Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: point the finger (used idiomatically: yes)
And they defeated a Labour amendment to delay the Bill until after the Edinburgh summit by 319 votes to 313 a majority of just six for the Government . Labour , who had turned the vote into an issue of confidence in Mr Major , vented their anger on Paddy Ashdown 's Liberal Democrats . In the chamber , Left - wingers surrounded the Liberal Democrat MPs to point accusing fingers at them . And seven members of the shadow cabinet put out statements warning Mr Ashdown that voters would neither forget nor forgive . Had Mr Major lost , the Government would have tabled a motion of confidence and invited the Commons to approve it .
Idiom: come to terms with (used idiomatically: yes)
In these circumstances adjustment of their industrial structures , induced by membership of a CU , can not be aided by exchange rate adjustments . In these circumstances membership of a CU may result in large scale unemployment which could persist until the appropriate restructuring of the industrial base takes place . It is therefore possible for membership of a CU to lead to some countries experiencing long - term problems in coming to terms with the new competitive environment . The direct cost approach Studies have ranged from attempts to estimate the effects of membership upon the balance of payments as a whole , to a more narrow focus upon the balance of commodity trade .
Idiom: come to a head (used idiomatically: no)
Siddhi , who had been Foreign Minister for 10 years but was considered hostile to Chatichai 's Cambodia policy and to any rapprochement with Vietnam [ see p. 37654 ] , was dropped altogether from the government . The reshuffle was widely seen as an attempt to deflect allegations of corruption . This issue had come to a head in July , with the tabling of a no - confidence motion in parliament , and the live broadcasting of the July 18 - 20 debate on national television . Chatichai 's coalition , then comprising six member parties , controlled 229 seats in the 347-member House of Representatives , and survived the vote with the apparently overwhelming majority of 220 to 38 , but only after most opposition members had walked out in a mark of protest . It was noted that most of the ministers from Chatichai 's own Chart Thai party retained their posts in the August reshuffle .
Idiom: in the sticks (used idiomatically: yes)
Our 24th Annual Rally in Norwich last March was well attended and demonstrations by the Norfolk Display Team as well as Class Displays were applauded by the Adult Education Organisers , all ladies except for Mr. Michael Edwards , Principal Adult Education Officer for Norfolk . SOUTH WEST We do rather think of ourselves in this area as ‘ Medaus out in the sticks’ , being a long way from the hub , so to speak . Medau came to Dartmouth — and in a wider sense , Devon — via Moyra Hopley who moved here from Essex . She started a class in a local school where Yvonne Wilson was running a play group .
Idiom: up the river (used idiomatically: no)
Who , Denise Oh yeah I forgot about that Mm up the lazy river , happy I think we er better go today then , do n't you ? Well er she 's not coming until tomorrow night is she ?
Idiom: have a heart (used idiomatically: no)
Lying there she was aware for the first time that night of Maggie above her and Rachel below her ; both , she imagined , sleeping sweetly , and again the grinding weight of compassion and guilt swept over her . She can not mother her child and she can not mother her mother ; everything she did inclined towards death . What would happen to these two women who had done nothing to deserve her evil body and heart between them , what would happen to them when she was dead ? Had she simply had Maggie so that someone , somewhere , would have to love her and take care of her ? At one level , of course , it had worked , because throughout her pregnancy Rachel had been carefully and systematically nice to her .
Idiom: spill the beans (used idiomatically: yes)
' They could have told you,'Chertro said , still defensive . ' To late now for being discreet . All the Ardakkean beans have been spilled . ' And before Mala could lash at him again , he explained , and terrified me right down to my boots . First he reminded us that it had taken him no time at all to find the Ardakkean thief — an off - world technician working in one of the phetam refining plants .
Idiom: go without saying (used idiomatically: yes)
Then there 's the requirement for plenty of pictures and detailed coverage of this or that aspect of corporate activity . And , yes , there has to be some eye - catching , nifty typography with lots of ‘ creative white space’ so that it does n't all seem too indigestible . It goes without saying that all the material needs to be checked repeatedly and authorized by various departmental heads , and that it will be changed right up until the last minute . ‘ Apart from all that,’ sighs Forsyth , ‘ it 's pretty straightforward.’ Peter Boon of ECS , who edits BP 's annual report , points out that it 's a uniquely demanding publication because of the varied nature of its readership .
