Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: run riot (used idiomatically: yes)
and all Julia wanted was more and more and more money , there was a conflict on how many gran children she could have and sometimes she had five in there , one of them which was then very small which she had to spend time feeding and that and that was Kerry Mm well those others , three of those , somebody else 's children plus her own ran total riot out in the garden , but I mean there 's not enough people to come round and do spot checks even if they 're allowed , I do n't know whether they 're allowed to , but they 've I do n't know if they can No I do n't , but nevertheless nobody knew only people like us and the neighbours , how that kid was every day when her mother to the T S B and her mother according to Julia had her because it was the done thing her mother , her own mother would n't have her , Kerry to look after her and I know that for a fact because one time when Ross was ill , Julia said I ca n't have her and she said oh god I suppose I 've got to go and beg my mother to have her now she did , but the woman said to Julia , I mean she would n't give up her job , they had a four bedroomed house , two bloody great cars , eleven cats
Idiom: on the back of (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ What 's for tea , Mother?’ he asked . Ma told him , pilchards on toast . He shook his head , grunted , placed his oil - grained hands on the back of the carver , lowered his head , then , having given us all one look from under his tufted brows , closed his eyes . Apart from the Monster , we all did the same — even Auntie . I closed my eyes tight for once and placed my palms together .
Idiom: close to home (used idiomatically: yes)
There followed three years in a furniture factory and 10 years working in the architectural practice of Sheppard Robson , where he was involved in educational buildings , including the chapel of Churchill College , Cambridge . Serjeant was then stricken with severe arthritis and was for a period chair - bound . Unable to practise , he turned to teaching at Cheltenham School of Architecture close to the home he had designed and substantially built at Malvern , despite his affliction , and became deputy principal . He also initiated the successful architectural competition for the regeneration of a run - down area of Worcester . In 1979 Serjeant 's former employer Richard Sheppard recommended him for the post of Surveyor to the Royal Academy .
Idiom: rank and file (used idiomatically: yes)
The Communist Party Central Committee complained in February 1932 : The Minority Movement is a small self - absorbed organization of leaders who have nothing to do with the real struggle of the workers and who instead of going to the workers , working among them and fighting against the reformist leaders in the Trade Unions , simply approach the workers with the invitation to take part in a highly elaborate organisational structure . The Battersea Congress of the Party , to which this complaint was later addressed , gave official backing to a scheme which had been projected for some time , a Revolutionary Trade Union Opposition to unite the various unofficial movements which had been growing up in many important unions . While this did not expressly exclude the Minority Movement , the growth of Communist - led " rank and file movements " did in effect bring an end to the MM and to all formal Party subsidiaries within the unions . Communist fractions , of course , remained in being but they did not breach the basic principle of British trade unionism that there should be no separate organizations based on ideology or religion and standing in opposition to the TUC . At the Seventh Congress of the Comintern in 1935 the trade union policy pursued since 1928 was tacitly admitted to have been a blunder .
Idiom: way to go (used idiomatically: no)
I was gon na bring that up . Does anyone want to be a delegate . It 's a long way to go . Yes . County is n't it ? .
Idiom: under the sun (used idiomatically: no)
What does man gain from all his labor in which he labors under the sun ?
Idiom: twist someone's arm (used idiomatically: no)
Has n't he ? No ! Twisting my arm , twisting my leg ! Telling me I 'm a stupid bitch and all this lot ! Fucking turds and all !
Idiom: by and large (used idiomatically: yes)
Today , it is 8.4 % of GDP , and it is not shrinking . The Wall ~ Street Journal ’s Justin ~ Lahart reports that the 2010 share was higher than the previous peak share in 2006 . Lahart goes on to say that growth in the finance - and - insurance share of the economy has “ not , by ~ and ~ large , been a bad thing .... Deploying capital to the places where it can be best used helps the economy grow ... ” But if the US were getting good value from the extra 5.6 % of GDP that it is now spending on finance and insurance – the extra $ 750~billion diverted annually from paying people who make directly useful goods and provide directly useful services – it would be obvious in the statistics . At a typical 5 % annual real interest rate for risky cash flows , diverting that large a share of resources away from goods and services directly useful this year is a good bargain only if it boosts overall annual economic growth by 0.3 % – or 6 % per 25-year generation .
