Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: on the skids (used idiomatically: no)
But then , is n't life just like motoring ? ) Now Stuart , you should know , is rancidly smug about finding his way through London without so much as crossing a bus - route — his driving is all Kilburn cut - throughs and dinky dives along back - streets tumescent with sleeping policemen . Whereas Ollie happens to have spotted that nowadays there is no such thing as a short - cut in London : all the back roads are dogged up by master cartologists such as Stu , petrol - pinching aficionados of kink and gully who spin their Oldsmobile Mantras into canny U - turns like instructors on the skid - rink . All of whom have been second - guessed by Ollie , who romps his plodmobile ( definitely not a Lagonda ! ) gaily down the Bayswater Road , barrels up Piccadilly , even throttles back on the vacant Euston Road to give the competition a sporting chance . I had time to seminarise Mrs Dyer on the lesser masterpieces of Norman Wisdom before skipping to my room , whistling like one struck by sudden nocturnal inspiration .
Idiom: over the top (used idiomatically: yes)
The following is a possible scenario where a slapping block might be applied . Your opponent throws a long - ranging reverse punch ; you draw back your front foot into a cat stance , withdrawing your body from danger . Your leading hand slaps down on the punch as you simultaneously punch over the top and into the opponent 's face . Being a combination , this is more likely to score than a single face punch which , as I said earlier , is often simply overlooked by the referee . Sometimes the alert referee will award a full point for your combination , though this is rare .
Idiom: out of the question (used idiomatically: yes)
In a commission of experts , however , it is out of the question that we accept refugees as members . ”
Idiom: in the saddle (used idiomatically: yes)
Beyond the hedges the cornfields were thick with poppies and edged with cornflowers . Swallows whipped low across the fields , while rooks flew clumsily towards their high nests . Sharpe twisted in his saddle to see that the western sky was still clouded , though there were great gaps between the heaping clouds through which the sun poured an incandescent flood of light . It was evening , but there were still four hours of daylight left . In a week 's time it would be the longest day of the year when , in these latitudes , a gunner could accurately sight a twelve - pounder at half - past nine of an evening .
Idiom: on the dot (used idiomatically: yes)
How can I send photos to Dropbox from an iPhone ? On the main menu of the Dropbox application , or rather , with the option selected from the bottom left of the bar , click on the three dots on the top right of the screen and select " Upload " Then , just select the photos and click Upload on the top right .
Idiom: pass the buck (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ A child should be respected as an individual with its own rights,’ she stressed . As for problem kids , the association feels this is a matter for discussion with their parents . And if parents try to pass the buck by instructing childminders to ‘ give them the odd slap’ they will be disappointed . ‘ We would not accept that,’ said Irene . ‘ Our Quality Charter states that NICMA members are expected to work out a policy on discipline which does not include smacking children,’ she said .
Idiom: new blood (used idiomatically: yes)
Ylva , he said , was diverting scarce funds and manpower from other species that also needed protection and that do not arouse such hostility . The zoo team , led by Hans Ove Larsson , already has a captive wolf pack but , due to a congenital defect , the animals are blind . Ylva would bring new blood and perhaps attract new funds to the zoo 's breeding project . It is now the moose - hunting season — not a safe time to be creeping through the woods on a wild wolf chase , and so unless someone shoots her , Ylva has a few weeks grace . There may still be time to persuade the authorities to relocate her rather than remove her from the wild .
Idiom: on a roll (used idiomatically: yes)
Even if I have to work nights . Please have October . ' ' I brought in the Readers ' Digests , ' she muttered , unable to apply the brakes when she 'd been on such a powerful roll . I thanked her for them and the poster and then phoned George , who talked to me in monosyllables . I told him I loved him because he 's the partner I chose for better or worse .
