Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: turn the tables (used idiomatically: yes)
The earliest attempts were made in Canada around the turn of the century , using locally caught mink to get the breeding colony started . At first , the trade preferred wild - caught pelts , which had denser underfur and better resistance to fading . But eventually selective breeding turned the tables on quality , and the economic boom that followed the First World War brought an explosion of demand for fur , for the first time a high - fashion commodity . High prices led to the severe depletion of wild mink , marten , river otter , and beaver populations , and ranch - bred fur came into its own . The North American mink is a highly varied species , with some 15 recognised subspecies .
Idiom: up the river (used idiomatically: yes)
He arrived one year with his third wife , and the ashes of his late - lamented second wife tucked away in the boot of his car . Ian Hay told me the lady 's last wish had been that the Colonel should scatter her ashes in the headwaters of the River Laxford : ‘ But , you see , his new young wife was not the sort of lady to enjoy much walking and the poor Colonel just did n't know how he was going to get the job done . So I arranged for one of the estate stalkers to take the remains up the river , when the Colonel and his lady were out for the day.’ Towards evening , Ian thought that he had better make certain that everything was in order , before the Colonel returned , and telephoned his friend : ‘ Now Ian , everything is just as fine as it should be ; you can tell the Colonel that his good lady will be well out to sea by now.’ My wife Ann and I first visited Scourie in 1974 , along with our two children , Blair and Lewis - Ann .
Idiom: run amok (used idiomatically: yes)
No refurbishment at all at Oval on the grim , dank Northern Line . Not a tiled cricket bat or a profile of Surrey 's fast - bowling demon of yesteryear , Geoff Arnold , to be seen . Stuck on a Northern Line train between Tooting Beck and Balham , a gaggle of lads running amok and jeering with lighted fags . Do you tell them that smoking is banned on the Underground ? Do you remind them of Angela Williams , the first person to be prosecuted for smoking on the tube or of Paul Deiring , the first person to be jailed for smoking on the tube ( he could n't pay his £ 25 fine ) or do you make like Eric Butler , the Bernard Goetz of the Victoria Line , who , in 1987 , mocked and taunted by drunken youths , retaliated with a sword - stick and was punished in the courts for his efforts .
Idiom: on board (used idiomatically: yes)
But if Martha herself had sent her , what hope was there left for him . He felt suddenly older . He still had the jewelled dagger hidden in a barrel on board his ketch , and he had put the sack with the money belt in an old sea chest left to him by his father . He knew he was wealthy , set up for life , but he was already being made to pay for the taking of those lives : almost every night since , he had been troubled by dreams in which he found himself face to face once more with his victims . Perhaps Sam was right , after all .
Idiom: join the club (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ I remember the very first piece I wrote I sent to a friend during the war , ’ Mr. Johnson told the Herald . ‘ He lost it , and all I can remember was that it was about a star . ’ When he started ‘ writing in earnest ’ , after the war when he also joined a club for the hard of hearing which had a great effect on his life , he at first concentrated on prose , turning to the medium of poetry about 20 years later . This is now the form he prefers — ‘ you can say a lot in a poem with a very few words ’ — and he writes ‘ whenever I feel in the mood ’ . The work explores , sometimes very poignantly , an investigation of the emotions of one who has been progressively deaf from the age of four , and who lost his mother at the age of two .
Idiom: change hands (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ Now , when it all turns to dust , we can make a bit of dosh.’ ANGUISH : It 's all too much for one dealer yesterday as the futures market is hit with its busiest day involving deals worth £ 243billion MONEY MANIA : A trader yells himself hoarse in the deafening pit where fortunes changed hands SIGN OF THE TIMES : A ‘ tic - tac’ dealer surrounded by rival ‘ punters’ GO FOR IT !
Idiom: neck of the woods (used idiomatically: no)
He must need his head testing . Chamberlain 's experience of first - class cricket is slim , confined to six matches for Northants shortly after the war . Instead his working life has been devoted , as one might expect from that neck of the woods , to the shoe trade , helping build up the family firm into a multinational concern . He is also on the board of a number of City companies , and for his sins is a former Master of the Worshipful Company of Pattenmakers . He has been chairman of Northants since 1985 , the year Subba Row took over his role at the TCCB , and has served on the board 's finance comittee .
