Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: break even (used idiomatically: yes)
In 1981 it was bought by Wendell Cherry , president of Humana Inc , a chain of private hospitals , for the then huge sum of $ 5.8 million . By the time he sold it at auction ( Sotheby 's , New York , May 1989 ) it had given him a real net annual rate of return of just under 20 per cent , after allowing for commission , insurance and inflation . Making the same allowances and projecting the figures into the future , the picture will next be in a break - even position in 1994 at $ 81 million . Mr Niachos belongs to the ' art as woman ' school of collectors . The man who once estimated his wealth at £ 3 billion plus says , ' I find peace looking at them .
Idiom: see the light (used idiomatically: yes)
Someone was trying to reach him . Steve Houghton ignored the red bulb . He finally pushed the phone aside so that he could n't see the distracting light . That task completed , he returned his attention to the work in front of him . On his desk there were six files .
Idiom: one of those things (used idiomatically: yes)
Governors said reopening the sixth form would increase parental choice and win back pupils from independent schools . But county councillors claimed it would reduce parental choice by restricting the number of 11-year - old pupils the popular school can recruit . Peter Carberry , chairman of Hummersknott 's governors , said : ‘ I am very annoyed but it is just one of those things.’ He is hoping it may be possible to revive the idea after the general election . A NEW reward of £ 5,000 has been offered in a bid to track down the killer of sunbather Ann Heron .
Idiom: old hat (used idiomatically: yes)
He had thought that because the Government allowed them to be on sale ' they must be OK ' . The court action would continue after his death because of his desire to stop others — including his four young grandchildren — from following his example . ' I know it sounds old - hat , but it 's for the children . To think that they could end up like me , ' he said . ' I have no future but my children and my wife will take it as far as it goes .
Idiom: hit and miss (used idiomatically: yes)
Some of the Filbert Street faithful reckon they 'll have clinched promotion by then too . was about to introduce a note of caution . Leicester are on a high though this season while Forest are very hit and miss . David certainly more hit than miss , goal number eight of the season coming from this corner . You just ca n't keep a good man down even if he is only five foot seven .
Idiom: by the by (used idiomatically: yes)
My Lords er the the er th the point r really abou about all this I think is a fairly , a fairly simple one that we are agreed I think in general , that police authorities are better if they are smaller and the real point that is concerning er N Noble Lords is whether my Right Honourable Friend i is taking too much er er power to use an unpleasant word and I think actually a wrong word er i in the appointment of those who have been selected by a different and an independent system . Noble Lord , Lord Callaghan says and I might say so , slightly mischievously , well after all he 's going to appoint the appointers and going to make the short list , short list for the Right My Right Honourable Friend to appoint , but of course somebody 's got to appoint the appointers and er that would be done by the by my Right Honourable Friend , but that does n't mean to say for goodness sake that they 're in his pocket . My Lords erm I 'm , I 'm in a , a difficulty over this , because I think that er I er er your Lordships much . The difficulty is I want to try and be helpful erm er er my Right Honourable Friend has , has made a number of conceptions and we have er put down in my name a number of these amendments to the Bill in order to try and meet those very concessions and those the anxieties which your Lordships have have expressed .
Idiom: on the run (used idiomatically: no)
Now it said that the cooling fan is n't working . You need to get the fan fixed , otherwise the laptop will overheat and shut down . On the long run , it will shorten the life of the components .
Idiom: get wind of (used idiomatically: yes)
Next , his staff in the White House hamfistedly fire seven non - political civil servants who happen to be popular with their only real clients — the White House press corps . The firing is both preceded and followed by blatant cronyism . When the press gets wind of it , the cronyism gives way to abuse of power , as people whose worst offence is to have arranged expensive air trips are smeared with the rumour that they are to be subject to criminal investigation . While this comedy of errors is being played out , the central element of the president 's programme , a five - year package of measures designed to reduce the federal deficit by almost $ 100 billion , is in danger of being rejected on Capitol Hill — by members of the party he is supposed to lead . At the last minute , enough congressmen rally round to get the package through the House of Representatives : not because they believe in it , but because Mr Clinton has made them an offer they can not refuse , or worse , because they pity him .