Idiom: take stock (used idiomatically: no)
But they had n't been made at Fords , they 'd been made in a subsidiary , taken up the road on long trailers , taken off the trailer onto the assembly conveyor , which er crawls round the assembly line and fitted like that . That 's the economy of the motor trade , apparently Henry Ford in America had an upset and er tried to beat the banks and er had loans and he was frightened that they would get control of his business and the we were told that at Dagenham . And it 's quite true , I was there about four years and they always took stock before January the first , so that after Christmas came an anomaly , we 'd had a Christmas holiday and gone back to work . In the north of England they have New Year 's Day but they do n't in the south in England , they might do now . And but at Fords we they we were laid off again for this other weekend till they took stock .
Idiom: larger than life (used idiomatically: yes)
Female speaker I was amazed how much there was of everything . Just ordinary furniture like anyone would have I 'm surprised it is n't more glamorous somehow , only larger than life which is what you 'd expect I suppose Female speaker Big things massive things , his ego , it reflects his personality
Idiom: rough and tumble (used idiomatically: yes)
Most women who have come , either as mums or as mums - to - be , have found the group useful for social & emotional support and also for practical swapping of ideas and solutions for the minor and not so minor problems we all have as new mums . Mobile Mums Mobile mums groups are for mums with ‘ mobile’ toddlers who need toddler - proof houses but who are maybe not ready yet for the rough and tumble of Open houses . All New Mums ( New and Mobile ) groups are held between 2.00 p.m. and 4 p.m. What do you want from the Mothers in Employment Group ? ? ?
Idiom: take heart (used idiomatically: no)
Happily , Robben Ford 's ‘ 88 release for Warner Bros Talk To Your Daughter saw him cross successfully into the limelight . Having played with such artists as Miles Davis , George Harrison and Joni Mitchell , Robben 's playing had already attracted the attention of the guitar cognoscenti . But , despite being Grammy nominated and highly revered , the album is now only available in Britain as a costly import , and so fans of Robben 's superb jazz - tinted blues style will take heart in the fact that another release is imminent . Called ‘ Robben Ford & Blue Line’(GRS 11022 ) , it looks likely to gain him the even higher profile as a soloist he so richly deserves . I talked to him after a recent gig in Manchester ( which saw Robben playing with Roscoe Beck on bass and drummer Tom Brechtlien ) and asked him about his new album .
Idiom: tired and emotional (used idiomatically: yes)
Rip Torn , who was first choice for the part that Nicholson eventually played had finally rejected the pleadings of Fonda and Hopper and pulled out of the project . He wanted $ 4500 for the job — once he had seen what it entailed — whereas because of the limited budget everyone else was on scale , amounting to a few hundred dollars . There were rows between him and Dennis , who could become exceedingly tired and emotional and was already shooting in New Orleans without a script . BBS seriously considered firing Hopper ; the pressure of moving a production team of twenty - three people from state to state , writing the script on the run and persuading innocent citizens of the United States of America who just happened to be passing at the time to appear in the movie , was a heavy burden for all . Hopper will probably agree that he — and the movie — were saved by Nicholson who was sent down by Rafelson as a trouble - shooter in the role of executive producer and ended up playing the third man , the part reserved for Rip Torn .
Idiom: in the long term (used idiomatically: yes)
Relapse can be seen in changes of mood before it leads back to use of the addictive substance or behaviour . Each follows a " wavy path " . Just as the disease process has moments when things appear to be getting better even though in the long - term they are getting progressively worse , so also in relapse there will also be times when things appear to be getting better even though in the long - term they are getting progressively worse , so also in relapse there will also be times when things appear to be getting better even though in the long - term they are getting progressively worse . Relapse can occur at any time . The most characteristic feature of addictive disease is that it is a relapsing condition .
Idiom: in the long term (used idiomatically: yes)
I do n't believe in just using monetary instruments . Looking further ahead , what pattern of ownership do you see ? I would say that the private sector would be decisive in the long term . But that 's a long - term , differentiated process . In the first stage , I see extensive privatisation for the service sector — restaurants , shops , little businesses , etc .
