Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: jump ship (used idiomatically: yes)
They belong to me — you 're under contract , do n't forget.’ Hugo snorted derisively . Although the very thought of court action had brought him out in a cold sweat , the same grittiness which had enabled his father to jump ship and seek a new life now came to his rescue . ‘ Waste your money on lawyers if that 's the way you want it,’ he retorted . ‘ You 'll make a fool of yourself though .
Idiom: in the dock (used idiomatically: no)
Must she always come between us?’ He gave no reply , but went to the window and drew back the curtains , letting the morning light spill into the room ; a room which , without being pretentious , bespoke his new standing in life , a large , well - furnished room , with a grand bed and expensive decor , and velvet curtains with fancy frills . When he turned to look at her with some compassion , she walked the few steps that kept them apart and , staring at him with desperate eyes , insisted , ‘ That woman in the docks … it was her , was n't it ? She 's the one you ca n't forget.’ He shaved his face clean and combed his thick unruly hair , then continued to dress , hurriedly now , for she was touching on memories that were precious to him .
Idiom: have a go (used idiomatically: yes)
While Kenny is the quiet man before and during a match , Graeme is more volatile and likely to blow his top if his demands are n't met . He will not back away from confronting individuals when he wants to get his message across . He wo n't have a go if you have a bad game , but he expects everyone to give their all . If he feels someone is not applying themselves 100 per cent , he wo n't spare reputations or ego — whoever you are . Like Dalglish , Souness commanded immediate respect from all the staff because of his great record in the game .
Idiom: few and far between (used idiomatically: yes)
DIRECT TO YOUR DESKTOP Even IBM is considering mail order , and reliable suppliers are offering rapid delivery of PCs at rock bottom prices Nic Morris Five years ago companies that bought their personal computers sight unseen through the mail were few and far between . During the 1980s the business PC , like many other IT products , was best bought from a reputable dealer . But PCs are increasingly sold through ‘ direct’ channels rather than distributors , with reliable suppliers offering rapid delivery at rock bottom prices .
Idiom: grasp the nettle (used idiomatically: yes)
Much of what has been said by Conservative Members today seems to be a rearguard attempt to protect the Home Secretary and his sinking reputation . I will not call the Home Secretary any names , but I repeat the point made by many of my right hon . and hon . Friends . When the right hon . Gentleman came to that office , he had the opportunity to grasp the nettle of prison reform . Indeed , he had a unique and historic opportunity because the Strangeways riot had already occurred , and the Woolf - Tumim inquiry was in progress . If he had had any foresight , when the Woolf - Tumim report was published , the right hon . Gentleman would have said to himself,’ Here is a unique and historic opportunity for me to make my reputation as one of the great Home Secretaries of the 20th century.’
Idiom: on the level (used idiomatically: no)
Santa Lucia , the virgin saint who had her eyes put out , is traditionally invoked against blindness . ' A woman whose name means light ' , says Ronke , ' but who can not see ' . On one level the analogy is with the commercial world of fashion and beauty — Ronke currently works with a prestigious fashion house and is continually amazed by the vast amounts of money and energy invested in creating the facade of beauty ; ' the handbags are about the brevity and the illusion of this — one minute you 're in the spotlight the next you 're in the dark , finished and forgotten . The spotlight both illuminates and blinds you ' . Simultaneously the work explores the very private , often hidden world of women 's personal everyday histories ; ' Each handbag has a particular personality of its own — on opening one a strong perfume filled the air , another was entirely practical , filled with hairpins and half a broken comb , a third contained a funeral card ' .
Idiom: on the back of (used idiomatically: yes)
Was it pure will power ? Was it , perhaps , Blu - tack ? One woman was prepared to swear she had seen Sellotape on the back of Pike 's neck . And now it was moving . The more his head jolted backwards and forwards , the further down his scalp it crept .
Idiom: break new ground (used idiomatically: yes)
All aboard FROM OUR ROME CORRESPONDENT WITH the appointment of Carlo Azeglio Ciampi , the governor of the Bank of Italy , to form a new government on April 26th , Italy broke new ground . Mr Ciampi , who is 72 , is the first non - parliamentarian to be asked to form a government . He announced that he would pick his ministers himself , rather than submit to the dictate of party leaders used to bartering cabinet posts for parliamentary support .
