Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: out of this world (used idiomatically: yes)
Everyone knows what moon craters look like and you can make some wonderfully coloured and textured patterns for these with holding position and partial knitting . Last month I wrote about designing flowers this way but you can elaborate much more on this theme from simple streaky patterns to real ‘ crater - like’ shapes . ‘ Streaky’ patterns , though not strictly moon - shapes , have the same ‘ out of this world’effect and they are the easiest way to start . Try a sample first over about 150 needles . Knit a few inches background .
Idiom: over the top (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ What have I learned ? What have I learned of myself from learning through Robert … ?’ Her husband lowered his paper and regarded her over the top of it . ‘ I do n't know,’ she admitted . ‘ But I 've learned something .
Idiom: in the flesh (used idiomatically: yes)
And this in spite of the fact that two - thirds of the ‘ excellent’ companies analysed had fallen from grace by 1987 , when Peters himself brazenly opened his third book , Thriving on Chaos , with the statement : ‘ There are no excellent companies’ . Peters , probably the highest paid and certainly the highest profile management guru in the world , is indeed more of an evangelist than a business adviser . His performances on video and in the flesh at seminars are electrifying as he paces around , shirtsleeved and sweating , exhorting his audience to liberate themselves from old ways of thinking . New ideas : Peters no longer acts as a consultant : his only involvement with individual companies now is to study their workings as research for his books and lectures . His personal multinational , the Tom Peters group , organizes his crowded annual schedule of seminars .
Idiom: play ball (used idiomatically: no)
The World No 1 ran aground at Tryall 's treacherous 15th hole but floated a shot ahead of Greg Norman and Tom Kite with a one-over-par 141 . And now Faldo is primed to show the rest of the world 's top golfers that he is the undisputed champion . The Open champion 's engine room is his ability to keep the ball in play , but Seve Ballesteros 's spluttered and died as he took a six-over-par TEN at the 10th hole . The Spanish star 's tee shot was carried out of bounds by the wind , and he five-putted from only 12ft to realise every hacker 's nightmare . Faldo is ruthless when he scents victory , but he was also sympathetic .
Idiom: up in the air (used idiomatically: no)
It 's that most cursed of expressions a family show . It 's a delight to watch . Moving , funny , silly and things go up in the air and come down . Its a great night out . Voice over
Idiom: stand someone in good stead (used idiomatically: yes)
I was always brought up to treat everybody as I find them . I also found the standards of education at Canberra behind those of Jamaica . The formal methods of teaching , the accent on the ‘ three Rs’ , had stood me in good stead and in those aspects of school work I was ahead . I felt when I came here that I was going backwards . The discipline that I had experienced in my schools in Kingston was just not there .
Idiom: out of sight (used idiomatically: yes)
Her voice rose . ‘ I said get out of here.’ He raked her from head to foot with one long , contemptuous look , then turned on his heel , and strode away under the arch and out of sight . The tension drained from her , and she sagged limply against the front doorpost . She realised she was still gripping the stone , and dropped it with a little horrified cry .
Idiom: go through the motions (used idiomatically: no)
‘ I think I 've got through that negative stage now . I like playing again and next year will be different . ‘ But if I 'm not enjoying it then I wo n't make the mistake of going through the motions like I did this year . ‘ I 'll stop , take myself out of tennis and find something else to do with my life . I think it 's the healthy decision.’
Idiom: rare bird (used idiomatically: yes)
No black striped bill had we seen , or slurring gulps heard . But Dart ford warblers were next on the ' list ' . Stud land Heath is one of the few localities where this rare and elusive bird builds its nest — in heather or gorse . We kept to the paths , being specially careful where we put our feet ; ground nesting species are at their most vulnerable in spring . Dartford warbler numbers fluctuate dramatically .
Idiom: lend an ear (used idiomatically: yes)
But he was rather … wartime . ' ' If he had any idea of what she was doing for us , MoD does n't want it spread around . Would it help if I go and lend him a sympathetic ear ? ' This time , the voice after the pause might , by MI6 standards , have been described as faintly eager . ' If you really feel like doing that , George , by all means .