Idiom: from scratch (used idiomatically: yes)
problem you do is , Er start right Mm . from scratch I do n't know whether I 'm allowed to do that , I think I can possibly get away with this . Erm so your confidence goes , your speed at working through it goes , you might find you 're going back and doing it again when it was right then first time . Mhm .
Idiom: on someone's mind (used idiomatically: no)
‘ It does n't matter.’ There was another uncomfortable silence , and Alyssia clicked her tongue impatiently . ‘ Just tell me what 's on your mind , Simone,’ she said flatly,’and do n't try to change the subject.’ ‘ I 'd rather not . Really .
Idiom: under the influence (used idiomatically: no)
On the other hand the input suggested a shift in emphasis , for example in the interest expressed in media education and in the role of communication studies in theological education . WACC 's Central Committee , meeting immediately after the Manila Congress in October 1989 , decided to streamline the Forum programme . This evidently happened under the influence of the Congress and its Manila Declaration . The four principal areas identified by CentCom 89 were : 1 ) Communication and Human Rights / Ethics ; 2 ) Communication and Theology ( particularly the introduction of communication courses in theological education ) ; 3 ) Communication and Development ; 4 ) Media Education . In the run - up to the next World Congress in 1995 , these four areas should be expanded to include other relevant global and regional concerns like communication for peace , communication in ethno - religious conflicts , and the importance of culture in the process of social change .
Idiom: swings and roundabouts (used idiomatically: no)
So when I go round the garden , I carry two containers : a bucket for compostable weeds , and a plastic bag for those perennials with tough tools that might survive . So any docks , dandelions and creeping buttercup go straight to the tip and good riddance to them too . Swings and roundabouts But I have to confess that what I save on the weedless swings , I lose on the rampant roundabouts . Because my plants are packed in so tightly I spend a great deal of time trimming and tying .
Idiom: on ice (used idiomatically: no)
THERE was also New Year 's violence abroad . Thirteen people were killed and 1 - 500 injured as celebrating Filipinos took to the streets , and a further five were killed and 100 arrested in Sydney . Students in China continued to rally in support of democracy despite government bans , threats and to deliberate flooding of Tiananmen Square in Peking , where protesters gathered on the ice which formed . Ninety - six people were killed in a suspected arson attack on a hotel whose staff were disaffected in San Juan , the capital of Puerto Rico . Forty - nine people were killed , but two survived , when a Boeing 707 crashed in the Ivory Coast , and there were nine deaths when a New York to Boston express train crashed near Baltimore .
Idiom: tip the scales (used idiomatically: yes)
Finally , reverting to Labour , Greg Pope , the new non - apostolic Labour man for Catholic Accrington unseated the Catholic Tory , Ken Hargreaves , not least by appearing on the ballot as Pope Gregory . Missing millions Did vanishing voters tip the electoral scales ? Jolyon Jenkins looks at the figures In retrospect , perhaps the community charge , far from damaging the Tories , was the party 's hidden weapon .
Idiom: up and running (used idiomatically: yes)
Carmel nuns leave soon for new work in Mafeking THREE nuns from Darlington Carmel Convent follow in the footsteps of their predecessors this month when they travel to South Africa to set up the country 's first multi - racial convent . Sisters Mary Joseph , Mary Columba and Philippa joined three German nuns and one sister from Cape Town in the project which should be up and running by September . The Nunnery Lane convent became involved in plans for the Carmelite convent at Mafeking after the German sisters were approached by the South African Bishop of Kimberley and got in touch with Darlington . They knew the town 's closed order already had links with South Africa where , in 1931 , a group from the Carmel Convent set up the first Carmelite convent in Johannesburg .
Idiom: go hand in hand (used idiomatically: yes)
Rebuck says there is a great deal of the romantic in him . He himself admits ( grudgingly ) to being ‘ sensitive’ and ‘ compassionate’ . There is also the element of heightened excitement that goes hand in hand with the sort of work that he does . In Sri Lanka a few years back , shortly before the elections , he wandered through the frightened crowds at political rallies , despite warnings that danger was imminent . Bombs went off as he had been warned that they would .