Idiom: leave well alone (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ Certainly not your undying love and affection,’ Ruth stated frostily . ‘ Do n't forget , I do n't choose to be here now . If you had left well alone and let me carry on my business I would n't be here . I 'm denying my supposed affair now because I 'm fed up with your accusations . They 're pointless anyway .
Idiom: in no uncertain terms (used idiomatically: yes)
They had to spend hours every day practicing the piano or violin . They were expected to be the top student in every subject except gym and drama . Chinese mothers , according to Chua , believe that children , once they get past the toddler stage , need to be told , in no uncertain terms , when they have not met the high standards their parents expect of them . ( Chua says that she knows Korean , Indian , Jamaican , Irish , and Ghanaian mothers who are “ Chinese ” in their approach , as well as some ethnic - Chinese mothers who are not . ) Their egos should be strong enough to take it .
Idiom: crystal clear (used idiomatically: yes)
People from all over the world have visited Buxton to take the waters , including such celebrities as Noel Coward and Douglas Fairbanks , Jnr . The Buxton Springs are surrounded by 550 square miles of spectacular natural landscape . Water takes thousands of years to filter through the ancient limestone of the Peak District , acquiring a natural balance of minerals , and emerges crystal clear and totally pure . Subtle shades in an informal grouping look well against warm terracotta Rusland Hall in the Lake District hosts our luxurious prize weekend
Idiom: back to square one (used idiomatically: yes)
Mr Recorder Shaun Spencer QC placed Ninham on probation for two years on condition he takes medication to control his libido . ‘ I think the public will be better protected if for the next two years and possibly afterwards you are on a regime of medication which will ensure you do n't do anything like this again,’ he said . ‘ If you go to prison you will simply be back to square one on your release a few months later.’ Teesside Crown Court was told Ninham had offered to give the boys money for fireworks and encouraged them to go for a walk with him and his dog . But Keith Miller , prosecuting , said Ninham took the boys into a Northern Echo depot where he pushed his hand down the backs of their trousers .
Idiom: lie low (used idiomatically: yes)
When you are catching pond animals , take some of the pondweed and the stems of plants growing half - submerged at the water 's edge too . Put these in a shallow dish and look for small animals on the stems and on the underside of leaves . If you live in a low - lying area where there are ponds and canals , there may be plenty of mosquitoes and gnats around in summer . These will visit your aquarium and lay their eggs there if you leave the aquarium uncovered . You can then watch them go through their larval and pupal stages before finally hatching out as adults .
Idiom: hold water (used idiomatically: yes)
Nowadays , bacon is cured by injecting fresh pork with brine , or soaking it in bring which contains permitted nitrite and nitrate preservatives . Polyphosphates ( E450 ) may also be added . These enable the meat to ' hold ' water , increasing the weight , which means in effect that you get less meat for your money . The bacon is then put through the smoking process or left as it is . Some traditional bacons use the dry cure method of rubbing salt into the pork 's surface without adding water .
Idiom: marching orders (used idiomatically: yes)
SOCCER player Paul Pullen got away with a foul … his identical twin was sent off instead . Brother Mick , player - manager of amateur side Bognor , was shown the red card after lookalike Paul got in a tangle with Diadora League opponents Dulwich Hamlet . ‘ The ref called me over and gave me my marching orders,’ said Mick . ‘ I told him it was n't me.’ He added : ‘ Paul saw the funny side .
Idiom: keep body and soul together (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ We are genuinely worried that we are going to get 200,000 kids outside our front door , she 's becoming so popular,’ said Waterman dressed as ever in sharp shirt , and jeans . Pointing at the three musclemen positioned outside his HQ 's entrance , he added : ‘ We 'd be stupid not to have these guys around at the moment.’ Cocooned inside fortress PWL , Kylie chose her first interviews in Britain to explain the homespun philosophy that was to keep body and soul together during this trying two months in Britain . Dressed casually in button - down - collared shirt , faded denims and suede cowboy boots , she sat behind the mixing console of one of PWL 's studios and said : ‘ My parents are fantastic , they are the stabilising influence in my life . ‘ It is very hard for me to comprehend what is happening to me at home in Australia let alone here in Britain and around the world .