Idiom: see eye to eye (used idiomatically: yes)
My pastor and I do n't see eye to eye on the question of the literal interpretation of the bible .
Idiom: have a heart (used idiomatically: yes)
' Not very . She had pretty hair — she was small and sharp - eyed . But she had no heart , that I know — and no soul but Miguel 's . Only the brains to do the operations . No time for his fields and groves and his people . '
Idiom: come to mind (used idiomatically: yes)
This key theme crops up repeatedly throughout the book in all the contributions because it is through language that the hidden assumptions that make up the common sense of both theoretical and empirical discussions are revealed . One of the rewarding products of placing language under the microscope is the abolition of many of the categoric certainties that often inform rhetorical discussion of the inner city . Several examples come to mind here . The dichotomy between private and public sector is not so clear cut as it may appear . In London Docklands state subsidies have hidden under different names , disguising state intervention on a massive scale as Bob Colenutt describes in chapter 2 .
Idiom: mend fences (used idiomatically: yes)
Fleischmann and Pons , who did not realise that they had measured their neutron signal incorrectly , thought that their cell was producing 10 000 neutrons per cm 3 of palladium each second ( in fact the totality of neutrons from cosmic rays , from the concrete in the laboratory , from radon and other gases seeping through the air vents may have been responsible for almost all of these and the fusion neutrons , if there were any , were far fewer ) , and so Jones ' data did n't appear very impressive . So it was a shock to them when , during lunch that Thursday , Jones announced that his Brigham Young University team was preparing to publish its data and offered to let Fleischmann and Pons publish simultaneously . When Jones made the offer he said he was ' attempting to establish an open and cooperative relationship ' and to help mend the broken fences of the previous day 's rancour . Fleischmann recalled this period to me . ' We were given a long account of tritium generation at Mount Mauna Loa and all that and then ' by the way here is the neutron spectrum ' .
Idiom: out of sight (used idiomatically: yes)
And his voice befitted his size , a great hull bellow surging from the depths of his powerful chest and booming from his gaping jaws . I rose several inches into the air and when I descended , heart thumping , head singing , I glared over the wall . But as usual all I saw was the hairy form bounding away out of sight round the corner of the house . That was what puzzled me . Why did he do it ?
Idiom: have someone's number (used idiomatically: yes)
Mondays is actually not very good for me but hopefully by then I do n't think I can make that either but er Val , can I have your phone number please ? Right . erm what did you say ?
Idiom: to say the least (used idiomatically: yes)
Morgan put the cigar in his mouth , lit it as Evans pushed a heavy Rosenthal bowl towards him . ‘ He could just be heading for Russia via the Czech border … ’ ‘ From the little I 've grasped about him I 'd say that was unlikely , to say the least.’ ‘ But it would be a good rumour to spread , step up the pressure all round . Feed it into the grapevine , use your press contacts.’
Idiom: look the other way (used idiomatically: no)
After fifteen minutes of ‘ Ssh — gerroff’ and ‘ WILL YOU STOPPIT!’he was reduced to a petulant stare and a resentful stroking of the space between my thumb and forefinger , which drove me batty . Why could n't the boy just keep still and watch the bloody film ? Of course , I did n't know then that he was responding , in the standard fashion , to the powerful combination of a girl ( any girl ) , the darkness , and a roomful of adults all looking the other way . It took me a lot more years , and even more boyfriends , to cotton on , by which time most of the occupants of the back rows had been married to each other for years and were on their second spin dryer . Often in American movies , the sentimentality , the insistence on ‘ dotting the eyes’ and manipulating the emotions , makes me puff up with venom like a cobra .