Idiom: out of the question (used idiomatically: yes)
Peony set off to the chemist urgently . If she could get there before the long closure for lunch - hour he would make her up a preparation , and Peony could get it back to her mother and possibly get back again to the harbour for the Swimming Gala . Earlier her plan had been to go down to the village a little before the gala on the pretext of shopping and finding out the times of the events and perhaps look in at the antique shop ( for Mrs Price was on the Gala committee ) and let it be known she would join the young people , but now that her mother was ill that was out of the question , she pushed it on one side , the urgent thing was to get to the chemist 's and get the stuff up to her mother . She went very rapidly indeed but she knew what a long morning it would seem to her mother lying there alone unable to move . It was a long distance down the great side of the hill , through the woods down to the estuary .
Idiom: join the club (used idiomatically: no)
In the first instance , Forest 's hopes of Premier League survival this season are looking increasingly thin . And Arsenal , Blackburn , Manchester United , Liverpool and Aston Villa have all expressed interest , along with Spanish giants Real Madrid and Seville . Italian clubs are sure to join a stampede that could push Keane 's fee beyond £4m . Forest want an answer from Keane by the end of this week and he has asked for an extra couple of days to iron out the finer details . He said : ‘ Financially , it 's an incredible deal .
Idiom: go halves (used idiomatically: no)
No , I did n't mention it , at the moment . She 's got Sandy staying now I asked her about the letter and she said she could n't remember anything about it but she filled in something when they came back from Belfast and she said open it , so I opened it and it 's one of these things er if you book to go to Dublin before May the whatever , the end of May , then if you went again in the Autumn , you you get er fifty pounds worth of vouchers or something , you go half price . It 's one of those con things like they tried Well ,
Idiom: all along (used idiomatically: yes)
She could not find the light switch and stood , her hand on the newel post , deciding whether to go up in the dark . Then there was a noise from the rear of the house , the scrape of a door being opened . They had been on the ground floor all along . Rain sped towards the sound . When she saw them she was going to tell them about the tea and in the same breath demand to know what they had found and why Cobalt had anticipated finding anything in the Villa Fiesole .
Idiom: have a few (used idiomatically: yes)
It was all fascinating stuff and very secret . S Group was led by Group Captain Donald Bennett , who we heard was a most formidable gentleman from ‘ down under’ and who was mostly to be found at Group Headquarters , Huntingdon or at Wyton RAF Station , a few miles away . One hopes that Wyton , being a pre - war station , had a few more amenities than Bourn , which apparently had only recently been caved out of the mud . As far as I was concerned , when I had been at Bourn a month I felt I had lived there for years . After the initial strangeness had worn off , routine took over and I started to get used to meteorological work and enjoy it .
Idiom: have been around (used idiomatically: no)
THE Wolfgang Press , the enigmatic 4AD band , make a rare visit to the North - East next week . The band , who have a knack of warping classic soul songs , play Newcastle Riverside on Sunday and Middlesbrough Arena on Monday . The Wolfies have been around for almost ten years but have never made any major dents on the charts . But they found funk with their last album Queer and have created their own highly danceable , hypnotic music . Top form :
Idiom: cut loose (used idiomatically: yes)
H - M had a hefty policy with General Disaster to provide for the dependents of those lost or handicapped in the service of the Agency . His mapscreen was lighting up all over . Terhune had laid down all the fire they needed , and Rodriguez 's team was in town , cutting loose . ‘ Gas station , saloon , hotel , town hall … ’ He checked off the targets as they flared .
Idiom: under the microscope (used idiomatically: yes)
A negative control , in which the primary antibody was omitted , was performed for all sections . The sections stained for intrinsic factor and gastrin also had negative controls in which their antisera were incubated with their respective antigens ( Sigma ) . All sections were viewed under a Leitz Dialux 20 EB microscope using ×50 and ×100 objectives . The sections stained with haematoxylin and eosin and those stained for gastrin had the point at which the parietal cells stopped distally and the point at which the G cells stopped proximally marked on the surface of the slides . As the stomachs varied greatly in size , data were normalised .
