - arms,’ he explained succinctly . ‘ Four of them . Probably only collecting rents or some such thing , but it will be better if they do n't lay eyes on you . Besides , I want to reach Winchester before dark.’ Isabel was still vaguely wondering if chivalry or haste was behind fitzAlan 's decision to ride on , when the choice was abruptly taken out of his hands .
Idiom: lie through your teeth (used idiomatically: yes)
You claimed , both of you claimed they were straight away gon na chip you back and offer you about sixty pound for them . Yeah . And if had n't of got on the phone and sort of made a song and dance about it , and told one or two things , and said one or two things they come up with a bit more money , but again you have to lie through your teeth to get back what you 're really entitled to ! Mm , but I mean when I showed that bloke them first time , when I showed him them cuff links Yeah .
Idiom: behind bars (used idiomatically: yes)
Asked last year what he would do about the loss of his top stars , Grigorovich said defiantly : ‘ If the stars leave we will bring up another generation , and when they go , we will bring up another.’ But a ballet factory is one thing , maintaining a myth is another . Beauty often seems enhanced behind bars . If for much of the last 50 years the Russians were almost invisible , and those whom we did see were either the brilliant defectors or carefully hand - picked stars , it is hardly surprising that the British public swallowed the myth . We have always loved the idea of artists at the mercy of art , the dancing shoes that take over .
Idiom: carry the can (used idiomatically: yes)
Then he began to hack at the door - frame . The whole structure creaked . One of his fellows stepped inside carrying a jerry - can . The woman dashed in after him , emerging with her arms full of bedclothes . But when she tried to make a second foray she was hurled out bodily .
Idiom: under fire (used idiomatically: yes)
In a separate interview with Reuters , Axel LeBlois , president and chief executive of Bull North America and Pacific , said Bull will ' notably expand ' its own version of Power RISC — the DPX20 range . He added , however , that hardware sales revenue this year would be fairly static as lower prices offset higher volume . Bull 's micro business , namely Zenith Data Systems , came under heavy fire from French journalists at the conference for being a loss leader in a market where making money has become more and more difficult . An insider at Zenith noted that the company ' is really a sitting duck target , with highly visible personal computer products in a relentless price war , which is also an acquired division with a different brand name that is not French . ' In 1991 , Zenith recorded a net loss equivalent to $ 290 m at the current rate of exchange , or over half of Bull 's total net loss of $ 589 m .
Idiom: wide of the mark (used idiomatically: yes)
These figures suggest that employers , at least with the present education system , largely feel that basic knowledge in a few subjects is all that they find useful for their purpose . Case study experience further suggests that even this use is questionable . Observation … suggest(s ) that employers ' expectations of the subject content and skills are often very wide of the mark . This appears especially true of Maths . Physics and English , the most frequently required subjects .
Idiom: cut corners (used idiomatically: yes)
As early as August 1986 he wrote to South West Water 's headquarters in Exeter complaining that ‘ we seem to move from one crisis to another . Proper pre - planning is becoming more and more a dream.’ Staff cuts and reductions in overtime , both introduced as part of the Authority 's attempts to increase book profits , were blamed by Lewis in more than one confidential memo for procedures which cut corners and increased the risk of accidents . He had asked for a new security system for Lowermoor but was refused on cost grounds . The number of safety advisers working in the field in SWWA 's region was reduced from six to two after a visit from the government 's ‘ flying accountants’ , brought in to see that the Authority met its ‘ performance aims’ after financial cuts in 1980 .
Idiom: to the tune of (used idiomatically: yes)
HOSPITAL staff in Chester have raised almost £ 5,000 towards new equipment . In the last six months , £ 4,662 was raised through a lottery at the Countess of Chester Hospital . The Priority Care Unit benefitted to the tune of £ 2,300 with the purchase of outward bound equipment for the young people 's unit , mirrors for the occupational therapy unit at Ellesmere Port and equipment for the physiotherapy gym , plus televisions , videos and pictures for wards . The accident and emergency department received £ 2,157 and other money has been given to the ambulance service . John Ross , chairman of Chester Health Authority , said : ‘ I 'm always amazed at the generosity of the staff on this site.’
Idiom: drop a hint (used idiomatically: yes)
When they reached Sukarno 's residence , Sjahrir burst in upon them to say that Japan was sueing for peace . The two leaders went to military headquarters for confirmation and were told that the staff were otherwise engaged . They managed to see Maeda who dropped hints and told them to be circumspect . It was decided to convene the PPKI next day , 16 August . When the members arrived they found Sukarno and Hatta missing .
Idiom: catch fire (used idiomatically: no)
Steel fire : Firemen attended a blaze at British Steel 's Lackenby Works , on Teesside in the early hours of yesterday . Three fire engines and a foam tanker dealt with the flames which were caused when grease caught fire . Fatal accident : Brenda Sisterson , 45 , of Ingleside Road , North Shields , died in hospital at the weekend after being knocked down by a bus as she crossed John Dobson Street in Newcastle city centre .