Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: small print (used idiomatically: yes)
I have had a bit of ‘ medical’ excitement myself since I last wrote : first when I overturned a full supermarket trolley on to my leg , bursting a small artery with dramatically bloody results . That kept me on reduced activity for about three weeks . Then a fortnight ago I had a cataract removed , but there must have been more to it than that , because not only am I startled by the brightness of things , but the vision in that eye is practically perfect , so I am not wearing glasses most of the time , though for faint or small print ( not piano music : hooray ) I shall have to get some more specs . It does n't seem fair that my relatively small problem has been dealt with so efficiently , whereas you and others I know have to struggle on with far greater difficulties . The Lake District holiday was lovely , and so was the week we spent with Richard in August .
Idiom: up hill and down dale (used idiomatically: yes)
Mr chair . Erm , I seem to find myself in this committee in a minority of one . It 's a little like listening to those debates in parliament where parliament vote themselves extra salaries and I feel very uncomfortable in this process , I thought I might be coming here this morning to disagree with my own group , or those members of them that do n't agree with me , perhaps joined with the conservatives in opposing this motion , but I find in fact that everybody is saying oh let 's put up the er , the heading , I feel very uncomfortable with this having spent six months in the budget review , criticising officers up hill and down dale every time that they exceeded their budget , having told them that either they balance their budget or that they came in next year with a budget with no more than a one and a half percent increase , or their successors would be doing it for us . I feel very uncomfortable therefore , to sit in a room full of members , sitting here proposing to add five percent to the limit for members allowances , simply because we 've been unable to control our own behaviour , and to come in within that , I think it 's a very poor example , and it 's an example that I 'm not prepared to set . I am going to vote against the motion , I 'm disappointed with the liberal group not come in with a more constructive amendment or even a proposal , as I would say asked you to do .
Idiom: on the run (used idiomatically: no)
The crews supplied their own oranges . Maria Magdalena and Caribbean Queen cleared Key Canaka thirty metres apart with no more than a bowsprit between them . The finishing line was on a dead run and Baccy had his crew throw the ballast overboard . Then the crew got down to serious drinking . Trent spied the President and his granddaughter on the end of the dock below the President 's beach house .
Idiom: take root (used idiomatically: yes)
Now having seen one miracle , Hong Kong rugby wants another one from Simpkin . Breaking new ground . As the colony 's new coach , Simpkin has initiated a successful programme to develop rugby amongst Hong Kong 's Chinese population , as well as encouraging the game to take root on mainland China . Here he meets Professor Cao Xihuang ( left ) before China entertains its first touring side .
Idiom: by no stretch of the imagination (used idiomatically: yes)
A strong man was needed there , as well as in England , and those loyal to the King needed strong fortresses . Guy turned to consider the stone hall . It was flanked by two towers and its entrance was reached only by a narrow stairway , but by no stretch of the imagination could it be called a fortress . And Guy was uneasily aware of another fact . No one could say for sure if Robert of Gloucester would support Stephen , or if he would remain in Normandy to throw the considerable weight of his position , wealth and experience behind his half - sister .
Idiom: take heart (used idiomatically: yes)
Ivy leaves — tenacity ; my love for you is strong Jasmine — elegance ; I admire your taste Oak leaves — courage ; take heart Pink phlox — friendship White phlox — I would like to get to know you better
Idiom: behind someone's back (used idiomatically: yes)
Chapter One As usual , there were five of them on the village green , waiting for the school bus . Also as usual , they began to talk differently as Mrs Bouverie approached , louder , more self - consciously , and the younger two , in their all - weather uniform of jeans , and bare feet thrust into stiletto - heeled shoes , put their cigarettes behind their backs . It was , Mrs Bouverie thought , as if she were a headmistress . But she was worse than a headmistress ; she was the Rector 's wife .
