Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: easier said than done (used idiomatically: yes)
Probably more management books have been written on the problems of planning , or strategic direction , or strategic analysis , or competitive advantage and how to assess it , than on any other subject . There is no lack of advice , much of it very useful , on how to analyse your situation , and of course there is no point in deciding where your business is going until you have actually decided with great clarity where you are now . Like practically everything in business this is easier said than done , as the plethora of books , theories , advice and consultants testify . Just as the most difficult task of the manager is ruthless intellectual honesty about his own skills , weaknesses and motives , so it is notoriously difficult to be as near as possible totally objective about the strengths and weaknesses of your company , particularly because in many cases a perceived weakness can actually be utilized as a source of strength . For example , for many years we in ICI considered that we were too thinly spread and too diverse both in technological and in geographical terms .
Idiom: do someone proud (used idiomatically: yes)
STEVE COPPELL last night hailed his walking - wounded heroes as Crystal Palace unearthed a new teenage starlet in their Coca - Cola Cup triumph over Liverpool . He praised the performance of 18-year - old Grant Watts , scorer of Palace 's first goal in a shock 2 - 1 win , and said : ‘ It was a night to enjoy after all the trouble we 've been having this season . ‘ Watts is really only sixth in the pecking order up front , but suddenly he found himself playing the biggest game of his life and he did himself proud .’ Truce Coppell added : ‘ We were lightweight and inexperienced .
Idiom: wide of the mark (used idiomatically: yes)
" You 'll probably have plenty of time to do something about your trouble anyway , " he said to Willis,"it 's quite a long business , arranging the sale of these boats . Your leak 's somewhere aft , is n't it? … you've got all four pumps working , I take it … one in each well ? " This picture of Dreadnought was so wide of the mark that Willis found it better to say nothing , simply making a gesture which had something in common with a petty officer 's salute . Then he followed the others , who had to cross to land and tramp along the Embankment . The middle reach was occupied by small craft , mostly laying up for the winter , some of them already double lashed down under weather - cloths .
Idiom: in this day and age (used idiomatically: yes)
Well then when they start looking about a bit more , that is when it costs you because anything that Les has to get involved in , cos they go back to Les and say well why did he do this and why did you do that ? Then it costs you . Well I should i m a would imagine he 'd just say well in this day and age the banks are just charging him so much he just finds Mummy can I watch T V please ? this is an easier way .
Idiom: at the coalface (used idiomatically: yes)
Whereas Provincial can unflinchingly take what will be a brief reversal in its planned , steady reduction of the expense ratio this year as it assimilates the Prudential 's commercial business and the long - term benefits of having a direct sales force for the first time , 190,000 policies to add to its existing 800,000 , and with them premium income of £ 70 m . Key to all this has been one of Davidson 's major responsibilities , the development of a highly sophisticated system of strategic , operational and individual business plans and performance monitoring and review . Two factors that have influenced the way these have been developed are the principle that Davidson believes in , that ‘ what is measured gets done’ , and his experiences in dealing with boards and managers at the coalface in retail banking . ‘ I do n't agree with those who say there are some things that are n't quantifiable,’ he said . ‘ Take the claims function .
Idiom: off and on (used idiomatically: yes)
But for Hugh , the challenge is not only to paddle across the North Channel , but also to raise money for Roddensvale Special Care School in Larne . Canoeing ‘ I 've been canoeing off and on for about ten years , but this is my first venture on the open sea,’ he said . ‘ I 'd thought about it for some time , and decided to give it a go.’ Hugh was already committed to the marathon trip when he heard that the special care school had been burgled and had lost a vital computer and software , which is crucial in helping the children 's development
Idiom: up in the air (used idiomatically: yes)
The table in the room next to the kitchen looked different . It was covered in a white cloth ; there were some flowers , plates , the metal things that Marcus picks his food up with , sparkling glasses . There were also some strange red rods sticking up in the air from a holder . An investigation was called for . I jumped up and picked my way across the table .