Idiom: larger than life (used idiomatically: yes)
The handsome , smiling face exuded confidence and good cheer . It was the great climber Peter Habeler … ’ But make sure you pay attention not just to the basic impulses and enthusiasms , which are sound and fine ; not just to the incidental portrait of a consummate mountaineer in the passages about Dave Breashears ; but also to a strange sort of instinctual third dimension which Blessed 's larger than life character seems to entice into play : ‘ I know what happened to Mallory and Irvine,’ he said . ‘ Several days after they had died .
Idiom: do the trick (used idiomatically: yes)
We think : surely we learn concepts by having experiences , and surely the experience that matters in the case of the concept ‘ pain ' is the pain itself . But since the pain I have to experience to learn the concept is necessarily my pain , this explanation leads to our asking ourselves the question , ‘ What possible reason could I have to think that other people ever have what I mean by ‘ pain’?’— a question which invites the answers , ‘ None’(solipsism ) or , alternatively ‘ An argument from analogy’ . But solipsism is intuitively unacceptable ; and nobody seems to be able to come up with an argument from analogy that will do the trick . Hence our perplexity , the ‘ Other Minds’ problem . Wittgenstein 's contribution to ‘ dissolving’ the ‘ Other Minds’problem has two sides to it : one negative , an attack on the experiential explanation of the meaning of pain - language in terms of‘the feeling itself’ ; and one positive , a fact - presupposing explanation of the meaning of pain - language .
Idiom: point the finger (used idiomatically: yes)
At any rate from 1571 it might well have been very disadvantageous for anyone in the district to openly profess allegiance to the Popish ways and Roman Catholic miners well might have been driven underground — and that is not fully intended as a pun . Worship might have taken place in any of the sheds or barracks of the men , but there was always risk of detection . Although prejudice lessened as time went on , there would always be those who resented these foreigners and their strange ways , and who would be ready to point a finger . Nothing came of a suggestion to bring over a preacher from Germany to take care of the miners ' needs . The loss of the holy day holidays might have annoyed the local inhabitants more than it did the off - comers .
Idiom: go all the way (used idiomatically: yes)
Last night he 'd gone a work . Here , here , what time does he go a work ? Well I 've got , I 've got , gone all the way out there and come back go out again . Oh innit sad , our Sally got a tank full of petrol she said . Ah , feel sorry for her , ah .
Idiom: never say die (used idiomatically: yes)
The fact is that , in an age when players were never encouraged or expected to be adaptable , the only positions that Billy did not fill for us at one time or another were those of goalkeeper , centre - forward and centre - half . Billy was one of those players whose consistency improved as his career progressed . But it was not just long service that endeared him to Palace fans , for Billy was an enthusiastic player , full of pep and fight , with the ‘ never say die’ attitude that supporters love to see . He was not a showman or flamboyant : he simply won the hearts of the Palace clientele with his whole - hearted and full - blooded displays . Perhaps the most fitting tribute to Billy Turner came from a former Palace Manager , Jack Tresadern .
Idiom: money talks (used idiomatically: yes)
Laws , 31 in October , was also in the Forest side hammered 5 - 3 at Oldham , and last season struggled to clinch a regular place . CLOUGH : Defiant MONEY TALKS ENGLAND star Stuart Pearce thinks he 's worth more at Forest — but his manager Brian Clough refuses to pay up Game for a moan HUGH JAMIESON
Idiom: behind bars (used idiomatically: yes)
Pakistan , South Africa , Sri Lanka , West Indies , Zimbabwe and India will take part in the tournament , between November 7–27 , with the final in Calcutta . Capt Thomas JAILED soccer star Mickey Thomas skippers a prison XI side tomorrow at Kirkham , Lancashire , in a behind bars charity match against a team of ex - Liverpool and showbiz stars . New record for Chinese FOR the second time this week a Chinese woman has set a new world record .