Idiom: high and low (used idiomatically: yes)
To obtain the most accurate data possible , we measured data at two gain settings of the FAST detector : the MADNES parameters to control voltage settings on the camera and image intensifier were SETDET 7,1 at high gain and 3,1 at low gain . At high gain , about 40 % of the reflections were flagged as saturated and were discarded , while at low gain , weak reflections ( 3 standard deviations ) were discarded as unreliable . Data for all three wavelengths were scaled together using the program FBSCALE ; however , the high and low gain data were scaled separately . Scale factors were determined to bring these to a common and absolute scale , and to generate a merged set of amplitudes , but the high and low gain data were phased separately . However , the diffraction ratio for centric reflections , which should be zero theoretically , was 0.059 .
Idiom: on the level (used idiomatically: yes)
The NFCC published an eleven - volume historical series entitled ' Eras of Nonconformity ' edited by C. Silvester Horne , a Free Churchman 's Legal Handbook to aid ministers and chapel officials , hymnals , leaflets ( 100 for 1s . ) and booklets . Political involvement at the national level was , as we shall see in Chapter 9 , fraught with dangers . On the local level , where a much greater chance of agreement could be assumed and where Hughes could not veto their action , political work was easier . J. Scott Lidgett , head of the Wesleyans ' Bermondsey Settlement , warned delegates in 1901 about their political work : The free Church Council , special emergencies apart , will therefore best serve the administration of its city or town , neither by meddlesome interference with it , nor by attempting to be represented as such in its political caucuses , or even on its administrative boards ; but by training men who , representing its views and coming under its influence , have at once the strength of character and the breadth of conception , which will cause them to secure its great ends … in the ordinary arena of public life .
Idiom: on paper (used idiomatically: yes)
Er I wish to move that the er motion which is on the green order paper . Seconded Chair , reserve my remarks . If if if we if I withdraw the amendment in in terms that 's on the order paper and substitute after the , after the erm , wording where it goes traffic calming measures on the B forty one at Charnford and add on and that a further report be presented on traffic calming measures in response to the petition . If that could be added that would achieve my objectives and we can all get on to the debate about V A T on . Is that acceptable ?
Idiom: on the spur of the moment (used idiomatically: yes)
Scrooge having no better answer ready on the spur of the moment , said , " Bah ! " again ; and followed it up with " Humbug . "
Idiom: up to here (used idiomatically: yes)
However , it was too late to think of that now . She loved him . She was in it , up to here . 14 Heartbreak Hotel offers cheap , out of season rates for Winterbreak Weekends .
Idiom: hit the headlines (used idiomatically: yes)
We 're simply not able to do that . There might be occasions when we feel that we 'd like MPs to take a particular line , in fact there are occasions when I 'd like to see MPs take a particular line , but we can only ask them , we can not in fact insist that they do take a particular line . It 's a little bit unfair I think as well to generalize , on sponsored members of parliament because , you know as well as I do , on some of the issues that have been very very important to us , not the sort erm , er the sexy issues that head , hit the headlines , but issues that mean a lot to our members , our sponsored members generally do work very , very hard . But I can think areas er like on Europe , I do n't there 's been anybody who 's been in terms of projecting the issue erm , er better than George Robertson has dode done in terms of the European er issue . On the er three nine eight , erm , the C E C are erm asking for withdrawal of these , this motion , they asked initially for withdrawal .
Idiom: from scratch (used idiomatically: yes)
The Jesuit College of the Malá Strana was founded in 1628 , under the patronage of Albrecht Wallenstein . Prior to this , on this site in the Middle Ages stood twenty burghers ' houses , with the Romanesque Church of St Wenceslas at one end , and the Gothic Church of St Nicholas , which had heard the preaching of some of the great 14C reformers , at the other . The Jesuits , in spite of starting their building from scratch , retained the medieval dedication to St Nicholas . The Church of St Nicholas was built in two stages as the money came in . In the first building campaign , Kryštof Dientzenhofer built the W façade and the first few bays of the nave in 1702–11 .