Idiom: all things being equal (used idiomatically: yes)
Making comparisons between brains is a very risky business because there are confounding variables to confuse the issue . One of the most obvious is the size of the animal possessing the brain . All things being equal , small animals need less brain than larger ones and large brains might be different from small ones simply by virtue of their size ( Russell 1978 ) . For example , the folding of the neocortex of large mammals is largely a response to the need to cram more cortex into a small space in the cranium . Folding does not , by itself , indicate neural complexity .
Idiom: kick over the traces (used idiomatically: yes)
Dorothy Shakespear , one sometimes feels , was not much less imprisoned than Elizabeth Barrett had been , and in not much less need of a poet - errant to liberate her . Neither the captive nor her would - be liberator wasted much time complaining : these were the rules of the game , and the two of them could only be patient . Patience is not what we associate with Pound , and from time to time he seems to have kicked over the traces ( at least once to be ticked off for it by Dorothy ) : yet we see all over again that the young Pound was well content with Edwardian England , was hopeful of it and ready to abide by its rules in everything that mattered . Of course , where Dorothy was concerned , that was his only strategy if he wanted to secure her in the end . And in fact that is one of the affecting things : the story that we read is undoubtedly a love - story .
Idiom: go up in smoke (used idiomatically: yes)
But , however special , it is first and foremost a workplace — in just the same way as a factory , a hospital , or school . In commending it to God , we should couple it with all the workplaces in our land . When a person goes up in smoke THE DOCTOR ‘ I STARTED smoking 40 cigarettes every day , but I do n't finish 40 .
Idiom: catch someone's eye (used idiomatically: no)
‘ Preston?’ said Emily , in the morning , standing by the bed with a glass of orange juice . He took it gratefully and drank . He caught Christ 's eye on him and flinched . What could you say ? But it ca n't have happened .
Idiom: make or break (used idiomatically: yes)
Voice over It 's the situation no football club wants … in the relegation zone with no guarantee that even winning their last game will save them . Oxford United manager Brian Horton knows tomorrow 's match against Tranmere is make or break . Male speaker It 's vital for everybody at the club .
Idiom: at sea (used idiomatically: yes)
It is undertaken not as an ordinary business under traditional conditions of laissez - faire , but as one vested with the public interest . Of prime concern is the fact that sea travel has been and will always be perilous . For a thousand years , states have regulated maritime transportation for the purpose of promoting safety at sea . In theory , the Philippine authorities should have exercised their regulatory oversight with far more diligence . Instead , Manila port officials and the Philippine coast guard permitted the Princess of the Stars to set sail , despite clear warnings by the weather bureau that the ship was headed for the eye of the typhoon .
Idiom: grist to the mill (used idiomatically: yes)
I doubt it . And might not Bénezet have passed on all his gleanings to Rémy , as he did to you ? Whatever the bodyservant picks up may be grist to his master 's mill . And what Rémy hears may very well be talked of with the patron he 's courting . Oh , no , I would not say this hour had been altogether wasted .
Idiom: on board (used idiomatically: yes)
Nex anyway it 's quite near Portsmouth and we heard that the first Queen Elizabeth ship , they do n't say it 's the first but they call this one the Q E Two but there was a Q E One , you see at one time and so we took a coach from there to Southampton because we heard that she was in dock there and so we went and there were crowds of people and all in a queue waiting to go in . Well we took our turn and we waited to go in but once we got in we broke away from the crowd and when they all came out and went to lunch in the town we did n't . We stayed on board and we went up on to every deck and there was even a gentleman , he showed us up on the bridge on that er on that and , and of course there was the little shop and I bought I thought I must buy something on the Queen Elizabeth and I bought a pen . One of these er , I suppose it 'd be a ballpoint or whatever you call it and this , I 've still got it , it says on the Queen Elizabeth , see , and er , you see , we said , we said , well never mind very much , we can have something a snack afterwards and so we stayed on there from eleven o'clock in the morning until three in the afternoon , you see , and er er and we were wandering around and we saw the dining room , we saw the captain 's table and er , you know it was , and , and then we looked along one deck , we were high up , and down below there were rows of , rows of lifeboats in case you see There was an accident .
