Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: rare bird (used idiomatically: yes)
She still has another year of injections and tablets before she 's fully recovered . With the new cancer service , more children like Alison can look forward to the best treatment available . A ten thousand pound reward is being offered for the recovery of six rare birds which were stolen from a bird sanctuary . Their owner believes they were stolen for a private collector abroad . Clare Lafferty reports .
Idiom: play ball (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ In other words , we would not vote for the ball being thrown in any direction , for instance to someone running onto it from deep . On the other hand , the idea of having to use the same ball that went into touch if you want to take a quick throw - in is a red herring . In my experience , the teams will throw in any ball they land their hands on — no - one really knows whether it is the playing ball or not . No - one cares unless there is a score , and that 's when everyone gets hot under the collar about it’ . ‘ I have seen a game played by the new rules , organised by HTV in Wales’ , said Don Rutherford .
Idiom: in the clear (used idiomatically: no)
A painted board read ‘ Thangsing — 13,000ft’ . At dusk , Kanchenjunga and Pandim shone on the horizon , still touched by the sun . A slender new crescent moon lay on its back high in the clear night sky . In the thin atmosphere , faces became puffy , eyes almost disappeared and some people 's sight was affected . A few of us lost our appetites .
Idiom: go to town (used idiomatically: yes)
Now again if you take a good look round the retired people in town there is , you just sit down on one of those benches in town and watch people for a bit , and you 'll see that a lot of them are deteriorating physically and that is making them , making it difficult for them to get about socially , shopping- wise and so on . And again can you see what will happen . If it is getting difficult you can see what 's going to happen , they 're going to think oh well I wo n't go to town today , I 'll go to the corner shop and manage . In other words they 're going to ask their body to do less and less and less . And there was a , a book , I always regret not pho photostatting it , where one of the people who write on health er made the point that you start with the full page in the book , and the outer band of it were all pictures of the world , and then it was erm a particular sort of location in a town , and then it was a house and garden and then it was a room in a house .
Idiom: come clean (used idiomatically: no)
Well dunno . I do n't think they do want washing . I think I did wash them and they would n't come any cleaner . Did you ? Oh .
Idiom: go public (used idiomatically: yes)
Until we know more . We are trying to find out . I 'm sure your own people will want to try also , before anything goes public . ' Fairweather rose , taking his copies of the reports . ' I 'm not sending these by courier , ' he said .
Idiom: turn a blind eye (used idiomatically: yes)
Even when Shaun and Bez went as far as editing Penthouse for the day , papers tutted and sighed but still printed pictures of the pair grinning like village idiots , surrounded by tits and bums . Then came the infamous NME interview last November — their last for the weekly music papers . It featured Shaun and Bez again , ‘ off our heads , in full throttle , coming out with all sorts of shit’ , except this time no one turned a blind eye , offered excuses or mildly slapped their wrists . This time the Mondays felt the full bite of backlash and came across as a scummy homophobes busy , said writer Stephen Wells , ‘ articulating bootstrap Thatcherism’ . ‘ It did our heads in a bit , freaked us out just for the fact that everybody who 's ever met us in the business knows exactly how we are .
Idiom: no great shakes (used idiomatically: yes)
So far the little flank - man has been solid and workmanlike in his home stadium . No - one could accuse him of having a truly awful game at Windsor but we still await the ‘ big one’ from Michael on Ulster soil . Perhaps next week we will get it ; Latvia are a hard - working side but no great shakes in international football . In Riga they paid Hughes the compliment of putting two defenders on him but that merely created space for the other Northern Ireland players . Bingham will be expecting a solid win and it will be disappointing if he does n't get it .
Idiom: on the level (used idiomatically: no)
This week just past he not only failed to anticipate the row , he then reacted too slowly to it . Most humiliating of all when he did intervene on the record he only contributed a further nuance to the policy confusion under way . On all levels this is deficient leadership . Mr Major must be a man with a beleaguered mentality — not thinking particularly straight , tending to take the wrong decisions . There is no sureness of touch , no deft ability to square circles as and when required .