Idiom: tell tales (used idiomatically: no)
At 32 Rue St Honoré , they met with Raymond Eddi , a distinguished Lebanese parliamentarian in exile , and Marcel Boutros , Aoun 's personal envoy , who invited Coleman to meet the general himself at the presidential palace in Baabda . When Coleman encoded a message to this effect to Control , he was instructed to conclude the arrangements at once , if possible before he left . He was then to return home at once via Montreal , using his Thomas Leavy identity on re - entering the United States so as to avoid any tell - tale entry stamp in his passport . On 9 March , Coleman received a detailed encrypted message from Control setting up Operation Shakespeare , clearing his visit to Lebanon and instructing him to carry out the mission as Thomas Leavy , of Westinghouse Group W News . The reason for this was that his real name was probably known to the Syrian forces controlling Beirut airport , and certainly to the pro - Syrian Christian Lebanese Forces under Shamir Geagea who controlled the port of Jounieh and had already threatened his life after the NBC broadcast .
Idiom: raise the roof (used idiomatically: no)
( The Scotsman ) ‘ Outstanding saxophone virtuosity’(The Independent ) ‘ Saxtet raised the roof’(What 's On ) The BBC Big Band The BBC Big Band was born in the 1960s out of the amalgamation of the Revue and Variety Orchestras into the New Radio Orchestra , after a BBC executive had heard New York 's famous and versatile Radio City Symphony Orchestra .
Idiom: get the better of (used idiomatically: yes)
Her lashes flickered . She paused , unnerved by the way he spoke and the words he chose . But her anger and dislike were getting the better of her , and she wanted very much to have an argument with him — and win it . ‘ You do n't like Jamie very much,’ she said as an opening gambit , ‘ do you?’ His eyes glittered .
Idiom: fit to be tied (used idiomatically: yes)
They must be able to help . ‘ Daddy 's the last person I 'd go to for help,’ Veronica said bitterly . ‘ He was fit to be tied when I separated from Hugh , and he seems to blame me for the whole thing . And Mummy wo n't do anything that upsets Daddy . I 'll just have to get by on my own.’
Idiom: move mountains (used idiomatically: yes)
Yes erm I do n't know if I mentioned you a question properly er right there were young lads in there they be young lads in that lodge do this and they jump up and they make a decision quickly . But you got to start putting all the works in motion oh yes what is the end product or what is the outcome of this and that . And I 've been a few years on the Council now and when I first went on the Council I was going to move mountains and make oh big Taj Mahals everywhere , but when you get on these things you have a rude awakening , it does n't work out that way and it works out exactly the same in this erm . Fair enough , well if I can help him in any way by talking to him , it 's not a case of who wins and who loses , we all lose . I 'm quite prepared to do it .
Idiom: have a ball (used idiomatically: no)
But the years since then have been ones of decline for Yorkshire , mainly , many observers of the game believe , because of the white rose county 's obstinate refusal , until last year , to move with the times and have an overseas star player in the side . Jarvis thinks the decision to break with tradition and bring in Indian prodigy Sachin Tendulkar last summer , and take on West Indies captain Richie Richardson next season was the right one . On balance he 'd have preferred to have seen them take on a top world fast bowler to ease the new-ball burden on him — as indeed they intended before negotiations with Australia 's Craig McDermott broke down months before the start of the season — but sees at least one advantage in having a star batsman rather than bowler . ‘ I suppose I might have ended up bowling up the hill into the wind at Headingley , and that might not have done much for my prospects , but generally the policy change was inevitable , and I am glad it happened . ’ He now firmly refutes suggestions that he is unhappy with the Yorkshire set-up and is looking around for a move to another county .
Idiom: brownie point (used idiomatically: yes)
( There was , however , another side to this coin . The City was beginning to wake up to the fact that the Labour movement , all told , had a great deal of money at its disposal — especially in the pension funds of Labour - controlled local authorities . Pension - fund investments across the country amounted to billions of pounds , and by helping News on Sunday investors could score many brownie points , and find a possible way in to this exciting and under - exploited source of money . But even that argument failed to raise any investment . ) In any case , most City people put politics to one side and looked at the nascent company as a simple business proposition .