Idiom: over the hill (used idiomatically: yes)
. If you go to Consett in County Durham you come along the road and there 's the town and what was left of the old steel works because the steel works was built there because of its easy access to the iron ore deposits . And you come over this hill and suddenly there 's nothing on the other side except a huge hole in the ground , and the road goes along almost a cliff edge the side of this erm hole which is this worked out iron ore quarry . It completely all the iron ore deposits there er have gone . So we import our iron ore from other countries .
Idiom: off the wall (used idiomatically: no)
' So is that why you 're moving into town ? ' For some reason , this strikes them both as hilarious . Snorts and guffaws bounce off the walls ( nothing so trillingly femme as a girlish giggle ) . I do n't quite see the joke , but then , I 'm busy sulking . Trying to think up some new and outrageous form of creative puppetry that will blow Rainbow 's gaff , and send this interloper sloping off .
Idiom: smell a rat (used idiomatically: yes)
Lauda the coward , screamed the Italian press . The Grand Old Man offered Niki a contract as team - manager when he got back to Europe . Niki smelled the rat and said unless his driving contract were honoured , he would move to McLaren . No one had — at least officially — offered him the job , though he knew Hogan of Marlboro would be glad to have him , but the bluff worked . He was asked to leave Ferrari 's rather funereal office while a major argument took place ; when he was invited back in , he was told Reutemann would be the team 's Number One driver .
Idiom: take someone's word for it (used idiomatically: yes)
And where does this cosy little arrangement with Adam fit into that scenario , this convenient weekend away?’ ‘ It doesn't,’ she said , suddenly very weary . ‘ There never was any arrangement of that kind , but I do n't expect you to take my word for it . That would be too much to hope for.’ Her gaze clouded .
Idiom: beg the question (used idiomatically: yes)
In my mind I 'm racked with pain ; that little white feather nags at my brain . It begs the question : ‘ Why should I be the one who prays on bended knee?’ While brave men fight to defend a line .
Idiom: make the cut (used idiomatically: yes)
Nor was it able to buy sufficient foreign exchange from other sources . As a result , it decided to increase its exports of steel . But it could do this only by making a substantial cut in its prices , in fact to prices below the cost of steel imports ( EP , 12 August 1985 ) . There is also a regional dimension to this problem . For much of Yugoslavia 's receipts of convertible currency are earned by Slovenia and Croatia , either from commodity exports to OECD countries or from tourism .
Idiom: for good measure (used idiomatically: yes)
Why did she cast herself as a resourceful ‘ maid’ ? I puzzled over this one for some time and came to the conclusion that my children 's concept of life is largely derived from fairy stories in which anybody with power is always male . ( Of course , if the power is evil it is quite likely to be wielded by a female and just for good measure she is likely to be ugly . ) The only good and powerful females I can think of are fairies ( ie , not real people ) and for every fairy godmother there are 10 wimpy heroines waiting for a prince to rescue them . Even though my children 's reading has long since moved on to Roald Dahl , C S Lewis and Judy Blume , the story ‘ template’ is there , the dubious role models of their best - loved tales are firmly entrenched and I 'm beginning to wonder if they are there for life .
Idiom: join the club (used idiomatically: no)
Unusually for the PC it does n't require an environment manager like Windows or Gem which means it can run on a standard hard disk PC system . Their second product is being sold in the UK as Mirrorsoft 's Fleet Street Editor but is actually T / Maker 's Clickart . If you 're confused , join the club ! In a totally different vein is Xerox 's Ventura Publisher . Again an acquired product , it was developed by Ventura , it runs under the Gem environment and can function on standard hard disk PCs .
Idiom: with a view to (used idiomatically: yes)
Many of the bird species in this region are threatened with extinction , notably from the loss of their forest habitats , hunting , and the introduction of alien predators such as rats , cats , stoats and mongoose . Among those in imminent danger are the silktail and Ponape mountain starling , the San Cristobal mountain rail , and the Marquesas and Society Island pigeons . The conservation strategy will focus initially on building up an information database on the region 's bird life , and on conducting further surveys , with a view to making information available to locally - based researchers . It will also seek to reverse deforestation in Papua New Guinea , Vanuatu , Fiji , New Caledonia and the Solomons . In all of these islands , current estimates suggest that all trees suitable for the birds will have been lost within 10 years .