Idiom: out of sorts (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ But Janet — the bank manager , when our finances are not what they might be?’ ‘ You 're not what you might be yourself , Dr Cameron . You 're a little out of sorts ? Are you unhappy with the way you 're portrayed by Mr Ian Bannen?’ ‘ Not at all , Janet , not at all .
Idiom: hack it (used idiomatically: yes)
He 'd said too much — and I had n't even begun to cotton on . ‘ What 's happening next week , then , Bill ? Come on , I 'm a big boy now , I can hack it.’ Bill made a determined effort to push me aside and I had to let him . Over his shoulder I 'd seen a pair of beat coppers walking by .
Idiom: grind to a halt (used idiomatically: yes)
I would dispute that . Certainly some of the productions that we are responsible for , as I have said , are controversial , and some of the public might not really want them and might dispute their validity , but I think what it is an indication of is the fact that people are short of money and have to make quite sure that they are getting the best value for what they are paying for and they ca n't afford to go to the theatre as regularly as they might have done in the past . But given that you 're really in the market place situation , if you have goods which nobody wants to sell then eventually you 're going to have to grind to a halt . Well that is an argument that applies to almost anything that you might be trying to sell , whether it 's a commercial product or whether it is an artistic product , and in any case , as I have said before , we also support erm a great many organizations and projects which should , and will , appeal to the general public . Bob Henry , thank you very much .
Idiom: dead wood (used idiomatically: yes)
He himself always adhered to the layering method , as set out in his first publication , the smaller Dictionary of 1724 : ‘ In the Spring prick a great many Holes with an Awl about a Joint that will be in the earth and cover it would a good Mound to peg it down.’ When rooted by the autumn and replanted this would , in due course , become a fine bush and one superior to those budded or grafted because its suckers would be of the same kind . With regard to pruning , Miller advised removal of dead wood in the autumn , shortening of over - luxuriant branches and exposure of all parts of the plant to maximum light and air . In earlier editions of the Dictionary the Sweet Briar warranted comment on its scent and ‘ though a wild rose in some parts of England , yet is preserved in most curious gardens for the extreme sweetness of its leaves , which perfumes the circumambient Air in the Spring of the Year , especially after a shower of Rain.’ Occasionally we may catch a glimpse of Miller 's interest in flower arrangement and he continued , ‘ The flowers being single are not valued , but the branches of the Shrubs are cut to intermix with Flowers to place in Basons to adorn Halls , Parlours , etc . in the Spring of the Year , the scent of this plant being agreeable to most persons.’
Idiom: no man's land (used idiomatically: no)
Letter to the Editor : Lost line SIR — I wonder if your readers noticed the careful editing of the accompanying soundtrack to the beautifully produced Labour election broadcast on Monday evening . The Tears for Fears record , All Together Now , missed from its chorus , the words ' In No Man 's Land ' — where we will presumably end up with Kinnock . PHILIP GWINNELL Reading , Berks Letter to the Editor : Time to admit error in backing Tito
Idiom: turn someone's head (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ Mr Morpurgo?’ At last , there was a reaction . Holding down the latest addition to the incinerator with the prongs of his rake , Morpurgo slowly turned his head to look at Harry over his left shoulder . Harry nearly jumped back in surprise and flushed instantly in embarrassment at the distaste his flinching movement had signalled . Where Morpurgo 's left eye should have been was only a sickening fold of flesh .
Idiom: behind someone's back (used idiomatically: no)
She looked different with her hair cut and it made them feel shy . Or perhaps they felt shy anyway , seeing her here where she did n't belong . They put their hands behind their backs and said , ‘ Oh , we 've all got chilblains at school.’ They had lunch in the parlour , a dreary room with slippery , brown leather chairs , a harmonium against one wall , and a case of dead , stuffed birds hanging on another . Mr Evans closed the shop for an extra half hour and brought out a bottle of sherry .