Idiom: break the bank (used idiomatically: yes)
Holyfield 's £ 17 m demand means Lewis must travel EVANDER HOLYFIELD 'S mighty £ 17.5 m asking price for a London defence of his world heavyweight title is virtually certain to knock out Lennox Lewis 's hopes of home advantage in next spring 's challenge . With Lewis 's share likely to be around £ 5.5 m for the fight of his life , the British and Commonwealth champion 's handers would have to break the bank to shift the fight from Las Vegas -but they have n't entirely given up hope . Said Lewis 's manager Frank Maloney : ‘ Holyfield wants a guarantee of 28 million dollars . We 'll be doing all we can to bring the fight here .
Idiom: call the shots (used idiomatically: yes)
He wanted control of guns . He had seen what had happened before when FAKOUM had enjoyed this and he had n't . He wanted some greater degree of power for himself , always within a political reality where the malais ultimately called the shots . Yet , strangely enough , it was Martinho the malais appeared to favour . It was clear to me that they had spared him in order to groom him for their own uses .
Idiom: state of the art (used idiomatically: yes)
To create the environment for success , the Agency has to develop the city 's technological infrastructure . GDA support enabled the setting up of the Robertson Institute in partnership with Glasgow University . The Institute provides state - of - the - art accommodation , on - site , for companies involved in biotechnology . The former Garden Festival site offers an excellent opportunity to attract new companies to the city and to provide existing firms with high quality new accommodation . GDA has purchased the site from Laing Homes and plans are being prepared for an £ 80 million mixed development for business , media and leisure activities .
Idiom: high and low (used idiomatically: yes)
I searched high and low for my glasses but could n't find them .
Idiom: keep tabs on (used idiomatically: yes)
There is the question : why was civil plutonium exported , in the first place , under a defence agreement ? There are doubts over the efficacy of the safeguarding arrangements , particularly in the light of the difficulties of’ policing’the system . In addition , with co - processing the order of the day at Sellafield , it is proving very difficult to keep tabs on who has what grade of plutonium where at any given moment . CND , for instance , which has already had one stab at teasing out answers from the Department of Energy , is trying to persuade the CEGB to provide annual information on which reactor was contributing to the growing plutonium stockpile — and when . Ironically , it has been one of the board 's own employees , Dr Ross Hesketh , who has been questioning many of the rather bland assurances on what has happened to British plutonium from the civil programme .
Idiom: turn up trumps (used idiomatically: yes)
Just two weeks after winning a race in Barnsley , he romped to victory in the Belfast Classic 10K … and then he headed to Dublin and finished second in the BLE 5 K road race championship . Record Last month Miano turned up trumps in the Stockholm Half Marathon in 16.48 . He had a 5 K timing of 13.36 and at the 10 K mark he was clocked at 28.18 , so Gerry Curtis ' Bangor record of 28.24 will be under threat . Ndeti is also a more than useful athlete .
Idiom: out of sight (used idiomatically: yes)
She rose first , searching out her sheets and knotting them indifferently about her torso . He got up . Gesturing that she was to follow him , he began to march along the path that led down the hill , and was quickly out of sight . She followed . In a moment , she too had disappeared .
Idiom: out of the question (used idiomatically: yes)
Prices are very keen too — from under £ 1,000 for a basic model . Above all , once a suitable base has been laid , your garage is up and working within about 48 hours , and often within a day . In short , unless there are serious reasons why a prefabricated garage is out of the question , it is probably your best choice on all counts . PICKING THE RIGHT KIT Once you have decided to go the kit route , your first step is to send off a request to several manufacturers for illustrated brochures ( you will find a list of the major manufacturers at the end of the article , and it is also worth checking the Yellow Pages for firms operating in your area ) .
Idiom: shut the door on (used idiomatically: yes)
Good . ' He walked through the communicating door into his own room , leaving it open while he dressed . When he was ready he came back into her room , shutting the door behind him on his way down to dinner . ' You look very miserable , ' he said kindly , pausing by her bed . ' Can I help ? '
Idiom: yes and no (used idiomatically: yes)
And when it sprayed sparks almost to the edge of the wide hearth he made no comment , such as , ‘ Be careful . You 'll have the rug on fire,’ but said unexpectedly , ‘ Are you unhappy , Elaine?’ For a moment she did n't answer him ; then , supporting herself on her elbows in the seat of the chair , she said , ‘ The answer is , yes and no.’ ‘ Is it Dawson?’ ‘ Again you could say the answer is yes and no .