Idiom: do the right thing (used idiomatically: no)
It is also quite soft on the bottom , and the newsprint does come off far too easily . The one with Bill Dean aka Harry Cross on the cover Nastiest : Barbara Ellen 's comments in the gossip column about The La 's and The Farm desperately trying to convince their mothers they did the right thing in not aborting them Nicest : everything else John Lennon interview , Hendrix tips on how to set your guitar on fire , Bob Marley ( on his relationship with his Liverpool father ) ,
Idiom: join the club (used idiomatically: yes)
A bright future — or at least a possible meeting with Mike Tyson — beckons for British heavyweight champion Gary Mason after he knocks out Tyrell Biggs in the seventh round of their Albert Hall bout . THURSDAY : As the Old Trafford soap opera unfolds , Martin Edwards , United 's chief executive , begins legal proceedings against Knighton for alleged breach of confidentiality in their dealings . Ajax join English clubs in European exile , as UEFA bans the club for the next two years they qualify for Europe , as punishment for the previous week 's crowd trouble , when the Austria Vienna goalkeeper was felled by a metal spike . FRIDAY : The good news of Robson 's call - up to the England squad is tempered by the withdrawal of Liverpool 's John Barnes with a hamstring injury . Knighton is reported to be ready to abandon his takeover bid .
Idiom: get a grip (used idiomatically: no)
Performance indicators quickly became used as a diagnostic tool to " inform " the accountability reviews which in turn developed " from departmental monitoring of broad strategies to deep monitoring of short - term operational plans and of control systems stretching right down to unit level " ( Harrison et al . 1990 : 129 ) . The introduction of general management was a vital mechanism for ensuring greater control and demonstrating to the Treasury , Public Accounts and Social Service Committees that the department meant to get a grip on the NHS . The final mechanisms for ensuring managerial accountability up the line were put in place by appointing general managers on short - term contracts , introducing an element of performance - related pay , and installing a system of individual performance review . By 1989 the DOH had installed " a clear and effective chain of command " upwards from Districts to Regions , the NHS Management Executive and the Secretary of State ( DOH 1989a : 13 ) .
Idiom: kiss of life (used idiomatically: yes)
Amanda , who 's a psychiatric nurse gave first aid , but there was nothing she could do . She says he was shot in the chest . She tried to give him to kiss of life and heart massage but he was already dead . It 's just the latest in spate of attacks on British holiday makers in America . Last year John and Rose Hayward from Banbury in Oxfordshire were shot and robbed within minutes of arriving in Miami .
Idiom: in the pipeline (used idiomatically: yes)
He said that local people particularly welcomed the fact that the store would bring 200 job opportunities to the area . Meanwhile , Arfon Council 's planning section in Caernarfon confirmed it was still considering the Sainsbury 's plan and the application would be judged on its merits . Three other superstore applications are in the planning pipeline for Bangor . One for a boatyard site overlooking Hirael Bay , and another for the St David 's Hospital site at the other end of the city , are awaiting the outcome of a joint local inquiry which was held before a Welsh Office inspector towards the end of April . Sainsbury 's felt it could not justify investment at either of these locations and instead surprised everyone by buying land at Parc Menai which has already got planning consent for a hotel and conference centre .
Idiom: take liberties (used idiomatically: yes)
Then there sh she takes the piss , she 's lazy . She 's not that shy though and she takes liberties as well . She takes really bad liberties with people and oth and other peoples things and stuff . Amber , well she does n't talk to Amber any more .
Idiom: no holds barred (used idiomatically: yes)
The same goes for Bryan Gould , whose Antipodean origins , according to Kavanagh , would not be exploited . ( Pause for raised eyebrows . ) Labour 's policies would be mercilessly attacked , but the personalities would receive the ‘ Ashdown treatment’— in other words , sex scandals apart , they would be regarded as far too bland for a no - holds - barred hatchet job . Speaking of which , it 's time to knock a fashionable theory on the head . This is that Basildon only swung 1.3 per cent to Labour ( and so stayed Tory ) because it has the highest Sun readership in the country ( half of all households there take it ) , whereas Hampstead fell to Glenda Jackson because it is top of the Guardian 's league ( 14 per cent of homes ) .
