Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: in the black (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ In the Nineties , the mission is black nationalism , the messengers are X - Clan , the movement is Blackwatch and the oath is ‘ Freedom or death'.’ New York 's X - Clan are a new kind of militant rap , based on action as well as words . The group is centred around Professor X , the Overseer ; Brother J , the Grand Verbaliser Funkin - Lesson ; and the Rhythm Provider , Sugar Shaft — upfront , serious brothers bringing a spiritual neo - nationalism to the streets of urban America , using hip hop culture to introduce and develop Blackwatch , a youth organisation working for self - help in the black inner cities . So , on their recent visit to the UK , they not only performed club dates but also lectured at London 's Africa Centre , holding a cultural convention ‘ to promote communications between London and New York’ , and to introduce Blackwatch — X - Clan minus the music . Professor X and his father Sonny Carson , founders of the Black Men 's Movement Against Crack , have led Blackwatch through a series of political actions such as registration drives to encourage the ghetto to vote , and visits to schools and youth groups to discuss surveying ‘ the white kryptonite’— crack .
Idiom: under the table (used idiomatically: yes)
who is it , then . We 'll have to put it somewhere with your gr great knees under the table . What . Put your great knees
Idiom: food for thought (used idiomatically: yes)
I 'm sorry , I 've put you in an invidious position . If you 're being run by Morton , he 'll want to hear all this . It wo n't do any harm , but I 'd rather not give him food for thought , because I consider him an idiot and I do n't think he 's capable of interpreting it correctly . The service is in ferment at the moment , the knives are out . I 'd rather carry on in my own sweet way , and I 'd rather be in Stockholm .
Idiom: bits and bobs (used idiomatically: yes)
But I had to go in the loft . But I hate doing I hate creepy crawlies , I hate spiders and I hate going in the loft . But I had to pop up there and move back all the bits and bobs and the debris and everything . And I shone my torch and I was mortified . Because on the joist up right at the top near the side of the house , the brickwork , there 's erm I do n't well I ca n't describe them but cocoons or something like that .
Idiom: in the short run (used idiomatically: yes)
As the economy expands , as income and wealth increase , it is likely that people and firms will wish to increase their indebtedness . On the assumption that nothing happens to change the relative attractiveness of different methods of borrowing , then we would expect the stock of bills to increase over time . However , in the short run , numerous factors may operate to cause changes in supply . Remember that bills are a method of short - term finance . If borrowers perceive medium- and long - term interest rates to be high and likely to fall in future then they will prefer to borrow short and refinance the loan later at lower rates of interest .
Idiom: catch fire (used idiomatically: yes)
It depicts the two daughters of the Rev. William Robinson , a Prebendary of the Cathedral , who died , full of promise , early in 1812 . As the first snowdrops began to appear , his daughters picked a few to cheer their bereaved mother . As the younger one was reaching up to the mantlepiece with the flowers , her frock caught fire ; her sister ran to her aid , and soon both girls were engulfed in the flames . Mrs Robinson , who a few months before had been the mother of a happy and united family , found herself alone in the world ; an inscrutable fate had robbed her of the children who might have consoled her widowhood . This tragedy , which acquired a certain celebrity because of the sculptor 's art , illustrates a problem that must necessarily perplex religious people : in a religion teaching moral purpose , reward and punishment , what can be the meaning of early death in a pious family ?
Idiom: know the score (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ She 's the only one in the world who ever cared about me,’ she said , but when Julia protested , Minnie sneered , ‘ It 's all right . You do n't have to lie to me . I know the score.’ Julia ushered her out of the bedroom , afraid the sound of conflict might reach her mother . Carrie offered Minnie a cup of tea , but she refused it .