Idiom: get on someone's nerves (used idiomatically: yes)
Just one more thing . Why , oh why , when I say I have a C64 do people laugh ? It really gets on my nerves , especially when the person who laughed owns a CPC ! They do n't seem to understand that the 64 is the best - selling 8-bit , so it ca n't be that bad . Also , the people who laugh usually own a console which is in a totally different class to the C64 .
Idiom: basket case (used idiomatically: yes)
I descended the stairs half - naked to one of the yelling bedrooms and announced that I would have to leave . Questions of loyalty had to be weighed against the likelihood of my neurological meltdown . I asked Stephen — one of the two hapless fathers and himself reduced to a mulberry - eyed basket case — if he still had enough marbles to drive me to the station at Orvieto . He was still sufficiently sane to remind me that Orvieto was perched on the top of a craggy escarpment . A station there would have constituted one of the wonders of the world .
Idiom: in business (used idiomatically: yes)
Global player , sluice - gate for news , service provider : the Deutsche ~ Presse - Agentur ( dpa ) , one of the Big Four in the global news business
Idiom: down the drain (used idiomatically: no)
Beverley was a tougher nut to crack . He had become a major in the military at twenty four and achieved much in the world in prosperity and position , but it had been an uphill climb . Now here was this gifted sister , who had so many opportunities that he had been denied , apparently threatening to throw them all down the drain , and bury herself in some backwater in Africa . Eventually , as in most family crises , the initial shock wore off , and everyone simmered down . All their lives the Burrows children had been trained to " Give God the glory " .
Idiom: out of pocket (used idiomatically: yes)
' What happened . Anything that can help . ' He pulled a small tape - recorder out of his pocket and put it on his lap , switching it on as he did so . ' You were all fishing . By the river .
Idiom: come to mind (used idiomatically: no)
Their experience , as Augustine expressed it , took them : Up to the sky itself from which the sun and moon and stars shine upon this earth . And higher still we ascended , by thinking inwardly and speaking and marvelling at your works , and we came to our minds and transcended them to reach that region of unfailing abundance where you feed Israel forever on the food of truth . Five days later , Monica died , but Augustine 's memory was for ever engraved by the transforming reality of their communion together in ' delighting in God ' . As I was typing these words , a young friend phoned to tell me about the wonderful summer holiday he had just had with his father .
Idiom: get off the ground (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ An my experience at Imperial had shown me the growing need in this country to find free - standing sites on the outskirts of towns , away from parking problems and inner city violence . The better option seemed to be in Europe.’ Paris was first and despite a struggle to get off the ground , the company now has three operations bringing in some £ 200,000 a week . Others followed in Dublin , Belfast , Barcelona , Madrid , Bonn , Brussels , Cologne and Tel Aviv . ‘ We are the number one chain of ‘ American’ restaurants in Europe .
Idiom: to all intents and purposes (used idiomatically: yes)
The religious parties in Israel are an example of this type of group ( the type of electoral system is crucial to this development — see chapter 26 ) . The position is further complicated by the fact that pressure groups can be closely or even officially associated with parties . The obvious example in the British context is the Labour Party which was , to all intents and purposes , originally the creation of the trade unions . Trade unions and other groups can be officially affiliated to the Labour Party . But unofficial links can be just as significant as more overt official association , as in the close association of business and financial interests with the Conservative Party .
Idiom: go hand in hand (used idiomatically: yes)
His latest coup was in the Leeds regional final of the 22nd Times Crossword Championship . Mr Pilkington , budget officer for Cleveland , has been hooked on crosswords since his mid - teens at school when he started with the Guardian . He comes from the South and has worked in Middlesbrough for five years , his job proving that numeracy and literacy can go hand - in - hand . These days , he does The Times and The Listener , which is published in The Sunday Times . He is also a member of the Crossword Club , which publishes two puzzles each month which are more of a challenge than the others , he says .