Idiom: play ball (used idiomatically: no)
Perhaps that 's what made her ill , being sort of stuck between two generations.’ Freddie had managed to get into the hall by now , although even here his hostess had contrived to place her formidable bulk before the front door , her expression revealing , only too plainly , her disappointment at his early departure and her failure at not having conducted the evening more to her advantage . He knew if he had only played ball , she would have been more than pleased to accommodate him , as she probably thought of it , when his attentions were not engaged elsewhere . Having given up all hope of getting hold of a man for herself alone , she would be prepared to share one as the next best thing . He decided to walk back to Earls Court .
Idiom: ten a penny (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ Sometimes you really are incredibly stuffy , Ellis,’ said Amiss . ‘ I 'm surprised you did n't say Her Majesty 's navy . As far as I understand it , commanders were ten a penny and the whole cultural ethos of the navy was based on drink.’ ‘ You 're surely not defending him.’ Pooley looked shocked .
Idiom: hit the mark (used idiomatically: no)
President , Congress . The C E C is asking you to support composite nine , motion two four eight and refer motion four three four . Composite nine is about putting young people back to work and that has to be a priority in a year which has seen youth unemployment hit the one million mark . Our own young members ' section earlier this year , highlighted the plight of those hundreds of thousands of sixteen year olds , who started nineteen ninety three without a job . This summer there 'll be trying by thousands more as they come out of school and straight into obscurity .
Idiom: leave no stone unturned (used idiomatically: yes)
He 'd been stabbed . Detectives admit they have n't made much headway . No stone was left unturned ; officers stopped every single vehicle travelling on the A419 between Newtown and the M5 . There was a price to pay — huge tailbacks in each direction . Male speaker
Idiom: cut and dried (used idiomatically: yes)
( d ) What level of soil erosion need occur before appropriate legislation is implemented and appropriate agricultural and pastoral technologies ' induced ' ? So it can be seen that what was originally a technical question of the definition of tolerable rates of soil loss is a crucial , and deeply ideological one , and therefore not amenable to the cut - and - dried standards of proof on empirical grounds . However , let me put a view which though not provable , is perhaps persuasive — even if persuasion is the lowest form of proof . The belief that agricultural technologies will be developed for marginal , ecologically fragile areas , and for the marginal poor farmers and pastoralists that live there is , it will be argued , a trifle heroic .
Idiom: scratch the surface (used idiomatically: yes)
This couple came all the way from Staffordshire because of the Forest 's growing biking reputation and will definitely be back for more . Male speaker It 's very good — we 've only been there two days and could n't even scratch the surface . We 're planning to come back later in the year for a full week at least . It 's ideal .
Idiom: in the same breath (used idiomatically: yes)
Their identity was fractured . As wage earners themselves , they saw the morality of equal pay . Yet almost in the same breath they stated that men should earn more because they had ‘ wives and bairns’ to support . Such ambiguity impeded commitment to the union ( Charles , 1983 ; Cunnison , 1983 ) . Union consciousness and the ‘ Winter of Discontent’ )
Idiom: find your feet (used idiomatically: yes)
Pendennis Castle , which withstood a Roundhead siege during the Civil War for five months , is only 3 miles away . Penryn itself is unspoilt , and its old and narrow streets are under a preservation order . As for walks — well , Barry and Clive will help you find your feet ( so to speak ) : there are twelve which begin locally and are recommended by the Ramblers Association . Local Activities : Walks , sailing , wind - surfing , deep - sea fishing , golf , sandy beaches . Laverley House
Idiom: from the horse's mouth (used idiomatically: yes)
Among the The Conservative MP Paul MarlandWE ( WES AD LIB)(ANNE ) In part two of Central News , we 'll be getting it straight from the horse 's mouth . The dentist with a new plan to stop attacks on horses . Plus : There 's a fly in my plant .
Idiom: as a rule (used idiomatically: no)
And there will be a shortfall of that amount . Obviously some supply would would occur because housing associations will build wholly on some sites . But as a general rule there w because it has to be negotiated , it would not be er supplied . And erm so I do n't think the issues of affordable supply are quite the same as they have been in the past and I think it 's a very relevant consideration for this particular structure plan . something you want to go back on ?