Idiom: under a cloud (used idiomatically: yes)
Appointment of new ministers Wang Fang , State Councillor and Minister of Public Security , was replaced on Dec. 28 by one of his deputies , Tao Siju . The Guardian of Dec. 29 reported that Wang had " been under a cloud " ever since the police force had failed to control the nationwide pro - democracy demonstrations of April - June 1989 [ see pp . 36587 ; 36640 - 41 ; 36720 - 22 ] . On the same day Zheng Tuobin was replaced as Minister of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade by one of his deputies , Li Lanqing , a former head of the Foreign Investment Department . ASIA — PACIFIC
Idiom: do the right thing (used idiomatically: yes)
A straw poll among women who have recently given birth revealed one father who mirrored every pain his wife laid claim to with one of his own ; back ache was a special problem . One 6′ 7″ hunk collapsed during the birth in a dead faint and another stalwart demanded the morphine his wife had just refused . It 's only recently , of course , that political correctness has demanded that the fathers not be at the birth but also do the right thing . With no kettles to boil , basins to fill or clean towels to fetch , true participation is required . Where you position yourself is vital .
Idiom: make or break (used idiomatically: yes)
Patrick Tambay , driving the Renault , seized pole position , Elio de Angelis was second on the grid for Lotus . The McLarens had not been brilliant in practice , and Niki started ninth . Niki somehow felt this was a make - or - break race for him ; his pride was dented , his dander up . After a while , Niki worked his way up through the field until only Tambay and Prost were ahead of him ; then Prost had to abandon the race with a loose wheel , a stupid mechanical mistake , which put Niki on Tambay 's tail . Lapping Laffite , Tambay got back easily , but Niki had to go airborne over the kerb to avoid an accident .
Idiom: under fire (used idiomatically: yes)
There are many generations of qualified town planners who would have failed their examinations had they suggested such a thing . Yet the circular as published is a considerably milder version of one which was circulated among local authority associations in July 1980 . This came under heavy fire for implying that small firms set up without planning permission should only have enforcement orders issued against them if alternative premises were available . A shadow of this remains in a section on enforcement and discontinuance . While stressing that nothing in the circular should be taken as condoning a wilful breach of planning law , there is a highly significant qualification :
Idiom: hands down (used idiomatically: no)
The jury court handed down a lower sentence than the four years that the prosecutor had demanded .
Idiom: in the driving seat (used idiomatically: yes)
But under pressure , I tell you , it gets tight . But tight ! ’ She sat back in the driving seat , a neat , competent figure in a deep green spring suit as modest and suave as her own creamy countenance . ‘ I 'm a placid person,’ she said deprecatingly , ‘ I have to be . But I 've got my limits .
Idiom: on the make (used idiomatically: yes)
THE past couple of years has seen an explosion in the number of computing books on the shelves of even the most humble book shop . Publishers are rushing to get on the microcomputer bandwagon . Few of these books , however , have any relevance to teaching undergraduate computer science as they normally restrict themselves to a single language on a single make of computer . Anyone concerned with selecting a class book for teaching a language will face a wide choice of texts . I have selected four books on ADA , a new language initiated by the United States Department of Defense , to illustrate the variety .
Idiom: small print (used idiomatically: yes)
Stuart Chappell , the Head Warden at Clumber , answered the phone and I said , as brightly as I could , ‘ I 'm here , I 've arrived at Retford.’ There was a brief silence , then Stuart said , ‘ But the camp does n't start until tomorrow.’ The horrible truth was slowly dawning on me : I 'd been so preoccupied with finding things like Wellington boots and torches , not to mention boning up on my Enid Blyton , that I 'd forgotten to read the small print . I was probably the eagerest volunteer the Trust had ever had . The National Trust warden is a rare breed , and Stuart was no exception to this .
Idiom: in a fog (used idiomatically: yes)
Twenty Seven SHE WAS HANGING in a thick grey fog , just floating . There were faces in the fog , faces like masks . Ropes held her wrists and ankles , chaffing her . She could remember someone or something smashing the back of her head , and then taking the high dive into ice - cream country .