Idiom: clear the decks (used idiomatically: yes)
The quarterly dividend for the fourth quarter was cut 55.4 % to 54 cents a share from $ 1.21 , and it could be cut further next quarter once the new man is in charge . The assumption is that Rizzo 's appointment to the finance post is a short - term measure and that his key function will be to work out a new pricing strategy , which means that anything we have heard on pricing on the new ES/9000s and AS/400s due next month will be overtaken by events . Few are in any doubt that there is plenty more pain to come , and it may well be that the interim management is now expected to clear the decks , steel itself to announce another enormous net loss for the current quarter and let the new chief executive and team come in with a clean sheet . … BURKE TO WEIGH POSSIBLES AND PROBABLES
Idiom: face to face (used idiomatically: yes)
Similarly , the standard can be regarded as the ultimate in the development of a supra - local norm of language . If we take this point of view , it seems that we will gain a better understanding of the history of what is usually called standard English , because we will be able to separate out those issues that primarily involve the development of standard ( prescriptive or codified ) norms from those that do not . The history of pronunciation is one of those issues that do not primarily involve standardization , because it is about the history of speech in face - to - face interaction and because standardization has always had less effect on pronunciation than on other linguistic levels . The history of standard pronunciations is not therefore something that we can usefully chart in a unilinear temporal continuum , as though co - existing varieties had no role except to ‘ feed’ the standard ‘ variety’from time to time . This is an oversimplification — and a distortion — of language history .
Idiom: see the light (used idiomatically: no)
Only the assumption that the reader - I better say : the prospective reader , because for the moment there is not the slightest prospect , that my writing could see the lights of publicity , - unless it miraculously left our endangered fortress Europe and brought a hint of the secrets of our loneliness to those outside ; - I beg to be allowed to begin anew : only because I anticipate the wish to be told casually about the who and what of the writer , I send some few notes on my own individuum out before these openings , - of course not without the awareness that exactly by doing so I might provoke doubts in the reader , that he is in the right hands , which is to say : if I , from all my being , am the right man for a task to which maybe the heart pulls me more than any qualifying relation in character .
Idiom: make history (used idiomatically: yes)
Tonight Mrs Ditchburn is recovering from an operation to replace her hip . Police are keen to recover her stolen black handbag , which they say could help them find to her attackers . A man has made medical history by having four organ transplants . In two operations he was given a new heart , two lungs and a kidney . It was the first time in Europe so many organs had been replaced successfully . Richard Barnett reports : LYONSHALL / Herefordshire RICHARD ALLEN / Transplant patient
Idiom: cut your losses (used idiomatically: yes)
The systems division is still not profitable after charging research and development expenditure , but services — technical support , third - party maintenance , consulting , are said to be very profitable and represent 30 % of receivables all told . Asked whether executive chairman De Benedetti would be ready to sell his shares for the sake of the company , Passera pointed out that in the current capital - raising exercise , he is injecting $ 180 m , and has burdened his own company with additional debt to help Olivetti . ‘ C'mon now,’ challenges La Tribune , ‘ is n't it time to cut your losses and simply sell the company?’ Passera responds solemnly that there had been the opportunity to sell out to AT&T Co at a very good price , and that option had been rejected . ‘ In light of the current recapitalisation , does it really look as if we are preparing to sell the company now?’
Idiom: play ball (used idiomatically: no)
A little girl wearing a pink shirt is playing t - ball and taking a swing
Idiom: have the last laugh (used idiomatically: yes)
That 's why he 's a massive hit with fans who would normally barrack a boss when the team is struggling . The recent pre - season Christmas party was typical Bassett . But he had the last laugh — the Blades dumped Manchester United 2–1 on the opening day ! Despite all his time at United he 's still remembered for unleashing Wimbledon on League football . ‘ I 'll always be associated with creating the Wimbledon monster,’ laughs Bassett .