Idiom: with a view to (used idiomatically: yes)
But even if the critics are right , and the quality of life for these animals can be improved , this will not change the system in any fundamental way . True , some more space might be provided ; perhaps better ventilation ; maybe a change in diet or exercise opportunities . The system of utilisation , that is , might be reformed , with a view to improving the welfare of the animals being utilised . Nevertheless the philosophy of animal welfare by its very nature permits utilising other animals for human purposes , even if this means ( as it always does ) that most of these animals will experience pain , frustration and other harms , and even if it means , as it almost always does , that these animals will have their life terminated prematurely . This is what I mean by saying that reforms within the system of utilisation will not change the system in any fundamental way .
Idiom: good offices (used idiomatically: yes)
On a point of order , Mr. Speaker . In view of today 's decision by the Court of Appeal to allow the appeal by Winston Silcott , may I ask whether you have received a request by the Home Secretary to make a statement on that matter ? If you have not , will you use your good offices to nudge the Home Secretary in that direction so that he apologises to Winston Silcott and his family ? We need also to know the position of the police officers who forged Winston Silcott 's confessions . Mr. Speaker
Idiom: up in the air (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ Are there other folk around or are they alone , in shimmering sunlight , with violins in the background , making a commercial for shampoo or coffee or something?’ ‘ They 're with other people.’ ‘ No,’ Donna said decidedly , holding one leg straight up in the air and looking at it critically . ‘ If I was him , I definitely would not make a play for her . Especially not when I 'd left my heart with this fantastic woman up in London.’
Idiom: at the end of the day (used idiomatically: yes)
Chairman , just before we leave things can I just remind members now that , that , the target set for this Committee was a net increase , and , have that in mind as we go through , and that increase is some six hundred and forty thousand pounds , which we could show within those papers as having arrived at it , in ninety four , five . Because I think , approves the use of a hundred and eighty thousand pounds of our carry forwards , contingency figure , which is n't receipted in five , six , and six , seven , that the variation in five , six , before the home closure savings come fully on - stream , is in fact an increase of seven hundred and fifty four thousand , but dropping in ninety six , seven some five hundred and fifty eight thousand . I do n't know whether this will be acceptable to Policy and Resources Committee or the Council at the end of the day , but essentially what is showing there is something that , taken over the three years meets er , a figure equivalent to the annual but it does n't do it uniformly over the three years . And that 's something I think members need to bear in mind . The only way of addressing that differently , if indeed the guideline is strictly applied , and you 're required to identify no more than a net increase of six hundred and forty thousand in ninety five , six , the second year of this programme , then you would have to put in additional line of further savings as yet to be identified .
Idiom: dig deep (used idiomatically: no)
He was holding a flat cap full of coins . As each woman dropped money into the cap he would kiss her hand before skipping on to the next . He even looked up at Magee , who merely ignored the little man and walked on , hands still dug deep into his pockets . A drain had overflowed at the end of the road and water was running down the tarmac . Magee paid it little heed as he continued his nocturnal stroll , looking around him constantly , occasionally slowing down to look over his shoulder or perhaps changing direction quickly , ducking into a group of people .
Idiom: make heavy weather of (used idiomatically: yes)
A toothless , gummy Firebird with no bite . The softgrained , ponderous opening sets the tone for a lifeless , long drawn out haul . Kitajenko encourages extremes of legato , usually at very slow tempi which make heavy weather of the opening sections , completely robbing the music of any momentum or atmosphere . When faster music does at last arrive for the ‘ Magic Carillon’ and the ‘ Infernal Dance,’its energy splutters ineffectually on the back burner . The orchestra is severely stretched to maintain any sort of cogent line , and the fantasy of the work is all but lost .