Idiom: see a man about a dog (used idiomatically: yes)
Two nil to the Seasiders , who are now sailing on top of the table , with Hereford left in the backwaters of Division Four . Swindon Town Manager Glenn Hoddle overcame injury to make a brief appearance for the English Division Two side playing in Italy . Now we 're off to see a man about his dogs . Sixty year old Ernie Hammond from Banbury in Oxfordshire is the oldest musher or handler in British dog racing . His best friends are Siberian Huskies .
Idiom: in living memory (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ Is that so?’ ‘ Yes , indeed it is . The worst summer in living memory . No doubt but the discharging of all the cannon and musketry at the Field of Waterloo caused an injury to the normal temperament of the sky.’ ‘ Rain or no rain , I must get on my way .
Idiom: turn the corner (used idiomatically: yes)
It 's easy to see how important the Occupation Road used to be , because every so often the little becks that rundown from the fell to cross the track are culverted underneath the lane through well - made stone - lined tunnels . Some of the culverts have been smashed by the passage of heavy - wheeled vehicles such as tractors and Land - rovers over the years , so that in places beyond Nun House Outrake after heavy rains the Ocky is a lagoon of peaty mud and you need the agility of a ballerina and the balance of a goat to skirt round it . I had neither , so I plodded stoically through the mire turning a corner eventually to see the summit of Ingleborough framed by the walls of the lane . At Kingsdale I stopped by the road and had a bite to eat before striking off up the fell to Whernside , following the wall that leads upwards towards the summit . The view down Deepdale as I climbed was beautiful .
Idiom: have a heart (used idiomatically: yes)
No Erm , did the Council put the central heating in ? Council put the central heating in when we got advanced in years and when it became necessary in the doctor 's opinion for me to have central heating because I had a heart complaint . So it 's , the , the Council does n't install central heating as a matter of course only if it 's a special case ? The Council has a policy now of bringing all its properties up to date , but priority because they 're , bringing the houses up to date will take some eight years , priority is given to elderly citizens and people with medical needs .
Idiom: laugh all the way to the bank (used idiomatically: yes)
And last week they cancelled the Danny Baker show because of it . Who is Danny Baker , you may well ask ? Believe it or not , he is that fat cheery cockney who does entirely facile washing powder and chocolate gunge bar adverts on telly for which , laughing all the way to the bank , he gets paid vast quantities of money . He is therefore to be hated and despised . He also used to do daytime television game - shows of glaring naffness , and may indeed still do so .
Idiom: play games (used idiomatically: yes)
If you speed these up , knowledge can travel around quicker . Like a faster - acting computer programme , decisions and judgements can speed up , and it could lead to a higher IQ ! Dr Shotton pours scorn on mothers who chastise their offspring for playing video games : ' It 's far healthier than watching TV . Few children remember anything more than the adverts . If your child was playing chess all day , you 'd boast that he was a genius ! '
Idiom: from scratch (used idiomatically: yes)
It is unlikely that any of your furniture will look like the pre - drawn objects in the program as it is quite Americanised and a bit outdated , even so the program is fun and easy to use . The fact that you can place objects of the correct size in position also means that the program will help to avoid the heavy work of moving furniture or fixtures and fittings only to find they do n't fit . This applies whether you are just rearranging a room , thinking of buying some new items , or have just moved in and are starting from scratch . Pizazz Plus 3.0 Price : £ 80.00 + VAT incl .
Idiom: streets ahead (used idiomatically: no)
Hoomey 's the only one willing , and he 's just a weed . But at least he 'll try . And you — you 're streets ahead of Hoomey —’ ‘ Oh , shut up ! I never said I would n't .
Idiom: get it up (used idiomatically: yes)
But what about you ? How did you feel about it?’ ‘ Nervous as fuck — I was certain I would n't be able to get it up , I mean just certain , especially as I 'm still feeling the effects from getting pissed yesterday — and then , well … aroused , I suppose , when … when I realised you were.’ ‘ Uh - huh . Not before.’
