Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: presence of mind (used idiomatically: no)
The Ides , or days when there was a full moon , were sacred to him and his shrines were placed high on mountain tops . In the latter days of the Roman Empire his powers were assumed by the Emperor , or Divine Guide of the World . Cicero , who had his head and hands cut off for recommending a return to republican principles , ruefully referred to Jupiter as ' the awful presence of the supreme mind ' , perhaps foreshadowing Christian beliefs . K Kai - n - tiku - aba
Idiom: make the cut (used idiomatically: no)
The planned committee designed to audit the pensions system was nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt at making deep cuts , various speakers argued .
Idiom: stand someone in good stead (used idiomatically: yes)
In Jamaica , you could not avoid learning . I imagine that many older people in Britain will recognize this type of education , and I suppose it was a legacy passed on to us by our former colonial overlords . I believe that it was a good inheritance , and one that has stood me in good stead all my life . My Dad came over from England to see how we were getting on . I had n't known him when he had left for Britain , but when I saw him I somehow knew that he was my father .
Idiom: scarlet woman (used idiomatically: yes)
Marguerite 's voice was warm when Jenna had expected another burst of either anger or distress . ‘ I took your father away , n'est - ce pas ? In your mind I was a scarlet woman and could be nothing else . You did not know me . You did not even know Russell.’
Idiom: keep the peace (used idiomatically: yes)
The union supported the idea of a national wage for seafarers , determined by and supervised by a National or London Joint Committee of the parties concerned and corresponding Local Joint Committees but proposed that labour should be supplied by the National Sailors ' and Firemen 's Union . The shipowners rejected the second proposition . Meanwhile the inter - departmental Mercantile Marine Conciliation Committee , which had originally recommended the 1 August Ministry of Shipping initiative , but on which neither the owners nor the union were represented , attempted to keep the peace by bi - lateral negotiation with the two sides and with the independent local Liverpool Shipowners . The role of the Committee was a difficult one . As the union saw the position , the essence of the immediate situation lay in pay and settlement of this issue was urgent .
Idiom: out of the question (used idiomatically: yes)
Perhaps he had an argument with his wife , but it 's out of the question that he hit her .
Idiom: body blow (used idiomatically: yes)
Noel Edmonds promising ‘ a day of fun for everyone’ Cruel blow to McKenzie DUKE McKenzie suffered the cruellest of body blows to his career and pride last night the loss of his third world title on a split decision in his home country . In such a close encounter it surely could never have happened to the local hero in Italy , San Juan or other more volatile boxing outposts . But in the cosy environment of the Lewisham Theatre , his 8st 10 lb championship slipped into the grateful arms of Puerto Rico 's Daniel Jimenez .
Idiom: put the wind up (used idiomatically: yes)
I knew before I started that Rainbow had no missionary tendencies . It 's not in her blood , as dyke or Jew , to go looking for converts . But if I were a free agent , I think what I 'd do now is keep Rainbow hammering away at this lost cause just long enough to put the wind up those damned smug ben Issachars . Riva 's eyes open . She looks around her , dazed and sluggish , while her brain tries to piece together the blurred details and recollections that will tell her where she is , and — which she would rather forget - what brought her here .
Idiom: once and for all (used idiomatically: yes)
On the other hand it raised the danger of an ambitious cousin , too impatient to wait for the present ruler 's death , committing regicide ; and there were many instances of this . In 844 Kenneth MacAlpin , a Dalriadic Scot on his father 's side but with a mother of Pictish royal blood , became king of both the Picts and the Scots . Distinctions were soon lost , and after a spell of being known as Alba the country became once and for all Scotland , though some of its boundaries were still in a state of flux . What has most puzzled students of the period is the complete disappearance of the Picts as a distinct entity within a very short time . Their administrators ceased to hold any sway .