Idiom: go it alone (used idiomatically: yes)
Nick Logan was n't one of these ; he was a ' ticket ' , a mod who came up to town by train , from Walthamstow in his case , which was where he grew up , left school at 15 and joined the local paper . At 20 he went to the New Musical Express , and edited it through the 1970s , when it became the bestselling rock mag in Britain , with a rich crop of young writers such as Julie Burchill , Tony Parsons , Danny Baker , Paul Morley and Charles Shaar Murray . HE left NME to create the equally successful Smash Hits and then decided to go it alone with £ 4,000 from his building society account — all of which went into the first edition of The Face . ' The ad manager , ' says Logan , ' could never explain to anyone what The Face was about ' — and it still is n't easy . The club scene of course , and clothes ; good film and book reviews ; political polemic from Burchill and Parsons ; knockout design by Neville Brody ; trend spotting and category counting …
Idiom: all over the place (used idiomatically: no)
I it really frightens Th there are no fishmongers at all . I ca n't remember whose daughter reminded me , market used to be fishmongers all over the place . And we 've seen , as well , detrimental impact on the community . Could I make , make a suggestion ?
Idiom: in the pipeline (used idiomatically: yes)
Yeah . you know he he says that there 's a lot of things which are happening . He 's got all sorts of schemes a lot of schemes in the pipeline . I suppose he does n't want to be seen to be just reacting to your letter he 's obviously started doing these things off his own bat anyway has n't he ? Oh yes .
Idiom: see the light (used idiomatically: no)
‘ We got the first two ! Taff said excitedly , ‘ The other bastard seems to have got away . ’ ‘ It will be light in about another hour , ’ I said , ‘ Then we can see the results . ’ The shelling and mortaring had almost died away , except for the occasional round from the mortar team back in the orchard . We were both fairly tired , having had no sleep all night .
Idiom: go to town (used idiomatically: yes)
South Cambridgeshire District Council has recognized the important part that environmental health officers have to play within the work of the District Council , and for some time now the work of the Department has been carried on under the hat of the Legal , Housing and Health Director . Quite recently the Environmental Department has become semi - autonomous with Russell Jones as its Chief Environmental Health Officer and we know the good work which Russell has done over the years . We 're particularly proud of him in South Cambridgeshire , as we 're also proud that so many of our environmental health officers like Alan Hobson do sterling work for us , and we are looking to them in the in the future with this semi - autonomy that they 've been given to really take on board the opportunities which have been given to them under the 1990 Act to really go to town on environmental health . As we look around us , we see particularly in the field of litter that there is so much to do , and I 'm sure that this is one area where we shall be looking to improve our country and improve our countryside . I 'm very sorry that as soon as I have finished this welcome this morning that I have got to leave you , and I am very sorry that I shall not be able to return this evening for your dinner which I would originally look forward very much to but I trust that you will enjoy the company of the Chairman of our Environmental Services Committee , Councillor Robin Draga , who is attending on my behalf .
Idiom: bring up the rear (used idiomatically: yes)
The guides suggested that Johnson , so as not to tire one horse wholly , should alternate between mounts . But when he opted for either of John Hay 's horses , they argued : Johnson had to settle for the grey owned by Laughland Vass . They moved forward , Joseph Ritter bringing up the rear , Hay and Vass either side of Johnson 's bridle , the great man clearly frightened . John Hay , seeing Johnson 's fear , talked to him all the time as to a child , trying to keep him cheerful , but this measure only excited Boswell 's scorn , especially when he heard Hay trying to distract Johnson with the antics of the local goats . ‘ Here now was a common ignorant Highland clown imagining that he could divert , as one does a child,— Dr Samuel Johnson !
Idiom: out of line (used idiomatically: yes)
The US recovery could help exports — trade retaliation permitting . Tokyo 's price / earnings ratio of 36 may compare with 22 for Wall Street , 19 for Frankfurt and 13 for London . But banks and financials , such as scandal - ridden Industrial Bank of Japan on a 50-plus multiple , are out of line , not industrials . Friday 's uptick , leaving the index still close to its lowest level since January 1987 and more than 20 per cent down since the start of this year , was prompted by some old - style ‘ suasion’ between the Ministry of Finance and the Big Four , Nomura , Nikko , Daiwa and Yamaichi . Investment trust money flowed back into blue chips such as Sony , Honda and Pioneer , but banks , financials and government bonds continued to slide .