Idiom: cut loose (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ The children?’ ‘ Unharmed , mostly . Pouncey was Vercoe 's squeeze , and so he cut loose a bit with the cattle prod.’ ‘ That 's understandable.’ Duroc picked up his broad - brimmed black hat , and set it upon his head .
Idiom: behind closed doors (used idiomatically: yes)
SAMESH KUMAR , the Birmingham chairman , was yesterday charged with misconduct by the Football Association over the St Andrews ' riot . Mr Kumar made comments about referee Roger Wiseman , who asked not to officiate again this season after being struck on the head by a fan when trouble erupted at the end of Birmingham 's Third Division game against Stoke on Feb 29 . The FA have already fined Birmingham £ 50,000 and ordered them to play two matches behind closed doors , both sentences suspended until the end of next season . Leeds manager Howard Wilkinson hopes to make Eric Cantona 's transfer from French club Nimes permanent next week . The club paid £ 100,000 in February , and must pay an additional £ 800,000 to make the transfer permanent .
Idiom: plain as a pikestaff (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ It 's a scandal , that 's what it is , a scandal . You 're letting these bombers out of jail every day of the week instead of locking them up . It 's plain as a pikestaff . The bloody Hun - lovers were trying to blow this club up because it represents all that is best about England.’ Milton let pass that slur on his country .
Idiom: have a heart (used idiomatically: no)
Whether it 's a skinny sliver of a thing or a rock the size of a cherry , that sensational stone is what all women want on their finger . But the most precious gem of all does not come cheap . This ravishing heart-shaped 25 carat rock , at London-jeweller Graff , comes with a millionaire 's price tag . It 's the sort of gem Richard Burton might have bought for Liz Taylor . Or Onassis for Jackie Kennedy .
Idiom: light at the end of the tunnel (used idiomatically: yes)
Life became so stressful that when I was making The Power Game the doctor put me on Mogadon and I became hooked for a while . A viewer with the same problem wrote to me , saying her doctor refused to give her any more and she was on the point of suicide . ‘ There is a light at the end of the tunnel,’ I replied . ‘ It will take time . But you WILL get over it.’
Idiom: look the part (used idiomatically: yes)
You 're quite capable of dealing out ‘ no comment’ to any of the Press brave enough to tackle you , and anyone else , I should have thought!’ ‘ Why could n't you have cast Dara in this role of your girlfriend ? She looks the part and no doubt would enjoy every minute of it.’ ‘ That 's why.’ ‘ That 's perverse!’ she protested .
Idiom: pass the time of day (used idiomatically: yes)
She 's his cousin . 'Cos I says to her one day , well why do n't you ask yer , your relation , if he 'll er , if he 'll give yer a job . Give us a job , she said , he wo n't even pass the time of day with us . I said , well , I , there must be summat there , out there , she said no , he said , she said it goes back a long time . But er , she says , never even speaks to us .
Idiom: make the cut (used idiomatically: yes)
That was at Newcastle , where he faded to be fourth to Mazmoor but it turned out that he had hit a hurdle or two and cut his legs badly . Fortunately he is now fully recovered and will take all the beating as he is better than form figures indicate . If Di Haine 's Smooth Escort makes the cut for the Grand National at Aintree tomorrow he could be worth a sporting each - way bet as his trainer has always maintained he was made for the marathon . Certainly he showed plenty of stamina and jumped well to win the National Hunt Handicap Chase at Cheltenham a couple of seasons back . Some of that sparkle was shown in his win early this year and as he comes to the race fresh .
Idiom: on edge (used idiomatically: yes)
You can see a metric ruler at the edge of this page . It is divided into millimetres . On the edge of the next page you will see the same ruler divided into centimetres . As you can see , each centimetre ( cm ) is made up of 10 millimetres ( mm ) . Instead of giving a measurement such as 2 cm 7 mm we call it 2.7 cm .