Idiom: out of sight (used idiomatically: yes)
In this way I encouraged Heathcliff to have more confidence in himself . But when the Earnshaws and the Lintons arrived back from church , the first thing Hindley did was shout at Heathcliff . ' Get out of my sight , until we 've finished eating ! I 'll pull that long hair of yours if you do n't obey me at once ! ' ' It is long , ' said Edgar .
Idiom: in bed with (used idiomatically: yes)
And this terrible boy at the centre of it all ! They went to the pub with Air Marshal 's ranking chalked on their uniforms , windows were smashed to prove that broken glass need not draw blood , there were tremendous fights , he lived at the local hall , there was game , there were bounties we never saw in London — he sailed very very close to the law during that period.’ ‘ He was in residence at the local hall,’ confirms Mitchell , ‘ because he was in bed with the cook.’ ‘ I tried to get him to come to London,’ said Hardy , ‘ but he would n't . He had all the rugby he wanted , he said .
Idiom: green light (used idiomatically: yes)
I was sort of working out number B there . That is true , so in a sense what you have is two aspects . The charter has dare I say it , got the green light , yes , yes alright . We shall therefore be talking to the local chair of Friends of the Earth , whose name just escapes me a minute , yes , we shall be talking with him , thinking about a day . In relation to the association of District Council 's erm proposition , that was a development package , and obviously groups want to meet in time to look at that , so we 'll see if we can find some more information on that one .
Idiom: as a rule (used idiomatically: yes)
It is incapable of much agility , and its part should be as simple as possible . Its high notes are not of good quality . The double bassoon should only be used , as a general rule , in fully scored passages . Its tone is obtrusive and difficult to subdue . It is excellent as a bass - strengthener , however , in dynamic ranges of mf and upwards .
Idiom: see the light (used idiomatically: yes)
This put heart into me , because in all the years that followed I came increasingly to believe that the genuine radicals were neither the ‘ philosophical radicals’(much as I admired J. S. Mill , and have even found good in Bentham ) nor the Fabian radicals , the socialists or social democrats , but the kind of conservative radicals of whom Cobbett was perhaps the earliest example . But , as fate would have it , my work has lain for years in a field where I was obliged strictly to keep my political convictions to myself . So the book , or one of the books , which Eliot wanted me to write has not yet seen the light of day .
Idiom: green light (used idiomatically: yes)
The end of this breakwater only becomes clear when fairly close , but otherwise the approaches to the main port are simple . Las Palmas is a busy commercial harbour so the movement of small boats is largely ignored , and yachts entering or leaving are expected to find their own way through the traffic . Having passed the green flashing light at the end of the main breakwater and also that of the inner Leon y Castillo mole , both of which are left to starboard , arriving yachts should make their way to the small boat harbour . Muelle Deportivo is protected by its own breakwater and is located in the southern extremity of the main harbour . Those who prefer to stay at anchor can do so in the area north of the marina , just inside the line of buoys and the remains of an anti - pollution boom .
Idiom: in bed with (used idiomatically: no)
It sounds like a thunderclap being forced through a fuzz pedal . Or something . ‘ That,’ explains guitarist Ed O'Brien,’is the sound of Johnny ( second ‘ Head guitarist , in bed with flu ) trying to f— the song up . He really did n't like it the first time we played it , so he tried spoiling it . And it made the song.’
Idiom: high and low (used idiomatically: no)
The effect here is similar to listening to a train whistle . As the train goes past erm you get a note that goes . The frequency changes as the train passes and the high note is when the train is coming towards us and the low one when the train is going away , and you get the same effect with light except that instead of being high and low it 's blue shifted if the object is coming towards us and red if it 's going away . Do we actually have blue shift stars ? I 've heard of red shifts .