Idiom: catch someone's eye (used idiomatically: no)
It is a corner pub with two entrances , painted red . In front stands a group of Irish Countrymen ( Culteys Crilly calls them ) wearing faded caps of rust and plaid , holding pints of Guinness to their chests . The first thing that catches my eye is the mural . Painted directly upon the wall , it takes up almost the entire pub . It is an ambling Irish field painted in broad , sweeping shades of green ; a rich green for the trees , a lighter green for the grass .
Idiom: get up someone's nose (used idiomatically: yes)
Yeah , I think you 're right that 's , that 's That sounds like a reasonable idea . And they are our longer lasting customers so I do n't think we 're gon na get up their noses too much . So I do n't need to speak to Paul then ? We just need to get a letter set up on the stand alone system .
Idiom: come unstuck (used idiomatically: yes)
. Okay . So that 's all in hand , erm the preachers we wanted did n't quite work out as we 'd suggested . Er but er I 've managed to fiddle it with the suggested preachers for the November series , which I have come a little bit unstuck about . And I 'll report that to the stewards at the meeting on er on Thursday as the initiative came from them . I do n't think it 's impossible , but we just need to make sure , that we 've got it right .
Idiom: on the level (used idiomatically: no)
Many witches with whom I have discussed Christianity have a real sense of humour and pleasant personalities . Some are charming and a delight to converse with . On a personal level , I find this the most distressing . As a mere imperfect mortal , I find myself working twice as hard to introduce those whom I like to the Lord . This includes more than a few in the occult .
Idiom: see the light of day (used idiomatically: yes)
Forging Links , Municipal Art Gallery , Linthorpe Road , Middlesbrough . ( Until July 4 ) . THIS wide ranging exhibition of metal work in all its many forms first saw the light of day in Lincoln . The Usher Art Gallery decided that it needed to replace its imposing main entrance gates which were taken away in the war . The Museum of Lincolnshire Life also had a yen for the new security grills to cover its windows ; and the City of County Museum thought it would be a good idea to invest in three differently designed Tree Seats as well as commissioning a spadehandle - back seat for The Gardeners Rest .
Idiom: head south (used idiomatically: yes)
Val and I had met a party of school children with the master giving them a botany lesson as we walked , so we tagged on and saw a lot we would n't otherwise have noticed . After 5 days in Rotorua we went south to Taupo , a disappointing touristy place except for a lovely walk to the Huka Falls beside the crystal - clear , swirling waters of the Waikato River , and a visit to Cherry Island ( in the river ) where you are warmly greeted by numerous tame animals and birds as you roam around . From Taupo we headed south - east through some wild and hilly country to Havelock North in Hawkes’ Bay , to visit our first lot of friends , the McKenzies and Mrs Styles . The neighbouring city of Napier was entirely rebuilt after an earthquake in 1931 and this is not only a feature of the museum but many of the buildings are still in the style of the period , Art Deco . We also saw an exhibition of paintings by Sydney Lough Thompson , one of my favourite NZ artists .
Idiom: turn the other cheek (used idiomatically: yes)
Interested , I asked him to whack my bottom with the same instrument and urged him to do it properly so that I could feel what it was like — he did so and I was only just able to restrain my tears it hurt so much . On another day I provoked him in some way and he slapped my cheek . " All right , " said I , " I turn the other cheek " and I did so . I 'm glad to say that he slapped that too . He was always loyal and when we had a house maid who adored Basil and had little affection for his sisters and she used to stand up for him as hardly done by , he would have none of it , to my remembered satisfaction .
Idiom: one and the same (used idiomatically: yes)
INCOME FLOORS These changes aimed at encouraging personal involvement and initiative need to be reinforced by a major overhaul and recasting of the welfare state . Here we are concerned with a form of corporate provision that can also be used to provide at one and the same time a safety net and a reward for initiative . Two reforms are singled out here that will help begin the process of reshaping the welfare state to fulfil both of these objectives . Incentive - based Welfare
Idiom: do a runner (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ Quinn?’ ‘ Yeah’ . ‘ You may be on the level about having done a runner , or maybe not . If it 's a trick , you 'll pay for it.’ ‘ No trick .