Idiom: by and large (used idiomatically: yes)
That 's right , this is the , this is the effect . Whether ther there 's a there 's a t two pronged effect the first of which is that high tariffs consumption because prices are higher and therefore consumption will fall and secondly , if high prices are also charged farmers to domestic farmers right then they 'll increase their output . Now if they increase their output alright that will displace imports alright , so protectionism leads to self sufficiency and by and large self sufficiency is protectionism 's raison d'etre , that 's why it 's there right it 's to increase domestic output of this particular product . Does anybody know why agriculture was n't in erm the G A T T it 's never , t discussed in the G A T T why it has n't er included in like manufacturing is reason why that is ? Too political
Idiom: stake a claim (used idiomatically: yes)
KHALID MOHAMED A STAR WARS has erupted between the two screen goddesses , Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit , sweethearts of millions of moviegoers . They are competing for plum roles and staking their claim to be the No 1 box office attraction . Both beauties have refused offers to team them together in a film since neither wants to be upstaged . They are running neck - and - neck in the popularity stakes .
Idiom: rule the roost (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ Who were they at that stage?’ ‘ Chatterton and Fagg and a few more like them who 've since kicked the bucket . But it was those two who ruled the roost . Chatterton had the brains and Fagg the energy . And they were both agreed that the thing to do with the club was to use it for their private purposes .
Idiom: on the face of it (used idiomatically: yes)
' Yes . I expect it is , ' Maggie mused . On the face of it , it seemed that she was gaining Ana 's confidence , but then Felipe already had her confidence and he knew nothing at all about her blindness . Being agony aunt was tricky and probably quite beyond her . She was still quietly fuming about Felipe 's remarks as dinner drew near , however , and he had put her in a very awkward position .
Idiom: throw cold water on (used idiomatically: yes)
Under its capable managing ~ director , Dominique ~ Strauss - Kahn , and distinguished chief economist , Olivier ~ Blanchard , it has been a voice for sanity on global fiscal stimulus in the midst of much cacophony . For an institution that seemed on the verge of irrelevance not too long ago , this is quite a transformation . But now Strauss - Kahn is throwing cold water on proposals to tax international flows of “ hot money . ” The occasion was Brazil ’s decision to impose a 2 % tax on short - term capital inflows to prevent a speculative bubble and further appreciation of its currency . When asked about the role of capital controls , Strauss - Kahn said he was not wedded to any rigid ideology on the subject .
Idiom: at the end of the day (used idiomatically: yes)
Monitor evaluator to actually check and to give you the pessimistic side of everything to break everything down why it wo n't work why this should be done why that should be done instead . Team worker to make sure everybody 's working together and happy . Completer finishes finishers because at the end of the day that job has got to be finished off . so everybody plays a specific role . Now if there 's only three or four or five people in the group you 'll probably find that people who works there their strengths and if there 's anything missing in a group then sometimes in a good group other people come up
Idiom: to all intents and purposes (used idiomatically: no)
The main and very unsatisfying conclusion that I have reached may he expressed in the title I sometimes give to a lecture on the subject : " There 's something damn funny about the stratigraphical record " . The record is spasmodic and ridiculously incomplete , with particular strata and fossils extremely widespread , hut separated by vastly longer gaps than anything that is preserved . The same strata and fossils , though to all intents and geological purposes synchronous , must have spread diachronously . Traditional concepts such as gentle , continuous sedimentation ( and perhaps similarly continuous evolution ) are not adequate to explain what we see . Nor is the concept of the " stratotype " satisfactory as a means of establishing an international stratigraphical language .
Idiom: in light of (used idiomatically: yes)
We are compiling a comprehensive list of the polling ~ stations where ZANU supporters had solitary control . In our investigations so far , a pattern has emerged even at this early stage : these polling ~ stations recorded the highest number of voters for Mugabe . In light of all the evidence , I can not accept the Presidential election results in which Robert ~ Mugabe , the sitting president , was declared a winner this month with 56 % of the 3~million votes tallied .