Idiom: come to a head (used idiomatically: no)
The best present-day example of the cunning gestures are those of Rudolf 's Four Friends , the conspirators in Mayerling . 5 Forwards A dancer coming forwards can convey a variety of meaning : giving a greeting ; asking a question , even if it is only an inquisitive movement of the head ; saying Yes , or agreeing with a nod or with a particular wave of the hand ; giving something with arms circling outwards , e.g. Natalia and the Tutor when they open their arms to each other ; or merely proffering a hand at the beginning of a dance , e.g. Paris offering his hand to Juliet . 6 Backwards There is a backwards movement in saying No , which can be a slight withdrawal of head and shoulders ; a more emphatic shake of the head perhaps accompanied by the hand pushing away an undesirable request or person , e.g. Juliet 's rejection of Paris in the Bedroom scene .
Idiom: tongue in cheek (used idiomatically: yes)
' Ah , but there are other ways of winning than fighting . ' ' You 've been talking to my wife . I swear there 's a universal female conspiracy against men ! ' he complained , tongue - in - cheek , and led her away . By eight o'clock that evening Paige was sitting at the dressing - table in her luxurious hotel room busily putting the finishing touches to her make - up . She looked pale to her own eyes , and she knew that was from tension .
Idiom: keep your fingers crossed (used idiomatically: yes)
Pete Miles plays at number eight … he could be a key man tomorrow … Last Friday the same fifteen ran in thirty one points against Transvaal … in all there are seven changes to the side that lost to West hartlepool in the last league game … tomorrow they ca n't afford to break … it 's got to be win or bust . So keep your fingers crossed … action round up now … and we 've two new champions to toast Voice over Steve Thompson from Gloucester is the new world karate champion … in the finals in Italy he won his class … he won the champion of champions fight and then went on to help Britain win the team title …
Idiom: jump on the bandwagon (used idiomatically: yes)
They have attractive names and are very prettily packed with labels like old fashioned botanical drawings , thus making the range distinctive on the shop shelf . The pleasant natural scents make them agreeable to use and they are very reasonable in price . The idea of natural ingredients is , of course , not a new one and the client is , in effect , jumping on a profitable bandwagon already in the market place . Yet , after the first year or two he is disappointed that sales of his products are not better . Now , your agency creative team has worked on a number of concepts and put up campaigns for all of them : the beneficial effect on the skin of natural ingredients ; the sheer charm of the packs on the dressing table ; the ease and delight of using such products .
Idiom: stick to your guns (used idiomatically: yes)
but if do n't know , if you do n't know do n't make it up . That 's what I 'm trying to say . You got it right and you stuck to your guns and cos I 'm put a little doubt in your mind you changed . If you do n't know do n't guess , if you 're certain , say it . Yeah ?
Idiom: see stars (used idiomatically: yes)
Town were on top in the second half and could have got something . They won a penalty just after half - time when Martin Ling was pulled down , but Craig Maskell threw the kick away and with it went Swindon 's chances . In the third division , Hereford United were seeing stars at Gillingham after letting in 2 early goals . Nick Forster got them both . There was no stopping the first , but the second ; well it was more to do with bad defence , than good attack .
Idiom: join the club (used idiomatically: yes)
The final yesterday was the last under the auspices of the Men 's Tennis Council , which had controlled the Grand Prix circuit since 1970 . Next year the Association of Tennis Professionals takes command . Imran joins the 350 club . IMRAN KHAN became the fifth player in Test history to take 350 wickets — joining Richard Hadlee , Ian Botham , Dennis Lillee and Kapil Dev — when he held on to a fine one - handed return catch to dismiss Ravi Shastri yesterday as India lost their last seven wickets for 143 on the second day of the fourth and final Test in Sialkot . In a day that saw 100 minutes of playing time lost , first to crowd trouble and then to the weather , Wasim Akram finished with five for 101 after the tourists had gone from 181 for three overnight to 324 all out .
Idiom: hope against hope (used idiomatically: yes)
In this story , however , there 's no such shame because Ruth has not been rejected . The oldest , the first born if you like , the , the nearer one may have reje , may not have accepted the right to redeem her , but Ruth is not , has not been rejected because there is another kinsman waiting . And you could almost imagine Boaz hoping against hope that the other kinsman would turn down the offer and so he delighted when that happened . The shoe is removed however , as a testimony to the elders and witnesses that the near kinsman has refused his right to possess all that was Elimelech 's . And Boaz is now free to fulfil all the conditions and to take Ruth as his wife .