Idiom: out and about (used idiomatically: yes)
PISCES : Feb 20 to Mar 20 As a romantic you will be glad to hear that today is a great time for making moves in this area . Try to get out and about whenever possible , making new friends and contacts . This evening is a time for partying and meeting new people away from your home base . Starline number 776
Idiom: on ice (used idiomatically: no)
The hard part of that is something going in a straight line , and the same speed has no force , no resultant forces acting on it . Erm if you think of something , say a puck on ice . Give it a flick it 'll go for a long way because there 's no , there 's very little friction on the ice and erm the second one is the , the awkward one . Force is mass times acceleration . The third one is the , this book is pushing down on the table and the table is pushing up on the book .
Idiom: with a view to (used idiomatically: yes)
Transport Austria seeks to impose " ecological carnet " on EC traffic Austria is negotiating with the EC with a view to setting up a system for monitoring and limiting the pollution caused by heavy lorries in transit across Austria . The system would impose an upper annual limit on total emissions from EC lorries . According to Austrian estimates , nearly 80 per cent of transit goods traffic is due to EC vehicles .
Idiom: time will tell (used idiomatically: yes)
And so on . The club is situated in a wine bar in Kidderminster : a town not famed , admittedly , for its sizzling erotica . But time will tell . SATURDAY : There is absolutely no entry for single men allowed , so I enlist the services of a colleague , Sarah . She 's wearing a slinky black mini - skirt and slinky black top , but it is not , apparently , erotic enough .
Idiom: get to the bottom of (used idiomatically: yes)
The sooner you 'll bloody well die.’ Sean always had his wits about him and had tried to placate him by saying there was nothing they were doing at Rafferty 's Bar that would offend a brother , or would concern a policeman . For some reason , Denis took offence at this , and was even more determined to ‘ get to the bottom of it all’ as he put it . His voice was raised to a shout , ‘ You do n't make the money at Rafferty 's Bar for youse to dress like lords and drive a car.’ ‘ Hey , that 's poetry , Denis,’ Michael commented .
Idiom: far and away (used idiomatically: yes)
This was a vehicle with all mod cons at the rear of the bus , which I had followed many times and checked on its progress flying over the route ; oddly enough , on my last night in Mespot I was to sleep in the Imperial Airways rest fort at Rutbah Wells , I had refuelled there many times and had wondered with awe at the vast ugly route - flying Imperial aircraft — Handley Page HP42s — and even more so at the passengers who took an even greater interest in our tiny single - engined Wapiti aircraft , and furthermore asked endless questions about our aircraft and of our life in Baghdad . So at last I was to savour the delights of staging at Rutbah Wells fort and , after travelling most of the daylight hours from Baghdad , it was bliss to get into the fort with all its comforts . Far and away superior to those we had at our base RAF Hinaidi , and certainly better than those enjoyed by officers in the Mess . Whilst the nine - month period I spent at Abu Sueir in the Canal Zone . Egypt , was intense and highly concentrated , it did have some dramatic moments , such as my taxying accident .
Idiom: do me a favour (used idiomatically: yes)
No ! Do n't want to ! Never mind Oh do me a favour ! Oh I love the way everybody gets up and wanders out , we 'll just wait here I think . Fire drill .
Idiom: ring a bell (used idiomatically: yes)
He desperately needed a drink but he knew he had to get through the next little while — ten minutes , half an hour , an hour — completely sober . After all , his life might depend on it . He rang the bell and when he was greeted by a rather surly butler he enquired , very politely , if it might be possible for him to speak with the Signora Calvino on a matter of the utmost urgency . In his pensione Sandison slept for two hours in the afternoon . When he got up he sat on his bed and wrote a letter :
Idiom: one and the same (used idiomatically: no)
Sartre therefore tried to show that the two were not opposed : arguing that the dialectic is produced by human subjectivity rather than inscribed within history itself , at the same time he also asserted the truth of the Marxist account of there being one history with a single meaning — a history , that is , in which all differences return as the same . Everything , therefore , hinged on Sartre 's ability to substantiate the inter - dependence of these two claims . ‘ There is a crisis in Marxism’ , Sartre announced at the beginning of the Critique ; this crisis , not the first and not to be the last , Sartre characterized as the result of a paradox in which historical materialism had become ‘ at one and the same time , the only truth of History and a total indetermination of the Truth’(I , 19 ) . Today we might say that it had been shown to be different from itself . This was the aporia detected by Merleau - Ponty : but rather than question Marxism 's truth , Sartre sought to remove its indetermination .