Idiom: hold water (used idiomatically: yes)
Especially in exposed positions , it is sensible , for example , to trim back long stems and tallish growth in order to reduce the sail effect in wind and the resulting problem called ‘ wind rock’ . This is a particular risk also with stakes — when wind blow rocks the plant or stake , there is a likelihood of the stem or stake opening a funnel - shaped hole around itself as it rocks and compresses the soil . In clay and heavy soils the risk is increased that the hole will then hold water for considerable periods , with the plant and stake actually standing in water . If it freezes , a collar of ice is then so much the worse , so it is a wise precaution to go round your roses after windy conditions and tread firm and close out any ‘ funnels’— but of course the danger to taller bushes can be much reduced by shortening sail . When should you prune ?
Idiom: on the carpet (used idiomatically: yes)
Whilst regular vacuuming removes surface dirt , crumbs and dust , it ca n't get rid of the ground dirt . This is where the Steamatic can make a noticeable difference . Its jet of steam neutralises the oils and greases on the carpet fibres , right down to the carpet base . As a result , dust and pet hairs roll into little balls which can be easily removed by vacuuming . Use the cotton towel provided and it will absorb this dirt .
Idiom: in the flesh (used idiomatically: yes)
Wexford retrieved Clytemnestra from the path of a solitary oncoming car . The driver wound down his window and cursed him , adding that for two pins he 'd tell the police . ' Blooming thorn in my flesh , you are , ' Wexford said to the dog as he clipped the lead . on . ' A source of humiliation . '
Idiom: heart of gold (used idiomatically: yes)
These days she is one of the few top Tories who can still command respect in this country and has tremendous status abroad . If , when bed time comes , she falls asleep with a smile on her face , fair enough , but no dreams of a return to Downing Street please ! Victims praise ex - nanny with a heart of gold FORMER nanny Karen Pattinson of Conwy did not hesitate when she heard of the plight of flood victims . Mrs Pattinson , who runs a five bedroom bed and breakfast business with her husband , Ian , a plumber and heating engineer , opened her doors at Bryn Arfon , Llanrwst Road , Woodlands , Conwy , to help them .
Idiom: hit the mark (used idiomatically: yes)
Sparc builders will only get their first glimpse of the stuff when Sun finally rolls out its Sparcstation 3 Viking boxes . It 's thought to have picked Tuesday May 19th to do that . Sun wo n't say if that is the case , or whether the Viking has actually hit the 50MHz mark yet . SUN DROPS HINTS ON 80486 ACCELERATOR BOARD FOR MS - DOS APPLICATIONS Gadre was also dropping heavy hints that Sun will soon likely move to offer a hardware - based solution for users wishing to run MS - DOS applications on its Sparc systems .
Idiom: grind to a halt (used idiomatically: yes)
They 're up at the castle . ' My mother brought her voice under control with an effort . ' Though you might also think about saying sorry to Hamish and Antonia , too , as you were their guest and it was their party you brought grinding to an embarrassing halt . Just as well you agreed to go quietly when Kenneth suggested it was time you went to bed ; though apparently he and Hamish practically had to carry you upstairs , and the whole way up you were muttering something vile about Lewis being thrown naked into a tub of starving Elephant Leeches . ' And dad put me to bed !
Idiom: in this day and age (used idiomatically: yes)
On a day basis , it 's about forty five pence a day , which is er less than the price of a half a glass of beer . Or gentleman smoking there , it 's less than four price of four cigarettes . Which I would n't have thought is extortionate in this day and age . So when you look at it on a yearly basis and a compare it to what it was a few years ago , Yes it 's gone up a lot . But where will it go to if we 're building all these new requirements to treat water and effluence to the higher standards .
Idiom: off the hook (used idiomatically: yes)
A starving child needs food now , not the revolution later . Of course , the iniquitous one - way traffic between north and south must be sorted out , and third - world debt slashed — but what can we do in the meantime ? The Spectator gets its readers off the hook by a return to Malthus , who made a virtue of not helping the poor , as then , he informed us , they would drag us down by overbreeding . A very self - serving philosophy , albeit dubious mathematics . But the left can not be equally self - serving by hanging on to absolutes .
Idiom: in your face (used idiomatically: no)
‘ I knew , when I first saw you , that you would do me good . I saw it in your eyes when I met you . I was right to … like … your smile and the magic in your face.’ There was energy in his voice and a strange light in his eyes . ‘ I 'm glad I happened to be awake,’ I said , ‘ but I must go now .