Idiom: over the counter (used idiomatically: yes)
It may even have a permanent effect due to the dynamic process generating economies of scale . Intervention of this kind has occurred in most countries . The danger is that in the ensuing artificial competition it may not be possible to establish some markets at all , and traders would then be forced to use less efficient over - the - counter markets , which are conceivably harder to regulate and thus more prone to fraud . However , not all interactions between exchanges are rivalrous . Where externalities and jointness are perceived , exchanges have begun to cooperate .
Idiom: thick and fast (used idiomatically: yes)
He designed our famous panda logo and was our first Chairman . He worked tirelessly for WWF throughout his life and was Trustee Emeritus of WWF - UK when he died . Honours came thick and fast as the world recognised his achievements . In 1973 he became the first person to be Knighted for his contribution to conservation . Tributes to Sir Peter : page 10 .
Idiom: chuck it down (used idiomatically: yes)
Yes , on a bit .. on a bit of rope Then haul it back up . Haul it back up , then chuck it down on the deck and scrub your decks after . Scrub the decks clean .
Idiom: off the wall (used idiomatically: yes)
Bratby had obtained permission to paint in the roof area of the Victoria and Albert Museum and there Minton visited him for tutorials . Bratby was intrigued by Minton and soon after he got to know him painted a huge picture on paper , entitled ‘ Homage to John Minton’ . Some took it as a satire on Minton 's sex life and the tutor Colin Hayes was so angered by it he ordered it to be torn off the wall . Hayes may have been protecting Minton from hurt , but Bratby saw in his action the kind of censorship that accompanied then anything to do with homosexuality . Bratby 's fascination with Minton also determined the portrait he created of him after Minton 's death as Rocky Minetown in the novel , Brake - Pedal - Down ( 1962 ) .
Idiom: fair and square (used idiomatically: yes)
And so it is my conclusion that you are at present a man without funds , clearly ignorant of the axiom that ‘ there is no such thing as a free lunch’.’ I rose to take my leave . ‘ You got me fair and square,’ I told him . ‘ Sit down!’ ordered the barman . ‘ I have n't done yet.’
Idiom: sticky fingers (used idiomatically: no)
When Gibson and I left the office , Guy turned on me and bluntly told me the fate that would overtake me were I to steal one of his crews . Now " Cocky " did not tell me what his list was intended for , I had assumed that Gibson was referring to his own unit , No 106 Squadron . He did , however , and … " and keep your sticky fingers off Searby " . Now up to that moment I had never heard of John Searby , one of Gibson 's flight commanders , and he did not appear on"Cocky 's ' list . That same day he ( Searby ) was posted to command No 83 Squadron , and won renown at Peenemunde as the Master Bomber .
Idiom: by heart (used idiomatically: yes)
sticks . That 's right . And then we got a table tester to help them refresh their memories , it 's like a disc and then you got the slots and then it tells you your eight times and that 's good as well but I mean he 's got them off by heart which is brilliant ! Well it it saves so much time as well you see because and you get on so much quicker with everything ! Well absolutely !
Idiom: at sixes and sevens (used idiomatically: yes)
Mm . She came round on Tuesday for my hamper money and she said , everything was cos , I said I 'd pay her monthly and she turned up and I said , I thought I was paying you monthly ? And she said , that 's right you did say , she said I 'm all at sixes and sevens she said , and everything 's upside down ! She said , she said I do n't know whether I 'm coming or going ! Oh !
Idiom: tread the boards (used idiomatically: yes)
OVERTURE AND BEGINNERS … FRANKIE HOWERD I trod the boards , as it were , when I was thirteen . I was a Sunday School teacher — do n't you see my halo glowing?— and I was in the church Dramatic Society . I used to stutter a lot in those days , I was a very frightened boy .