Idiom: at sea (used idiomatically: yes)
The airplane accident took place yesterday , a long way off at sea .
Idiom: pull out all the stops (used idiomatically: yes)
SMART work by Thatcher Tubes , racing against the clock , helped a special toothpaste promotion hit stores in the United States bang on time . Old Farmer 's Almanac , a new toothpaste made from baking soda , was being sold with giveaway almanacs in K - Mart stores across the country . The deadline was tight and Thatcher 's production team at Florence , Kentucky , had to pull out all the stops to meet it . It was Friday when artwork for the tube design arrived . The customer turned up the same day and wanted changes made .
Idiom: round the clock (used idiomatically: yes)
Although counting of applications continues , the issue is 1.75 times oversubscribed so far , forcing financial advisers last night to ‘ claw back’ shares promised to overseas institutions so as to meet small investor demand . This will increase the shares on offer to the public from 23.5 per cent to nearly 30 per cent of the issue . With 500 share sorters working round the clock , however , small investors could see their allocation rise to a ceiling of nearly 50 per cent if the issue is 2.25 times oversubscribed . Prospects for the highest - rated shares to open at a premium of up to 30 per cent continued to look good as the stock market held steady yesterday . Thames Water was trading on a ‘ grey market’ price of up to 132p .
Idiom: all along (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ You can pause all you like,’ he told him . ‘ I 'm not going to spoil a friendship over a pause.’ It was as if , the actor now thinks , he had n't wanted to complain all along , but his professionalism would n't allow him not to say it . The one - act play began in Pearson 's office , with Ken — a funny little gnome - like figure — up a library ladder looking at a book , while Pearson walks in holding his briefcase and bowler hat , humming Ravel 's Bolero . He had to do a double take , bumping into a filing cabinet .
Idiom: make a go of (used idiomatically: yes)
In many ways , it 's the story of Enfield 's whole comic career . Here was a bloke who left York University with a 2.2 in politics and no idea what he wanted to do next . So he made a go of permanently avoiding the issue . Even though the new series looks good ( with one of its highlights promising to be the small - screen debut of Paul Whitehead ) and he has at least three other projects on the go , Harry Enfield still has n't figured out what it is that he does exactly . Not that he really cares .
Idiom: break the ice (used idiomatically: yes)
Many we could identify from previous expeditions , but many more we could not . Top : Panch Plkhari from the first rock peak . Above : Lalu , the party 's sirdar , breaking the ice to collect water at Panch Pokhari . Next morning , after a leisurely start , we set off across bare rock beds from our base camp beneath the steep snow slopes of the Mera La. Rough scree led down into a wide , sandy amphitheatre followed by a gentle descent over grassy hillsides to a pleasant campsite in a meadow , complete with sparkling stream , beneath the majestic cliffs of the nameless Peak 41 ( 6654 m ) .
Idiom: make a splash (used idiomatically: yes)
The step can be set at three different levels and each level increases the intensity of the work - out by per cent . Fight the flab with fat - burning aerobic dance which is another alternative for those who only want to shake in the right places . You could always make a splash at your local pool . Swimming is one of the most effective exercises , working every muscle in your body for all - over fitness and body - confidence . And women are n't the only ones who want to make exercise part of their daily routine .
Idiom: keep a low profile (used idiomatically: yes)
OBSERVATIONS — About Observations and the Network I would like to be associated with the movement because I believe strongly in it . However , equally I believe that it should be spearheaded by teachers and others should keep a low profile . I have appended a small article in the hope that you will find it useful and as a measure of my support for ‘ Observations’ and I hope it does well . I would like to see people being more supportive of one another throughout the UK .