Idiom: open someone's eyes (used idiomatically: yes)
She went back to the bed and touched her grandmother 's forehead with the handkerchief . Her skin felt dry and rough ; her hands , lying on the counterpane , were withered and light as dead leaves . She opened her eyes . ‘ Emmie,’ she said , in an ordinary voice . ‘ Are you better , Gran ?
Idiom: good riddance (used idiomatically: yes)
Should do the trick , eh ? ' Doc Allsop lumbered towards the door , with Harry 's mother close behind . Good riddance , thought Harry . Illnesses did not require names in his scheme of things : they were merely misfortunes to be endured . Like irony , if it came to the point , of which there seemed at present a good deal to be borne .
Idiom: have a ball (used idiomatically: no)
Some are still around and , although they do not have the power , compare reasonably well in quality with modern wonders . Moving on to speakers , there were many methods of moving a mass of air . Moving-iron and reed types were produced in dozens of variants , in addition to the odd-ball kinds like the compressed-air type , but the breakthrough came with the moving coil , which had been modernised from its Siemens 1874 patent and Lodge 's 1898 one by Rice and Kellogg in 1924 . The fourth picture shows a magnificent affair made by Paul Voigt , which had twin diaphragms and 20kilogauss field magnets . It was possibly the first time the BBC had had to take other equipment out of service because someone ( Voigt ) complained of its bad performance , which had shown up on this speaker .
Idiom: with open arms (used idiomatically: yes)
— Elaine Kidney , Stafford Labour Party . ‘ If the price of ending nuclear power is to close every pit I will pay it because my interest is in the future of the human race,’— Arthur Scargill . ‘ It is for a constituency Labour Party to welcome Mr Scargill with open arms , or any arms.’ — Roy Hattersley , on Mr Scargill 's reported attempt to become an MP . The Labour Party Conference : Revised policies approved
Idiom: larger than life (used idiomatically: yes)
My disagreeable reaction to the photos reminded me of the way I — and a host of others — responded to the last major American exhibition of Koons ' work two years ago . A show of porcelain and polychromed wood sculpture crafted by European artisans , the work looked like oversized airport gift shop souvenirs , or mammoth three - dimensional renderings of the seemingly - innocuous cartoon characters that have ruled the imaginations of generations of TV - bred Americans . Among the more provocative pieces were a dimpled Italian love - me bear sporting an insidiously vacuous expression , a hear - shaped button and a pot of gingham - coiffed confiture ; a topless Playboy blond embracing a limp - limbed Pink Panther whose sad , yellow eyes reveal unspeakable despair ; and a larger - than - life sculpture of gilded Michael Jackson , in white face , cuddling Bubbles , his scarily twin - featured chimpanzee . The show , entitled ‘ Banality’ , was eerie , discomforting and seemed to offend nearly everyone . ‘ You may have thought that things had gotten to be as bad as they could get , but Mr Koons ' show proves you were wrong,’ wrote one particularly shrill reviewer .
Idiom: hang by a thread (used idiomatically: yes)
REUTER BB IHM AET Italian PM loses two more ministers THE life of Italy 's 51st post - war government was hanging by a thread yesterday after the shock resignation of two cabinet ministers . Prime Minister Giuliano Amato was urgently conferring with coalition allies and state presidency officials in a bid to keep afloat his increasingly frail , eight - month - old coalition . Opposition leader Achille Occhetto , quick on the attack , called it ‘ a dramatic moment for the country.’
Idiom: call someone's bluff (used idiomatically: yes)
The only safeguard against political censorship is that the BBC " may " ( not " must " ) tell the public that it has received a s13(4 ) order from the Home Secretary . This safeguard was invoked in 1972 by the Director - General , Lord Hill , when Home Secretary Reginald Maudling threatened a s13(4 ) order to stop transmission of a debate about government actions in Ulster . Lord Hill called his bluff by threatening to make public the reason why the programme could not be shown . Of course , a less courageous Director - General could simply cancel the programme without revealing the existence of a government order . A parallel power in s29 of the 1981 Broadcasting Act entitles the Home Secretary to order the Independent Broadcasting Authority to " refrain from broadcasting any matter or classes of matter " on commercial television .