Idiom: tongue in cheek (used idiomatically: yes)
( It is worthy of note at this stage that Harris never received his full complement of aircraft and in the final days of the Bomber Offensive his maximum strength of first line aircraft was only 1,625 of which 200 were Mosquitos , ) in one of my Staff College lectures . The Bombing Years , I stress and support the Harris claim that the Allied strategic bombing was the main contribution to the downfall of Hitler 's Reich and our victory in Europe . I also say , with tongue in cheek , that the Harris 1,000-Plan should be dubbed the most outrageous confidence trick of the entire war . Let the Staff College student consider how Harris was able to conjure from his original strength of 374 front line aircraft , and in a few months have some 1,047 aircraft set course for Koln in order to devastate 600 acres of the city ( plus the admirals and generals in Whitehall ) . I invite the student of the air war to compute Harris 's achievements with 1,625 aircraft and consider how much sooner we could have achieved victory in Europe had he the support of the promised 3,500 aircraft , and the entire Chiefs - of - Staff Committee .
Idiom: under the sun (used idiomatically: no)
Skin sense You change your clothes for summer , but do you change your skincare and make - up ? With a little beauty know - how , you can look wonderful under the sun . By Sarah Clarke What do a heavy face cream and a woolly sweater have in common ?
Idiom: fall from grace (used idiomatically: yes)
HO HUM , LOOK AT MY TUM : Despite all her holidays , diets and workouts Fergie just has n't got the stomach to really fight the flab and win the battle of the bulge LEG 'S TALK ABOUT THIS : Fergie tries the inch - pinch by grabbing a handful of flesh on her leg to see just how wobbly it is — and pulls a face as she discovers the weighty truth FOR JOHN BRYAN THE FALL FROM GRACE WAS JUST ONE WEEK AWAY NO LONGER WOULD HE BE ONE OF THE ROYAL FAMILY 'S ANOINTED . ALL THAT WAS NEEDED WAS ONE FINAL PUSH EVERYTHING was going so swimmingly for Johnny Bryan .
Idiom: have a bash (used idiomatically: yes)
I see now we 've got lots to do this morning , you 're going to need to ignore what 's going on behind me , ah , it 's not happening , right , as I said to you at the very beginning of September I 'm the star , so you pay attention to me . That was the correct thing to do , very well though , you saw the look and you decided . On the board this morning we 're going to have a bash at thinking about some targets , we 're going to have a bash think about , how you think you 've done so far ? One of the two tasks that I 've set you since we met in September , what are the two big tasks that we 've concentrated on ? One should be in your file already and it should be finished and the other one you 're going to give to me today .
Idiom: do me a favour (used idiomatically: yes)
The one with the cigar ? ' ' He really fancied you . ' ' Do me a favour . ' ' You should have given him your London address . ' ' No thanks .
Idiom: neck and neck (used idiomatically: yes)
It was Mr Banzer 's wrath that made him go into exile in Argentina . In a country familiar with caudillos , Mr Banzer has done well . On the eve of the election , he was running neck - and - neck with Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada , the candidate of the National Revolutionary Movement and one of the architects of Bolivia 's radical economic reform of the mid-1980s . At Mr Banzer 's closing rally in La Paz , many Bolivians defied the cold to hear him call for higher taxes on the rich and more efficiency in government : ' We will tighten the government 's belt and loosen the belt on the people . ' If neither man wins a clear majority , parliament will decide in August , after the usual inter - party bargaining .
Idiom: join the club (used idiomatically: yes)
This is a pity for his achievement in securing the crucial Committee vote deserves the members ' recognition for his astuteness . It was not an automatic procedure . At the 1983 Annual General Meeting Robert Naish lost his role by a substantial margin to Basil Peacock , who joined the Club as a Junior before the War , and was Secretary to the Bondholders at the time of redemption . Robert had won the battle , Basil had to win the peace ( and seems to have done so ) . Basil had first been asked to stand as President in 1982 but declined , however he was asked to reconsider this in 1983 .
Idiom: take the piss (used idiomatically: yes)
He said he never reached more than 85 % fitness after the injury . The first goal he scored in the famous Burnley game was really something special , he lobs the goalie from miles out . Then he really took the piss out of the Chelsea defence in the 70 Cup Final . Shame he did n't put one more of his many chances away . Tim