Idiom: on the rocks (used idiomatically: yes)
It is , in fact , a tale of jealousy , mistrust and uncontrollable temper . In 1896 , Charles T. Woolridge had been a serving trooper with the Royal Horse Guards for ten years . He was a good soldier , but his marriage was on the rocks . Woolridge and his wife , Laura , were living apart . It was rumoured that Laura had an eye for the men , which did nothing to consolidate the marriage , or to abate Woolridge 's white - hot temper , which was never far away .
Idiom: go public (used idiomatically: yes)
Women 's rights groups say fewer women would report rape and even fewer cases would come to trial if anonymity was not guaranteed . Muriel Harvey was raped on her way back from midnight mass in Ludlow last Christmas . The former magistrate chose to go public . She says the women in the Donnellan case should have been named as should all alleged rape victims when their case comes to court . A woman should not fear coming forward .
Idiom: on the game (used idiomatically: yes)
Sachin Tandulkar , Yorkshire 's first - ever overseas player , does his best to look as if he has lived in the northern county all his life ' Five or six of the younger lads will be fixed up in Australia , New Zealand or South Africa to further their education in the fame , and we usually reckon to have two or three players on international tours . Others , like Tim Robinson and Derek Randall , have their own businesses so that leaves us to fix up about 10 or a dozen with work at Trent Bridge , coaching and helping the commercial department as well as working on their game . Removing the worry of finding other jobs should make it easier for the players to focus on their cricket and there is also the hope that a couple of the kids to benefit from having our lads coaching them in the winter will develop into Notts players of the future . ' Lancashire 's hope is that slow left - armer Alex Barnett , who has joined them from Middlesex , will develop over the next few seasons into the matchwinning spinner they have been seeking ever since Jack Simmons retired .
Idiom: game on (used idiomatically: yes)
Tomorrow 's opener is between Paul Gascoigne 's club Lazio and Sampdoria , who have signed England defender Des Walker . And from next week - end , viewers will be able to get a double dose of Wolstenholme . ‘ That 's when we start our preview programme to the big Italian games on the Sunday . That will go out mid - morning on a Saturday , just right for the fans who are getting ready to go to a domestic match,’ he said . Ken Wolstenholme was never really lost to football after he left the Beeb and he commentated for a time on ITV 's Tyne Tees station and recently worked for Tottenham 's Clubcall line .
Idiom: lay down the law (used idiomatically: no)
Formal multilateral agreements are by no means the only source of the laws of war . After all , the laws of war existed in some form long before the idea of the modern multilateral treaty had been invented . Moreover , in dealing with a phenomenon as complex as war — which produces an infinite variety of situations and is conducted by means whose technical features alter almost from year to year — there are inherent difficulties in laying down the law in the form of treaties . Thus it has always been recognised , and rightly so , that there is a large place in the laws of war for other sources of law : custom , general principles of law , judicial decisions , and the writings of highly - qualified legal experts . Of the twenty - five - odd multilateral agreements on the laws of war which are currently in force , many contain either specific provisions , or important statements of general principle , which have potential relevance to the question of nuclear weapons use .
Idiom: ring a bell (used idiomatically: yes)
' Yeah , OK , what was it ? ' They returned to the landing and sat on the stairs . ' One day I 'm going to ring that bell , ' said Jasper , puffing away . ' What happened in the cloakroom ? ' ' An old man that was n't our grandfather but something like that hung himself .
Idiom: way to go (used idiomatically: yes)
things to all people all the time . Research has shown recently that erm a life event , such as you described can precipitate depression in someone who 's self esteem is low and I think this is where we women are more vulnerable . Although we 've advanced a great deal in the last fifty years , we still have a way to go and our self esteem is lower than men . I want to turn this right round because a couple of people have mentioned guilt and er I I suspect that one of the reasons that women are a bit worried about talking about depression or or campaigning for changes in policy , or more funding , or or whatever , is that for a long time women have been thought of as the weaker sex , more emotional , more nervous , by a , a a male establishment , I 'm talking about past centuries , is n't there a case for saying there 's actually we have a right to be depressed , I mean , obviously it 's normal , ninety three of you get depressed from time to time , the majority of you do n't think you clinically depressive if it is , if it 's normal to be depressed should n't the services to cope with depression , if we need outside help , be there and there 's no shame in it ? I mean , you 've got the right to go to the dentist , the right to go to the doctor !