Idiom: pure and simple (used idiomatically: yes)
I 've read about them all , and seen nearly every video out . But I was n't there , and this is to your advantage because I 'm not going to harp on about my favourite Shankly saying , or pretend I was close friends with the man like certain people do . It 's pure and simple . The man was a legend , a genius , call him what you want . He was also a one - off .
Idiom: put someone on a pedestal (used idiomatically: yes)
' It 's a testing point around the age of 29 and I knew Diana would change considerably . ' I had previously studied Charles 's chart and had noted that he has very unrealistic expectations of women . ' He puts women on pedestals . They are rather idealised figures . He 's not used to being with women who have pre - menstrual tension or post - natal depression .
Idiom: on the money (used idiomatically: yes)
The landlord could n't afford repairs . ' He gave the glass , I paid for the labour . ' Again and again he was at pains to demonstrate to Theo that he did n't live idly on his brother 's money . He detailed his expenses , listed work accomplished and projects lined up . Then suddenly Theo was assailed by a series of shocks , without warning and in swift succession .
Idiom: on ice (used idiomatically: yes)
And then she told of the particularly treacherous winter that they had had to endure . ' It seems the weather gets fiercer and fiercer as the years pass . Sea - birds froze on the packed ice on the marshes . The wind was relentless : it blew persistently from October to March . And it was penetrating — I ca n't tell you how penetrating — and wet ; it got into all the corners .
Idiom: bear in mind (used idiomatically: yes)
And of course it is . But you do have to put figures like that in some kind of perspective . Bear in mind that Nottinghamshire is quite a large county there are about one million people living in Nottinghamshire . Now most of those one million people will go to a shop of some kind pretty well , pretty well every day in your life . You might just pop to a corner shop to buy some chocolate and som box of matches , some sweets a magazine , a newspaper .
Idiom: stand up and be counted (used idiomatically: yes)
At one stage , residents offered to lay down the sleeping policemen themselves , but the request was turned down . However , the most difficult part was keeping campaigners interested . ‘ An awful lot of people say they want things done but they are reluctant to stand up and be counted,’ she said . ‘ Motivating is a problem . When you are all up and going they are all for it , but then you arrange a meeting and only six people turn up.’
Idiom: fun and games (used idiomatically: yes)
Shortly after reading that I was fascinated to come across Hugh Seton - Watson 's account , in a book written 44 years ago , of how in Eastern Europe between the wars the word ‘ Communist’ had become popular with the poor subjects of largely dictatorial regimes because their rulers used it as a term of abuse against ‘ ordinary men and women who have asked for reforms , protested against bureaucratic abuse , or resisted the gendarmerie in the execution of some wanton brutality.’ I 'm not sure whether 40 years later , the same mechanism made the word ‘ capitalism’ popular among the people ; the Leipzig demonstrations suggest that in Saxony , at least , it may have done . WHAT I do know is that people like Havel have been getting a little impatient with those relishing pieces appearing lately in the American press that say , roughly : ‘ Right , you guys over there have had your romantic Ruritanian fun and games with revolution and dancing in the streets . Now get down to the business of making a country fit for business to operate in , with plenty of unemployment and real inequality.’ Exchanging one kind of social and economic brutalism for another is not what Havel and his kind have in mind , nor do such prescriptions fit the democratic habit of the Czech temperament , formed long before communism 's arrival to power .
Idiom: look on the bright side (used idiomatically: yes)
Despite the damage Manor School opened as normal today . The children who 've lost their classroom will share another room , until a prefabricated replacement arrives . He says the children were singing’ always look on the bright side of life’which says something for the spirit of the school . The burglars are believed to have forced a window . And the school is now looking at ways of improving security .
Idiom: on top of the world (used idiomatically: yes)
AFTER : Proud Steven is happy to be growing up BEFORE : Tiny Steven Sell - out Mirror 's on top of the world NICOLA BRIGGS WE did it again .