Idiom: under the weather (used idiomatically: yes)
Though he 'd come along , white carnation , wedding - ring and all , I reckon , if he was asked to play for the Firsts . But we could n't do that . And young Curtis has been a bit under the weather , missed training this week , so he 's out . Anything else?’ ‘ Yes .
Idiom: under the microscope (used idiomatically: yes)
There is a need to make what we can of an essentially applied subject , hoping that we can gain what is required from other disciplines without going too deeply into them . The boundaries between all the social sciences are unclear . Sometimes this is a necessary feature of subjects that put some parts of the human experience under the microscope and have to abstract this from other parts . But in other cases it is a result of historical accidents in the development of the disciplines , and if the study of society were to be initiated all over again it would surely be divided rather differently . The study of social policy particularly hives off a specific area of social activity in a way that must violate subject boundaries .
Idiom: take the mickey (used idiomatically: yes)
She had looks too . But he doubted if he could have stood her voice for a full evening ; it grated on him when she chatted him up over the counter . Now if she 'd had the voice of the little dumpy one they all took the mickey out of , Lemon , as they called her , he just might have put the question to her . Yet what would have been the result ? What would they say about a fellow who did n't make a pass at them , for to make a pass you had to feel something ?
Idiom: go without saying (used idiomatically: yes)
It takes more out of you and therefore you have more to give . The second reason is the immediacy of the moment . This goes without saying for the news and current affairs output , but it applies in the religious world also . I listened to one choral song from Southwark Cathedral , prayers were said for a family whose names would mean nothing to the vast majority of listeners . It was the height of parochialism , but if churches are not parochial then who can be ?
Idiom: turn the corner (used idiomatically: yes)
Sarah 's mother and grandmother had followed her so they stood in a group on the step with several neighbours adding their congratulations . ' Come in , Anne , ' Mrs Redmond urged , but she said she must get back to her mother . She was running back home when she turned a corner and met John pushing a handcart full of building materials . He stopped and Anne excitedly thrust the official letter at him . ' Our Terry 's alive !
Idiom: take it from me (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ But you 've failed?’ ‘ Only as far as proof goes . I 'm on to him , take it from me.’ Envy was written clearly on Minter 's face : envy of another man 's success . It was not a pleasant emotion , but it was a powerful enough one to have sustained him in the search when evidence was lacking .
Idiom: break even (used idiomatically: yes)
or without the T As and , and all , with all the other bits and pieces . So what we need to be able to identify is that , al although we will gain the worst scenario ought to be that whatever we lose in terms of auto - off reports and units reports to some extent we should be gaining by the improved productivity overall . So let 's just say it breaks even . So our performance , in terms of F T Es per thousand pound , per thousand item , should be running more or less along at the November December level . Right ?
Idiom: now or never (used idiomatically: yes)
But I 'm sure that once she joins you in the pool she will find it easy enough to slip into the flow of things . Folly , why do n't you go and undress now , and join the others back here?’ His eyes rested on her , mocking her , and Folly knew that it was now or never . She had to stand up to him ; shout out that she would n't let herself become embroiled in his sordid games … She ought to demand to be taken back to London .
Idiom: the whole shooting match (used idiomatically: yes)
This piece allows the dog line the tow line — to operate in a different plane to the sledge and also absorbs some of shock of towing . Each dog is attached to the tow line twice . To get the sledge ready you anchor it firmly ; this is vital because once you have attached your first dog he will start to tow and the whole shooting match will be long gone by the time you get back with your second dog . To fix the sledge you use the snow hook , shaped like a double fish hook but about a foot long and wide . You use this both to anchor the sledge during a trip , by stamping it into the snow , and at the start of each day to hold the sledge , by clunking it on to a tree trunk .