Idiom: pecking order (used idiomatically: yes)
A year later the first ‘ red label’ records were on the market ( 28 , right ) . By the 1920s an elaborate hierarchy of colours indicated the position of the record within a class system ; the overall range of prices varied over the years , but not the implied class structure . So far as the original Gramophone Company was concerned , dark green was at the bottom of the pecking - order , although in Britain such records carried a different trade - name , Zonophone . Prices were highest in 1922 ; twelve - inch records from The Gramophone Company were between four and twenty shillings each ( 31 ) . By 1905 , all makers of prerecorded cylinders were marking the actual cylinders with titles by means of a professional lettering process , though the techniques used varied widely from company to company ( 29 ) .
Idiom: come to terms with (used idiomatically: yes)
She thought with compassion and understanding of his anger and his incomprehension ; and his fear . For had she not experienced all of these emotions as she had watched Johnny walk through the garage wall ? Would he be able to come to terms with them , as she , herself , had begun to , albeit reluctantly ? She had come to realize , very early in their relationship , that Johnny liked to dominate ; to manipulate . For all his charm , he was arrogant and egotistical .
Idiom: get the better of (used idiomatically: yes)
Before I had Scott I would never say boo to a goose . But I think all the time where you have to keep on fighting all the time , so now like you get so mouthy in the end you ca n't shut up , you know [ laughs ] , you end up winning the argument 'cos you ca n't shut up , like . You 've had to be like that all the time , otherwise you feel like you ai n't getting there , they 're getting the better of you , like … ’ cos you listen , do n't you , when you 've had the baby they are supposed to help you and advise you , so you take all their … but then you can only take so much , and you think these must be the mad ones , like . Beverley : In actual fact me having Devon , I 've never met so many real people … He 's made us really meet real people , you know what I mean , people with handicapped children , and to me I find them more real than some of my friends that live in another world , fantasising about the future , you know , ‘ What 's the kids going to be when they grow up?’
Idiom: pull the plug (used idiomatically: yes)
As the money rolled in , wages rose , real - estate prices reached to near - Parisian levels , and people fooled themselves into thinking that Kazakhstan had become Asia ’s latest tiger . The party came to a crashing halt in 2009 , when two sharp - elbowed global investment banks accelerated loan repayments – hoping to get their money back . The Kazakh government , which had been scrambling to support its overextended private banks with capital injections and nationalizations , gave up and decided to pull the plug . The banks defaulted on their loans , and creditors took large “ haircuts ” ( reductions in principal value ) . But – and here ’s the point – with its debts written off , the banking system is now recapitalized and able to support economic growth .
Idiom: on ice (used idiomatically: no)
Now all he had to look forward to was burying her . And in a funny sort of way he was looking forward to that . At least then he would know that she was not lying on ice in a bloody mortuary . He lit himself a cigarette with his gold lighter . He grasped it tightly in his hand .
Idiom: in the short run (used idiomatically: yes)
These ‘ loyalty discounts’ give rise to switching costs , since a consumer who switches to another supplier loses the discount . Such switching costs can serve to facilitate collusion and to deter competitive entry ( Klemperer , 1987 ) . Once again there is a trade - off between lower effective prices in the short run , against the loss of more active price competition in the long run . The issue of commodity bundling has been central to a number of celebrated competition policy cases , including those involving IBM in both the United States and Europe . The argument against commodity bundling is that by offering a bundle of goods at a lower price than the sum of the prices for the components of the bundle the supplier is able to prevent competition from producers of individual goods within the bundle .