Idiom: wear the trousers (used idiomatically: yes)
He went to one party where Cole Porter played the piano , Judy Garland sang and , invited to follow that , the young Welsh unknown blenched not , stood forward and slammed the room silent with ' To be or not to be ' spoken in Welsh . He exchanged jokes with Greta Garbo , whom he did not recognise , and put his hand on the goddess 's knee . He wore the battered corduroy trousers and old tweed jacket of the skint London actor , not for effect but because buying clothes was a waste of money . He was prepared to be known as a ' tight - wad ' . He and Sybil lived carefully , borrowed cars to save renting them , accepted hospitality , incurred and endured some cutting remarks of the wealthy but kept steadfast to their aim to make some money and run back to London to act and feed the security bank .
Idiom: off the wall (used idiomatically: yes)
Because , according to B S standards Yes . that should be ripped off the wall , like ! Right ! Well I do n't know because they 've put new flues and everything on these fires .
Idiom: play ball (used idiomatically: yes)
The reforms are mostly technical adjustments aimed at penalising slow delivery of the ball into open play and reducing the number of place - kicks . Five points instead of four for a try and the scrapping of a much - abused offside law had been regarded as inevitable , but experimental changes to rucks and mauls , switching the advantage to the defending side , received only a cautious welcome among leading coaches yesterday . Some of the main changes are : In general play , offside players may not advance towards a player waiting to play the ball until they have been put onside . The half - back may not take any action while the ball is still in the scrummage to convey to opponents that the ball is out . When a player receives the ball outside his 22-metre line and runs behind the 22 to kick for touch , he may not gain ground from the kick .
Idiom: claim to fame (used idiomatically: yes)
( For the uninitiated this is a gathering of the privileged few to down cocktails , cause gossip column ‘ sensations’ and generally be seen and pamper the stars of the show ) . But ‘ Shakespeare 's Sister’(which took its title from a Virginia Woolf essay on what would have happened if the bard had been female , a different way of looking at women although one has to search hard to find any reference to this in the actual song ) was hardly the band 's most shining masterwork , merely a jumble or rock and rockabilly plummeting through 129 seconds which fail to motivate the memory cells . Its one claim to fame was that it agitated a sudden outbreak of Northern Soul style dancing in the trendier clubs of Britain . The single had an amazing knack of finishing before you managed to come to terms with it . Subsequently , it failed to build on the extensive Radio One airplay it was given .
Idiom: break even (used idiomatically: no)
The trade - off involves assigning relative values to periods of time in different health states , such as those with and without the side - effects of the treatment and with greater or lesser symptoms from the disease . The Q - TWIST model , developed for early breast cancer , provides a general framework for this type of analysis and allows one to strike a balance by using any desired vaues for the effects of treatment and disease symptoms . Even if no exact values can be assigned , such evaluation allows the definition of a ‘ break even’ point beyond which one or other treatment is uniformly preferable . If all plausible values fall on one side of this point , this result may clarify the issues and thus assist decision - making . A different approach to evaluating the balance between quality and quantity of life is to ask the patient .
Idiom: rise to the occasion (used idiomatically: no)
‘ You are a wonder , Sir Alexander ! Bless you , Johnnie , for bringing him!’ ‘ Sandy is a knight who does not fail to rise to the occasion,’ Mariot observed . ‘ Sandy , is it ! We progress !
Idiom: by the back door (used idiomatically: yes)
During 1915 mounting pressure from the pro - conscription lobby threatened to precipitate a crisis in the popular legitimacy of the war . Many Liberals were deeply unhappy that , in the name of fighting ‘ Prussianism’ , Britain should adopt precisely the system of compulsory military service whose absence had for so long distinguished the ‘ freeborn Englishman’ from the less fortunate citizens of continental states . For the labour movement there was an added anxiety : that military compulsion would be used to discipline and control the workers , introducing full - scale industrial conscription by the back door . In September 1915 the TUC unanimously opposed conscription , despite its overwhelming support for the war . The UDC decided against taking up the issue , judging that , despite the breadth of opposition , when the Government made up its mind that conscription was necessary , the defence of civil liberties would crumble before the appeals of patriotism .