Idiom: have been around (used idiomatically: yes)
You 're a nice kid , nice looking kid — you could lose a little weight maybe — but you 're no great beauty , are you ? ' Mutinously she stared at the ground . ' Look , kid , I 've been around , I know what happens with kids like you . You want some attention from the boys , but they do n't want to know . They 're all chasing the good looking girls .
Idiom: on the back of (used idiomatically: yes)
Again , as an example , take two parties agreeing to the painting of a house , where , in law , the contract finally made amounts only to an obligation to exercise reasonable endeavours to paint the house . The question to be answered is what was the consumer reasonably expecting , not what are his strict legal rights . For instance , if the clause imposing the obligation only to exercise reasonable endeavours were hidden away in a set of standard terms on the back of a quotation offering in unequivocal terms to paint the house , and the job was otherwise obviously a straightforward one , it is hard to see how reliance on the clause would be reasonable . However , where the job was a very difficult one involving areas where it might be impossible to gain access even with scaffolding , and the reservation had been specifically drawn to the consumer 's attention , then it would seem reasonable to rely on the clause . Before discussing in more detail the types of exclusion clauses that are likely to pass the reasonableness test under s 3 , one preliminary point must be made .
Idiom: in the can (used idiomatically: yes)
FILMING of the new Hollywood blockbuster Super Mario Brothers has descended into chaos after a series of bitter on - set rows . Members of the star - studded cast objected strongly when producers insisted they shoot one scene with LIVE WORMS in their mouths . It is the latest setback in Disney 's bid to put a movie in the can based on the world 's biggest - selling video game . The computer game , which features two crazy New York plumbers called The Mario Brothers , has already generated £ 330 million in sales and merchandising . A cluster of top stars , including Bob Hoskins and Dennis Hopper , were signed for the £ 30 million film — PLUS Oscar - winning backroom boys behind such hits as The Commitments and Dances With Wolves .
Idiom: do someone proud (used idiomatically: yes)
Eventually , Murphy ran at the Otters defence and scored the equaliser with a brilliant solo effort . It then took all the experience of the Haslemere defence to deny Otters a further goal . Hockey ‘ minis’ do Alton proud Alton Hockey Club 's junior section goes from strength to strength . In recent mini hockey festivals at Basingstoke and Havant Hockey Clubs , Alton were represented at U/11 and U/13 levels , and performed creditably against accomplished opposition .
Idiom: have a heart (used idiomatically: no)
She was caught off guard . ‘ No , he is n't . He had a heart attack . He died.’ She was on her way to the bedroom , slipping out of her jacket .
Idiom: in the long run (used idiomatically: yes)
The initiatives which we are introducing — upgraded screens , time - lock tills and smoke / dye devices — are beginning to prove their worth , with five out of this year 's 11 raids thwarted . Improving still further on this start is the best way of sending this message to the villains : ' There are no easy pickings at the Royal ' . In the long run , that is the best way of protecting staff and customers alike . The letter to the Registrars , from a rather remote region somewhat nearer to the Equator than to Cancer , began reasonably enough . But after a few compliments lobbed in the direction of the Bank came the sting .
Idiom: on and off (used idiomatically: yes)
Do n't draw blinds or curtains . you should also consider putting in lighting time switches . These will turn your lights on and off automatically , giving the impression that your house is occupied . Cut the grass before you go and if necessary arrange to have it cut again while you 're away Tell the police that you are going away and when you 'll be back .
Idiom: go all the way (used idiomatically: no)
Toast dipped in tea ! Yeah . I got ta go all the way round yet . Oh God ! Toast , yeah , in tea it 's quite nice .
Idiom: catch fire (used idiomatically: no)
The preliminary report by the fire experts , tabled in the North ~ Rhine-~Westphalia state parliament 's relevant committees today , says the PVC spouting appears to have caught fire during welding work on a gap above it .