Idiom: head south (used idiomatically: yes)
Austerity No . 90129 clanks through Kirkby Bentinck heading a northbound freight in the 1950 's . F. Ashley The Great Central Railtour of June 1963 behind 4472 ‘ Flying Scotsman’ , seen as it heads south from Tibshelf and is about to cross the Midland branch from Westhouses to Teversal . Bob Tebb TIBSHELF
Idiom: steal the show (used idiomatically: yes)
As they all squeezed into the vestry he told her so . " What a witch you are , my darling . " An opinion endorsed by not a few others who whispered among themselves — some of them when Amabel was not listening , others when she very obviously was — that Linnet Gage had stolen the show . Ben Braithwaite , lusty , thirty years old , his own master and master of a sizeable fortune since his father died two years ago , certainly thought so . Uriah Colclough , who had seen an angel just like her once when he had been fasting on some religious occasion , thought so too .
Idiom: cold comfort (used idiomatically: yes)
Don Carleton 's work on the lost Prince 's Theatre brought happy memories to many of the older generation who remembered it as a magical place of childhood . Rohit Barot 's pamphlet , Bristol and the Indian Independence Movement , has a particular contemporary relevance as there is currently a campaign among the Indian community in the city for a statue to be erected to the remarkable Indian reformer , Raja Rammoham Roy , who died in Bristol in 1833 . Those who are enraged by the state of disrepair of Bristol 's streets may derive a cold comfort from reading in Elizabeth Ralph 's pamphlet , The Streets of Bristol , that things were just as bad in the Middle Ages and that by the end of the 18th century the roads to Bristol were a lot better than the roads in it . Another in the series which will help the modern reader keep things in perspective is Susan Thomas on the Bristol Riots , which shocked the nation in 1831 , caused massive destruction in the city centre , in comparison with which the St Paul 's riots ( never as bad as the press would make out ) look like a tea party . By 1831 political rioting was , it seems , something of a popular sport .
Idiom: spin a yarn (used idiomatically: no)
Ever since the horses . ' My grandad was a bronco buster when he was younger , ' William used to tell them at school , and they 'd scoffed , even Preston , who was meant to be his Minder . It was just Quirk the Jerk spinning another yarn . But he was n't . Not that time .
Idiom: fall short (used idiomatically: no)
In the same way that , in 1941 , he had been convinced that Hitler was in his debt for services rendered in the struggle against communism , Franco now believed the western powers owed it to him to recognize that he had been right all along . That being the case , it was not appropriate to seek admission to the United Nations or to NATO ( the latter created in 1949 ) ; it should be offered to him as of right . When , in May 1949 , a UN resolution recommending the re - establishment of full diplomatic relations with Spain fell only four votes short of achieving the requisite two - thirds majority , Franco interpreted this as vindicating his stance . And when , at the beginning of 1950 , US Secretary of State Acheson conceded that the United States would now vote in favour of the return of UN members ' Ambassadors to Spain , Franco knew that the thaw had begun . However , there was still a long way to go for Spain to be fully integrated into the world concert of nations ; indeed , this was not possible while Franco lived .
Idiom: one and the same (used idiomatically: yes)
Later he became associated with a Christian denomination known as the Collegiants . His metaphysics is pantheistic . Nature and God are identified , and are conceived as an infinite reality which exists both as an all comprehensive mind and as an infinitely extended physical system , and in other ways unknown to us , all these being different aspects of one and the same single reality . Our bodies are elements in this infinite physical system and our minds are elements in the all - comprehensive mind , and thus aspects of one and the same individual fragment of the total divine reality . Each individual fragment of the total reality has an individual essence and its behaviour is entirely explicable as its effort to keep itself in being in as full a fashion as its environment allows .
Idiom: in bed with (used idiomatically: yes)
Can you imagine a day of pure pleasure , Mr Breakspear?’ I did not need to imagine such a day , I could remember plenty . I remembered lying in bed with a pretty girl while the rain fell on a Devon river outside our window . I remembered the honesty of Masquerade in a force five wind , and then I thought of all the good days to come ; days of Ellen and me and Masquerade in far seas , and I must have smiled , for Robin - Anne nodded approval of whatever silent answer I was framing to her question . ‘ Think of all that happiness,’ she said , ‘ and understand that a single hit of cocaine , just a single hit , will produce a hundred times as much pleasure - making dopamine as that one happy day .