Idiom: get a life (used idiomatically: yes)
In your letter dated Tue , 11 Jan 1994 14:08:46 GMT , you wrote : Wot a load of bollocks , from now on Scumchester United have the divine right to win any match they see fit to play , they have the choice of the opposition , date , location and whether the tv will cover the game . All other teams are instantly relagated to shiteball teams and have no say in what they do or if they are honoured by an invitation from the team of the universe to play them then the scum also have the right to select the opposition team and to decide on the appropriate scoreline before the match begins . So if you cry babies would stop moaning and get a life and support the greatest , most wonderfully gifted team in the world instead of worrying about petty , shitty sides like Leeds then you 'd be able to watch them on tv all the time . Barney Bollocks From :
Idiom: up in the air (used idiomatically: yes)
If a car If a car is is hovering you step out in front and if he 's glares at you you step back you step back And if he smiles at you but if he smiles you put th thumb up in the air then you can go . and you nod to him like I just did , like I just did .
Idiom: out of the picture (used idiomatically: yes)
As we walked towards the circle of Spiritualists , he turned to me and said , in a high , pleasant voice , ‘ I know you will come back to us , Simo ! The Lord Jesus will make a way for you!’ ‘ Listen , Quigley,’ I said , speaking in a clear voice , ‘ Jesus Christ is out of the picture . When beings from another planet get started on you they will laugh at your beliefs . You 'll be like some savage to them , clutching a wooden idol.’
Idiom: up in the air (used idiomatically: yes)
You have achieved the maximum effect with this exercise . Lying on your side , place your right hand at the top of your right thigh . Keep your foot flexed and start slowly circling your right leg , at the same time bringing it up in the air . Carry it to the side and around . Keep the circle flowing — you might only achieve 4 times to begin with .
Idiom: out of the loop (used idiomatically: yes)
However , on Oct. 30 , the Bush camp was shaken by fresh revelations concerning the Iran - contra affair . Grand jury documents relating to the forthcoming trial of former Defence Secretary Caspar Weinberger showed that , at a Reagan Cabinet meeting in January 1986 , Bush had voted in favour of secretly selling missiles to Iran in exchange for the release of US hostages held by pro - Iranian groups in Lebanon . The new evidence contradicted Bush 's claims that he was " out of the loop " of those who approved the Iran - contra operation and that , when he did discover the arms deal , he was unaware of its quid pro quo element in regard to the hostages . Clinton used the revelation to accuse Bush of having lied to the public and , thereby , of having diminished the credibility of the presidency . Bush had emphasized heavily throughout the campaign the issues of trust and character , and this latest revelation appeared to be particularly damaging to him ; opinion poll evidence suggested that , at the end of October , Clinton was once again opening up a lead .
Idiom: when the chips are down (used idiomatically: yes)
Sir Michael Bishop , chief at Channel 4 , said he thought that Mr Major gave a very timely reminder that directors , more than anyone else , have to set an example on pay restraint . ‘ Directors should take the rough with the smooth,’ he said . ‘ They should be rewarded when things are going well but should take a financial hit when the chips are down.’ Pit jobs can be saved IT is not too late to save thousands of miners ' jobs , says John Baker , boss of British Coal 's biggest customer National Power .
Idiom: in the long run (used idiomatically: yes)
Eventually he pushes his mother to the point of exasperation where she lashes out at him . Busy parents can justly retort that they have so little time to check on their children , that they can not always follow through their threats to discipline them . In the long run , however , the time wasted in nagging exceeds the initial investment in time and effort involved in training children that parents mean what they say . The major difficulty , of course , is that many parents feel so remorseful after punishing their child , or after losing their temper , that they are sorely tempted to ' make up ' to the child , with anything from contrite fussing to extra treats . Children soon take advantage of this inconsistency and the ensuing reward not only negates any potential influence of the punishment ( misbehaviour is likely to increase rather than decrease ) but debases the currency of the parent 's words and deeds .