Idiom: take stock (used idiomatically: yes)
We 'd found a gold mine . I borrowed forty pounds from Malc 's Mum and bought myself a long black frock with diamanté trim and began to learn my trade . The fear got worse and when it reached the stage where five brandies were required to get me on stage , I had to stop and take stock of myself I had no desire to inflict an alcoholic parent on MY children . The next night I went on without Dutch courage and flattened a drunken heckler with a couple of speedy put - downs that came from nowhere ( ' twas I , your valiant defence mechanism again)and a new career was born . I was n't Marti Caine at that stage , I was Zoe Bond , but only after being Sunny Smith for three weeks .
Idiom: on the cards (used idiomatically: yes)
Golden Kit ( third 12 months ago ) may be the main danger . Phelioff won the Ladies ' Open at this meeting last Easter and is once again amongst the 15 entries . His possible clash with Qannaas ( who is trained by former royal jockey turned BBC TV commentator Bill Smith ) should be one of the highlights on the six-race card . So far this season , Phelioff and Qannaas have met twice at Tweseldown . Each has won once , and there should n't be much between them this time .
Idiom: night and day (used idiomatically: no)
At this point the outside phone bell goes . Pa sets the Ransome down on the grass , runs to the caravan , which has its own telephone at the office end , and disappears inside . Although neither Mrs Chalmers , the light - bulb lady , nor old Frank who does tyres and drives the Recovery , work Sundays , Pa is always ready to collect vehicles himself at any time , night and day , weekends included . This does not conflict with his religious principles because , as he says , he enjoys it . And if a person enjoys something , that 's rest .
Idiom: dead and buried (used idiomatically: yes)
Where her doppelgangers wander the hills or flirt in banqueting halls . He bent his head . She 's dead and buried in a grave in Portree . And where is that ? He swilled down the beer .
Idiom: six of the best (used idiomatically: yes)
And he has now made it to the finals of our fun competition to find the Most Miserable Man on Merseyside after being nominated by step - daughter Christine Johnson and wife , Margaret . ‘ He drives mum and I daft with his eccentric ways and eternal gloom,’ said Christine , 31 . Judge for yourself here 's six of the best from our glum friend : On Radio Merseyside 's Billy Butler and Wally Scott : ‘ All that pair do is laugh . They 've had it too soft , that 's their trouble.’ On Victor Meldrew : ‘ I was saying ‘ I do n't believe it!’ long before that old fool was invented.’
Idiom: tongue in cheek (used idiomatically: yes)
Sir , may I suggest , in reply to W Roger Jones query on TRE POL PEN , that he studies a detailed map of the Duchy of Cornwall . He will be astounded by the place names beginning with the three letters of each prefix . Many years ago at Cadeby , the outpost of all that is Great Western , it was suggested that the locomotive naming group at Swindon works would have named the 4–4–0 locomotive ‘ Duchy of Cornwall’ , but with tongue in cheek decided on TRE POL PEN instead , as something of a compliment to that delightful district of the West Country . LETTING OFF STEAM is the ideal place for you , the SRN readers , to have your say about steam . Please write to : The Editor , Steam Railway News , Martians Mill , Martland Mill Lane , Wigan , Lancs , WN5 0LX .
Idiom: all over the show (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ I 'll not have a babby in the place , I told them . I made myself very clear about that . Squealing and squawking and leaving its dirty nappies all over the show.’ ‘ Oh , they 've got that all sorted,’ William 's grandad assured him . ‘ Them and their precious Father Michael .
Idiom: take the piss (used idiomatically: yes)
Twelve . We 're talking about the people who died in the first world war . taking the piss out of them . I thought you were talking about this morning . No I was taking the piss out of when you were in the remembrance service when
Idiom: sign of the times (used idiomatically: yes)
The Fund may have difficulty swallowing the numbers in the new plan . But without the IMF 's imprimatur , the rescheduling of Brazil 's $ 14 billion debt to private banks is in jeopardy . It is a sign of the times that Mr Franco 's plan is being praised more for what it did not do than what it did . Brazilians have become only too accustomed to economic pyrotechnics and were fearful of more . In the past decade they have suffered through five price and wage freezes , 11 stabilisation plans , three debt moratoriums and seven letters of intent with the IMF .