Idiom: to the letter (used idiomatically: no)
I thought the enclosed would interest you.’ Unfolding the notice , she found it was a call to Italian women to demonstrate at the NATO base where the camp had been set up . She turned back to the letter . The rest of the message consisted of a single word : ‘ Dinner?’ She raised her eyebrows .
Idiom: fun and games (used idiomatically: yes)
Sunnyside up This Art - Deco style gold - plated sun design brooch and earrings will make great summer companions . Fun and games in the sun If you need something to keep children busy and out of mischief this summer try this stylish games mat . Choose from chess on one side or if you fancy something a little less taxing on the mind simply turn the mat over and set the ' board ' for a fun game of checkers — you could even use it to lie on when you come out of the sea !
Idiom: on the nose (used idiomatically: yes)
A slant of sun on large clean table , dancing barley - sugar splashes through the marmalade jar . Dig of knife scoop on to crusty toast . Nothing better , not zabaglione , not boeuf flamande or praline paté from Switzerland or bifstek au poivre in Dieppe , not the most exquisite ten - hour long preparing meal and succulence in restaurants , or home - made lemon mousse , no délices , nothing like good fresh bread lightly toasted , cool with butter juicy with chunky marmalade , and coffee on the nose on the palate down the throat gulp . Ah , oh , sigh , gorgeous . Everybody gone , house quiet , free day , stretching , stretch of limbs to the day , stretch after night , day ahead , exciting .
Idiom: on someone's mind (used idiomatically: yes)
But without some explanation his refusal to accept Richard 's homage must have seemed incomprehensible and so , on 1 January 1183 , the whole muddled story was blurted out . In the words of Roger of Howden,"the young King , of his own accord and under no compulsion , laying his hands on the Holy Gospels in the presence of a large crowd of clerks and laymen , swore that from that day onward and for the rest of his life he would be loyal to King Henry , his father and his lord , and would serve him faithfully . Moreover since he did not wish to have preying on his mind any malice or grudge by reason of which his father might later be offended , he revealed that he had pledged himself to support the barons of Aquitaine against his brother Richard and said that he had done this because Richard had fortified the castle of Clairvaux though it really belonged to the Angevin patrimony which he should inherit from his father . " The dispute over Clairvaux was easily solved . Grudgingly but fairly quickly Richard was induced to hand the castle over to his father .
Idiom: crystal clear (used idiomatically: yes)
Division , the poetry , the clean musical argument : drama and tension are inherent not to mention the sheer exuberance of the dance . Weller is the ideal interpreter of this music . Rhythm was controlled over the long paragraphs ; articulation crystal - clear . Balance in the orchestra was strictly controlled yet the tuttis emerged with a muscular grip . Those chords of searching bewilderment in the finale were timed to a microsecond and projected an awesome tingle of fear .
Idiom: stand someone in good stead (used idiomatically: yes)
THE Western Tour commenced at Winnipeg , where we experienced four days of temperature ranging from -28C to -35C. And although the hospitality was superb , we were relieved to move to the warmer climate of Vancouver and Vancouver Island . As we thawed out so our curling improved , which stood us in good stead when the tour progressed into the curling hotbed regions of Edmonton , Weyburn , Saskatoon and Calgary . Nevertheless , playing against Canadian Province champions and , on one occasion against former world champion Ed Northcott , resulted in severe erosion of the lead we had built up earlier . Also , the curling schedule of close on two matches per day , coupled with extensive travelling , proved exhausting , and in Calgary we welcomed the pleasant break of a day visit into the Rockies to Lake Louise and Banff — winter wonderlands of snow and ice .
Idiom: put the wind up (used idiomatically: yes)
He and his field officer , Brian King , are working to a timetable of compliance . After a slow start which prompted the field man to threaten to take a ‘ stat’ Blake now considers the firm to be abreast of the schedule he and King have set . Blake is satisfied that the threat of a formal sample was enough to put the wind up the company . McDonald 's meanwhile went over Blake 's head to complain to the director of the agency about the demands being made of them . The director , however , supported his staff ; in fact , Blake said , he ‘ put the fear of God in them .