Idiom: ring a bell (used idiomatically: yes)
On the other had he constructed an entire model railway , ad again the result was most successful . Passengers came onto the platform with their trunks ad bags , their children ad dogs , and got into the carriages . The guards and porters walked about , the bell was rung , the signal was given ad the train started off . He spent a whole year over that clever toy . But he still had to find a wife .
Idiom: out of sight (used idiomatically: no)
She ran to her own room , plunged frantically into her walking shoes , and dragged on a black coat . She had a small torch in her case , and spared the extra minute to find it and thrust it into her pocket . Even this brief delay meant that he would be out of sight and out of earshot , but did that matter at this stage ? She knew , or she was persuaded that she knew , where he was bound . And he had gone out by the front door , presumably to present an appearance of normality if he should be seen by any of the family — a late evening stroll before bed being a simple enough amusement — while she could save the whole circuit of the house by using the back door close to the kitchen .
Idiom: catch someone's eye (used idiomatically: yes)
' That right ? ' The handlers were setting their birds again . Sanchez caught the bookie 's eye . ' You should get something down on this . Odds have narrowed some , but people do n't like a flyer . '
Idiom: on the nose (used idiomatically: yes)
and that which lasted approximately six hours on the table . I think a medical problem different say for instance for myself I got an awful bash on the nose playing badminton and they thought it was broken , however it mended and I wished it had broken because its mended a bit , but I do not believe in spending money on cosmetic surgery because I think if you make the best of what you have and think of all the people were mutilated by disease mm , mm you should be thankful with what you have .
Idiom: turn someone's head (used idiomatically: yes)
Mutual apologies between the two captains and the Russian was towed to a safe port by another Russian warship . Vladivostok , I believe it was.’ Talbot turned his head . ‘ Excuse me . That 's the radio - room call - up.’
Idiom: in light of (used idiomatically: yes)
In the central square a game of boules was in progress under the critical gaze of a group of shirt - sleeved men in baggy trousers , cropped heads enveloped in the pungent smoke from their Gauloises , glasses clutched in brawny fists . In between swigs they expressed approval or disparagement of the play with drawn - out exclamations of ' Ooooh ! ' and ' Aaaah!'and — from those whose hands were not otherwise encumbered — the occasional burst of applause . Moths fluttered in the light of lamps hanging from the trees as if dancing to the soft , rhythmic jingle of the cicadas . ' Picturesque ! ' commented Iris . ' Unspoilt , too .
Idiom: at death's door (used idiomatically: yes)
She gave a single nod . ‘ OK . So now you 've reassured yourself that I 'm not at death 's door , I 'd like you to leave.’ ‘ No.’ Her head shot up .
Idiom: in your face (used idiomatically: yes)
The area of skin actually dies and looks white and initially feels numb . If you are wearing gloves and boots , this will not happen while you keep moving but it can easily affect the exposed parts of your face / nose when the temperatures are below freezing and the wind is strong ( the wind - chill factor ) . The wind in your face produced by fast skiing has the same cooling effect and can result in frostbite . get out of the cold and have a hot drink . cover your face / nose with warm hands ( yours or a friend 's )
Idiom: hand to mouth (used idiomatically: yes)
SOUTH Bank , the oldest surviving club in the Northern League , stressed yesterday that they will not be beaten by their current problems . With rumours circulating that the club is in danger of folding after a century of existence following the destruction of their Normanby Road headquarters , press officer Les Crossman said : ‘ We are adamant that the club will keep going , even though we have no money . ‘ It is an achievement to play games at the moment , as we are literally living from hand to mouth . ‘ The lads still at the club are coming from all over the place to turn out for us , and are happy just to play the game . ‘ We 're grateful to Guisborough for allowing us to share their ground , but our fixtures are coinciding with theirs and we have to rearrange some of them.’
Idiom: pick up the pieces (used idiomatically: yes)
Angelina got broken . Your mother said she fell off the shelf and smashed . I picked up the pieces myself . I 'm sorry , honey.’ Doreen turned her broad kindly face away and busied herself with dinner preparations .
Idiom: on the level (used idiomatically: yes)
The 16 prime ~ ministers found that the cuts in the federal budget would especially lead to reductions on state and municipal levels .