Idiom: true blue (used idiomatically: yes)
The fact that the flotilla did not carry only " peace activists , " but also many people who wish to see Israel destroyed and Israelis perish , is no reason to drop soldiers upon them . Even the fact that some of the " humanitarian aid workers " turned on the soldiers with a rather un - peaceful array of knives and clubs is no justification for shooting to kill . The trespassers on the scene , the true - blue pirates , were unfortunately the uniformed Israeli commandos acting in my name . Prime ~ Minister Netanyahu and Defense ~ Minister Ehud ~ Barak sent top combatants into a seafaring crowd of aggressive protesters and thought that they would win . What were they thinking ?
Idiom: grind to a halt (used idiomatically: yes)
The former Forest star has also looked uncomfortable on the field . The Italians place great emphasis on the ability to pass the ball and build from the back , but these attributes are not among Walker 's strong points . However , he would be a perfect recruit for Arsenal , whose season has ground to a halt since they led the Premier League in early November . Someone with Walker 's pace and knowhow would be a prize addition to a defence which has not been at its ruthless best during the Gunners ' recent barren run . To link Walker with skipper Tony Adams would also continue a partnership which has looked sound and secure in the last two England internationals .
Idiom: leave someone in the lurch (used idiomatically: yes)
' It would n't make a very good start for your career if there was any kind of publicity . ' ' I do n't care , ' she said stubbornly , but even as she said the words she knew they were n't a hundred per cent true . ' You ca n't leave the lodge in the lurch like that , Charity , ' Mandy told her sternly . ' It 's not like you to run away from your responsibilities . You 're supposed to be at work in less than an hour .
Idiom: rise to the occasion (used idiomatically: yes)
An aunt of mine was a regular first - nighter at her local rep for more than 20 years and , apart from abhorring the bad language in some modern plays , rarely left the theatre less than exhilarated by what she had seen . ‘ Oh yes , I agree entirely,’ she would say when I argued with her opinion at times . ‘ Certainly it is a very poor play — but what a challenge for the actors and how well they rose to the occasion.’ The play may be the thing , but not necessarily the only thing . Balanced and fair was auntie .
Idiom: up the river (used idiomatically: yes)
Perhaps they are carried eastwards by the Gulf Stream in spite of anything they themselves may do . Maybe they even try to swim against it which might account for the length of time that passes before they reach European waters . Thereafter , a physiological change may cause them to develop a preference for fresher water so they are lured up the rivers , just as spiny lobsters , at a particular time of the year , are drawn to lower temperatures . And the return journey ? Experiments with captive eels suggest that they can navigate by the stars , just as some migrating birds can , and on the first stages of their journey away from Europe , when they swim near the surface , this may be the way they guide themselves .
Idiom: crystal clear (used idiomatically: yes)
Many of these huts provide overnight accommodation if you feel like being a bit adventurous . The Niggenkopf chairlift starts directly in the village and gives access to the Lorenzital and the Amatschon Joch . A short walk from Brand , or a local bus ride , will take you to the cable car which in turn takes you to the Lunarsee , a beautiful crystal clear mountain lake . here you can take a gentle stroll around the lake , or start off on a more strenuous hike . A cafe with a sun terrace lies by the lake , so you can relax in the sun and enjoy your surroundings to their full .
Idiom: drink like a fish (used idiomatically: yes)
He could n't speak Spanish and they could n't speak English . He was on drugs and , he said , ‘ killing myself’ . Then he started to pull himself together , returned to Hollywood and stayed sober — except for Sundays , when he would lock himself away and drink like a fish . Other than that , he stayed teetotal for the rest of the week . Then he received an offer to appear in Return from the River Kwai , which took him to the steaming jungles of the Philippines .