Idiom: taste blood (used idiomatically: yes)
Little bastard . She was going to kill him and enjoy it . She could taste blood now on her lips where her own teeth had bitten them , could see blood flecking her vision , hear it pounding in her ears as she ran , propelled by the first hot rush of her panic so that when she collided with the rough corner of a market stall she did not feel it ; when she stumbled again and scrambled to her feet she was unaware of her grazed hands and knees ; heedless of brewers ' drays , the hooves of heavy horses ; the outrage of the passers - by she pushed aside ; the woman with the heavy market basket she knocked over . She did not even realize her hair had come down and that she had lost her hat until she found herself leaning against a wall somewhere on the other side of St Jude 's Passage , her lungs bursting , her temples and her pulses hammering out their distress , her whole appearance wild and dishevelled and attracting not the least attention in that place which - no matter what might have befallen her — had seen it all before . She knew , although she did not know for quite how long , she had been running aimlessly .
Idiom: have been around (used idiomatically: no)
It might seem that fax 's current growth in popularity is attributable to a technological breakthrough or perhaps to some new commercial need to communicate pictorially as well as texturally . This is not true , although standardisation has helped . Fax machines have been around for many years and the obvious benefit of being able to transmit documents and graphics by telephone is by no means newly perceived . Behind the sudden success lies a history as long and as colourful as it is unexpected . The proposition that fax was invented by a Scot in the middle of the 19th century sounds rather as if it might come from the repertoire of E. L. Wisty , a companion piece to such wisdoms as " Did you know that Leonardo da Vinci invented the compact disc ? "
Idiom: tell tales (used idiomatically: yes)
Those long flights can get to you . Jet lag can creep up on you . Think I 'll sit down , rest the body and just listen while Adam tells the tale . ' Jet lag ? From a three - hour flight , at the outside , when he 'd only flown from London to Helsinki on the last lap ?
Idiom: hands down (used idiomatically: yes)
Registration . Good girl , the registration number , yeah we had before once or twice . Right all hands down and no guesses , no guesses , what was the number ? Oh ! Oh !
Idiom: give head (used idiomatically: yes)
Butler 's view is that it is conscience , which . he also equates with rationality , understood both as the faculty of discerning what is right , and the disposition to act in accordance therewith . However , it hardly seems satisfactory to say that it is conscience which tells us that conscience should be at the controls , for presumably self love would say the same of itself if given its head . It might have been better for Butler to have set reason apart from the whole hierarchy of conscience , self love , benevolence , and particular passions and allotted it the role of ascribing different degrees of authority to each , that is , of saying how they ought to relate to each other mutually . Then conscience would not so much be a faculty of intuiting truths as a God - given power within us which — if put in control — will steer us in a particular direction , when it comes to choosing between ourselves and others .
Idiom: wear the trousers (used idiomatically: yes)
' Do I look all right ? ' asked Scarlet . She was wearing what she considered to be an ageless garment — a hip - length coat of black watered taffeta ; the shoulders were rather too narrow and too sharply defined to be precisely fashionable , but the material was of most superior quality . Underneath this she wore black cotton trousers — ideally these should have been made of silk , but she felt sure no one would notice . ' You look wonderful , ' said Camille without raising her eyes from the television set . She had eaten her supper and was beginning to feel hungry again .
Idiom: turn the corner (used idiomatically: yes)
OVERLEAF : The Fiaciall Ridge Leave it all behind you and cross the bridge beneath the restaurant that will help you escape south - west towards open country . It 's a wonderful surprise to turn the corner , just yards away from the mayhem of the chairlift , and find yourself in wide , sweeping moorland , gently inclining up to the ridge . There are a number of deep paths here , since this is a route to many other peaks and low - level walks , but cross the Allt Coire an t - Sneachda and start to ascend the craggy spur that hugs the western side of the corrie . My preconceptions about the Cairngorms being dull were shattered by this splendid ridge .
Idiom: anything goes (used idiomatically: no)
At the back of his mind , he still half - expected Control to call one day and say the Justice Department had fouled up as usual but everything was all right now , that it was time to send him out again . He did n't blame the DIA for what had happened , or for fading from sight when it did . Control had told him often enough that the agency would never surface in his defence if anything went wrong . If it acknowledged his existence , it would also have to acknowledge its own existence , thereby inviting precisely the attention it had to avoid . To do its job properly , the DIA needed to remain invisible .