Idiom: all along (used idiomatically: no)
When the Jesuit Benedict Göes passed by Khotan in 1603 he reported that the superior kind of jade was taken from rivers ‘ almost in the same way in which divers fish for gems’ . According to a Chinese source originally published in 1637 , women were made to strip and wade in streams to search for jade pebbles . Around 1900 Sir Aurel Stein observed that ‘ the ancient industry of ‘ fishing’ for jade in the river bed after the summer floods still continues all along the valley ' . One of the drawbacks of alluvial sources is that under the pressure of a growing demand they tend to be depleted to a point at which more intensive methods are called for . In Stein 's day the jade searchers of Chinese Turkestan had already taken to a kind of superficial mining , even if this amounted to no more than burrowing through overlying deposits to search the cobble bed down to depths of up to some twenty feet .
Idiom: buy the farm (used idiomatically: yes)
The day will come when your knowledge of the many - sided principles will come together in an almost intuitive wisdom of the whole , and your skills , transferred from head through heart to hands , will enable you to perform all your physical tasks quickly and well . Only when you have achieved this mastery of theory and practice , will drudgery disappear and the full joy of smallholding be realized . It is possible to jump in at the deep end , buy a farm , and teach yourself , learning by your mistakes . Such close contact with the facts of life certainly drives the lessons home , but a blunder can be costly , and it is not always easy for a beginner to put two and two together and deduce the root cause of his error . A succession of avoidable mishaps can so sap morale and resources , that it becomes impossible to see the wood for the trees , and your energy is exhausted reacting to emergencies .
Idiom: by and large (used idiomatically: yes)
A spokesman for Bradford & Bingley said its 2,000 stock would be sold ‘ at the best possible price to give the evicted owners the best chance of clearing their debts ’ . The total UK repossession figure is now around the 70,000 mark . A spokesman for Stickley & Kent , one of the UK 's biggest repossession auctioneers said : ‘ We sold a couple of flats last month for Pounds 5,000 , but by and large anyone buying a repossessed home does not actually get a bargain . ‘ The bidding at our auctions can be rather fierce . ’ Ian Darby , of mortgage brokers John Charcol , said : ‘ Things are picking up .
Idiom: all over the place (used idiomatically: yes)
That 's the only chance you get in that one whole year , to impress these people . So when they 're sitting in their corporate offices , making decisions about , Well where will we send the work . Guys were hanging about , standing all over the place , not their backside . And this is the m the message you have to get across to the people . And we are we are getting there .
Idiom: reach for the stars (used idiomatically: yes)
Mr Slater appears to enjoy the attentions of his doting raven - haired companion , who sees their love as a fixture in a minefield of misfortune ( including a brutal attempted rape ) . Adam may be primeval , but he is also kind and gentle ; the ideal match in the context of the film 's unseasonal Christmas setting . Jungle Boy and City Girl reach for the stars but it ca n't last , can it ? A love story with more than its regulation quota of tragedy , this is the sort of tear - jerking fantasy which will be the talk of the fourth form . And not least because after an era of relative restraint in 15-cert films , we appear to be returning to the near glorification of casual sexual encounters .
Idiom: under lock and key (used idiomatically: yes)
A separate book is kept to record the date and time of arrival and receipt number . A slip to notify the guest that registered mail is awaiting collection is placed in the letter rack . The letters or packages are kept under lock and key or in the safe and when guests collect them they must sign the record book to indicate that they have taken delivery . Staff mail The head porter or housekeeper usually distributes any mail that arrives for residential staff .
Idiom: foot the bill (used idiomatically: yes)
This massive loss of forest is by no means due entirely to the timber industry , there being other contributory factors such as conversion of land for urbanisation , agriculture , and increase in domestic animals associated with human populations . Nevertheless there is every reason to believe that some control applied at various stages of industrial exploitation could benefit the trade on a global scale . Fine , in principal , but not all the members of the vast timber trade are convinced , and what is more , the question of who foots the bill , is a genuine one . Some 150 delegates from many countries received reports , views , and arguments from a wide assortment of representatives from concerned bodies . Confronting the participants on both sides of the lectern , were the somewhat fundamental problems of , for example , agreeing on the definition of ‘ sustainable’ when applied to forest stewardship .