Idiom: touch wood (used idiomatically: yes)
God forbid ! How do you manage ? Touch wood . Oh ! You do n't say ?
Idiom: hot air (used idiomatically: no)
The floor was undulating , covered in grass and a few patches of exposed rock . A large stream , fed by several smaller tributaries , flowed across it , escaping through a cleft in the rim which formed a deep gorge . On the far side of the crater , faint plumes of steam from a hot spring drifted into the air , and dotted across the grass were weird plants called groundsels , looking like dried cabbages on poles , and clumps of bright flowers , with red poker-shaped buds . We established a ‘ base-camp ’ and spent the next two days exploring this bizarre landscape . First we circled round the crater , walking across fine , open grassland or weaving our way through dense patches of groundsel , to bag Lower Elgon Peak , our highest point in Kenya so far .
Idiom: under fire (used idiomatically: yes)
Cumberland , an eye - witness recorded , ‘ jumped around the room with joy’ on learning he could resume his pursuit of the rebels , ‘ and declared that he would follow them to the further part of Scotland.’ But the delay was sufficient to postpone the encounter which both the Duke and Prince Charles — though not the latter 's generals — were seeking , though hostility to the retreating invaders was visibly growing . In Kendal the Duke of Perth 's horsemen were stoned and attacked by a mob armed with clubs , and as they approached Clifton on the outskirts of Penrith they came under fire from militiamen hidden behind the hedgerows . Charles had done all he could to slow down the retreat , issuing orders that ‘ not so much as a cannonball’ was to be left behind — an instruction literally , and profitably , followed by the Glengarry clan who , when the carts transporting ammunition up Shap Fell , between Kendal and Penrith , broke down , carried it up in their plaids , at sixpence [ 2 . 5p]per cannonball . The first real brush between the two sides came on 17 December when Cumberland 's horsemen approached the rear of the baggage train between Shap and Penrith , but it was not till next day that a more serious encounter occurred .
Idiom: out of your mind (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ Well , that 's it,’ said Camille , after a further moment . ‘ You would n't go away and leave that for anyone to hear . Not unless you were out of your mind.’ Her voice was unsteady . ‘ Is n't it funny,’ she said , ‘ how you ca n't like people when they 're doing that.’
Idiom: on the cards (used idiomatically: yes)
At a time of sky-high interest this has been pretty painful . FORTE : Cutting costs THE Halifax has cut the monthly interest rate on its VISA card from 1.95 per cent to 1.85 per cent . The rate includes an annual £10 fee . The cut brings Halifax in line with Barclaycard 's 1.85 per cent .
Idiom: go without saying (used idiomatically: yes)
You will see where the dramatic storylines are shot and go behind the scenes during a hectic recording schedule as well as in front of the cameras . Not only will you will be present during a recording at the Pizza Parlour but you will also be in shot and you will be seen on screen reading a copy of the Liverpool Echo when the episode is broadcast ! It goes without saying that it will be a day to remember , as our lucky winner will be treated like a star . Limousine First you will be picked up from home in a luxury stretch limo courtesy of Elegance Limousines of Waterloo .
Idiom: to a turn (used idiomatically: no)
It would be perverse to find fault with the elevation of Aids awareness to the status of a rock cause , and particularly silly to fret about performance infelicities ( nobody really looks to David Bowie for enlightenment , do they ? ) providing the message gets across and the money comes in . Still , there was a gaping hole at the centre of the Wembley concert . Rather than simply tacking on a message to their usual turn , as was the standard approach , who among the stars was using their — ahem — art to grapple with Aids ? In contrast , Diamanda Galas ' records and performance pieces since 1984 have done almost nothing but that . The main marker of her music is her voice .