Idiom: green light (used idiomatically: yes)
The Gondola was a most elegant car , with its high - swept prow , graceful pagoda - style roof , and its hull decorated with scrollwork in gold leaf . It could seat twenty passengers on rattan cane seats , who boarded by a short ladder over the sides ! The effect was enhanced by a marine canvas skirt of green lights , and a distinctly nautical motion provided by the short four - wheel truck . For its first season the driver and guard of the Gondola were dressed as Venetian gondoliers , much to the amusement of the other platform staff . The car did not normally carry passengers , but its seats were used that season by a small orchestra which played selections from ‘ The Gondoliers ’ as it made its romantic way along the Promenade .
Idiom: over the hill (used idiomatically: yes)
It appears that the dead man took the wrong path in the mist , and fell over the cliff , hitting the sharp rocks below . In the dead man 's pocket was a copy of a very old , out - of - date map . It showed a long - disused path over the hill . Of course , as everyone in the district knows , the path was destroyed many years ago by the Great Landslide . That was a terrible disaster which carried away a large part of the hillside .
Idiom: cut loose (used idiomatically: no)
NOT since the heady days of Shirley Temple tapping her dinky way around the globe has a pint - sized child star held the Hollywood moguls in such thrall . Macaulay Culkin is a 12-year - old , 4 ft 6 in licence to print money and Home Alone 2 : Lost In New York is set to pull in more folding bills than it is possible for the human mind to contemplate . Once more , as young Kevin McCallister , he is cut loose from the constraints of his frantic , harassed family . They catch a plane to Florida but Kevin winds up in New York where he is fancy free with his Pop 's credit card , eating all the ice cream and pizza the metropolis has to offer . The plot of Home Alone 2 is the plot of Home Alone 1 , with bungling burglars Harry and Marv — Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern — wandering the streets of the Big Apple planning a toy store robbery on Christmas Eve when they just happen to run across Wee Mac , who proceeds to foil their plans again .
Idiom: off the cuff (used idiomatically: yes)
Yesterday the formation of an East German Social Democrat party was announced . The ominous atmosphere in East Berlin contrasts sharply with the anodyne official picture presented by the GDR media . It is of a more than usually splendid birthday party , of jolly music , beer and sausages , goose - stepping , displays of rocket transporters and President Gorbachev saying ( without mentioning his loaded off - the - cuff remarks , or those by his spokesman , Gennady Gerasimov ) all the right things about West German revanchism . Berlin Philharmonic opts for amiable Abbado From PATRICIA CLOUGH in Bonn
Idiom: straight from the shoulder (used idiomatically: yes)
Part of the pack will be information and education material specifically concerned with Scottish Nuclear , telling both teachers and pupils about the company . The new programme will be publicly launched during August at a special event attended by senior representatives of the Government , education authorities and Scottish Nuclear . STRAIGHT FROM THE SHOULDER ' Walk the Talk ' meetings by Dr Robin Jeffrey with staff at all three sites have now become a regular feature of Scottish Nuclear activity . The response from the people he talks to gives him a grassroots view of the questions being asked throughout the Company , while the meetings give the staff the opportunity to put their own points to him straight from the shoulder .
Idiom: beg the question (used idiomatically: yes)
But how should we evaluate the cold war 's impact on the world outside Europe and North America — on the world which emerged from the second world war still largely in the condition of colonialism ? Speaking the other day to the Catholic Institute for International Relations , Noam Chomsky argued that the impact was entirely negative : ' the cold war was a war primarily conducted against the Third World ' . This seems to me to beg a hundred questions . For if that departed order can be allowed any saving graces , it was in that area that they might be found . During the cold war , and to a great extent because of it , the colonial world achieved political independence .