Idiom: pissed off (used idiomatically: yes)
Things have been quiet … no messages for 24 hours after picking up the 49 that were waiting yesterday . They have been buggering about with things a lot though … No news as yet about the Villa game , except that leslie silver was a bit pissed off at losing the stlg75,000 ( I hope you see a pound sign as I do , and not ‘ stlg’ ) that comes with a sky appearance . They 're trying to arrange a ‘ mutually convenient’ date ( and in the back of their minds they also want it to still be on sky … so unless we both get knocked out of the FA cup this weekend ( perish the thought ) we 'll probably end up playing a saturday and the following monday if moneygrabber silver is owt to do with it . In a way I suppoise it was quite fortunate as we would have been without speed and wallace , who have now got a longer recovery period — as have all the other cripples that we 're carrying .
Idiom: touch and go (used idiomatically: yes)
The 18-month - old labrador bitch from Peasenhall , seriously ill after eating rat poison , was examined by visiting South African vet Stefan Ferreira . ' I received a phone call from Stefan at 7.30 in the morning to check if I had a suitable donor for the operation , ' said manager of Canine Rescue , Southwold , Jim Waddington , who looks after Bobby . ' We took Bobby straight there but it was touch - and - go for two hours . It 's amazing what they can do these days and luckily the sick dog pulled through . Now I think Bobby deserves a good home , ' he said .
Idiom: have a ball (used idiomatically: no)
Arsenal 's £2.5 million England striker escaped censure from controversial referee Alf Buksh for his latest moment of madness — but the flashpoint is certain to earn him a Football Association misconduct charge this week . And there is a worrying precedent for Wright , 29 , as regards the Arsenal manager George Graham and England chief Graham Taylor . When another Arsenal man , Paul Davis , was caught by TV cameras breaking Southampton rival Glenn Cockerill 's jaw with an off-the-ball punch in September 1988 , Davis was hit with a nine-match ban and £3,000 fine . If the FA follow that example , Wright could find himself suspended until mid-February — which would threaten his international place for England 's next World Cup qualifying game against San Marino . But Wright , when warned of the BBC 's footage of his clash with Howells , replied : ‘ I do n't care what the BBC say or show . ’
Idiom: hear things (used idiomatically: yes)
He hummed and sounded quite at ease , so Fred asked if he would like the record . ' Thanks very much , ' Arthur said furiously . ' I can never hear the damned thing without wanting a cardiogram . ' When they got back to Fred 's house , it was eight o'clock . They had had tea at the Ritz and drinks at the Café Royal , and then more drinks at Lyons ' Corner House in Coventry Street because they were fed up with swish places and Lyons ' seemed more like home .
Idiom: in the black (used idiomatically: no)
This has urged Bosch to make its debut in the security products market with a range of sensor-controlled security lights , movement detectors , and mini alarms . All are simple to use and compatible with existing lighting systems in the home . The range includes a decorative security light with a clear or frosted glass globe , a traditional lantern light in black or white , and a floodlight security kit with a powerful 500watt halogen bulb . All will welcome you or your guests , but startle intruders . All lamps have a built-in passive infra red sensor which react to invisible thermal radiation emitted by people or other sources of heat .
Idiom: break ranks (used idiomatically: yes)
The Northern Ireland Labour Party also was the principal organization representing protestant trade unionists . But none of these groupings ever came near to threatening the dominance of Unionist Party organization , much less the solidarity of protestant loyalists , which always appeared total on the issue of incorporation into a united , independent Ireland . It was only with ‘ the Troubles’ , from 1968 , that unionists broke ranks . Yet , despite the splintering , they have succeeded in allying the present two main parties against the Anglo - Irish agreement of 1985 . The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland , formed at the time of the abolition of the Stormont parliament , represents those catholics , protestants , and others who disavow the twin alliance of Ireland but retain at least a practical attitude on sovereignty .
Idiom: catch fire (used idiomatically: yes)
Even companies like M&S have to do it from time : warn customers that something they 've bought could be dangerous and needs to be returned , either for repairing or a cash refund . But what happens if , despite Press ads and publicity , the warnings do n't reach everyone ? Zanussi , for example , had problems with some of their dishwashers which caught fire . They 've tried hard to reach owners of models that could be a potential problem but have still reached only 70 per cent of them . They 've recalled models Z30 and Z50 , serial numbers 8212 to 8408 , and batches of the slimline DW15 , DW20 , Di50 bought before August 88 .