Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: out of line (used idiomatically: yes)
This technique may have some application where there is a manifest disproportion between the scale of expenditure and any benefit that could possibly result to the business . It may thus be of value in controlling outlays for ‘ socially responsible’ purposes , or , conceivably , on a limited range projects motivated by management self - interest , for example , the acquisition of an over - lavish corporate headquarters . To evoke a judicial response in either situation , however , it is likely that the company 's behaviour will need to be glaringly out of line with that of similarly situated enterprises . Conclusion To sum up , the duty to act in the interests of the company ( i.e. the shareholders ) imposes only a weak control on managerial discretion , since any plausible assertion that a course of action is designed to increase the company 's financial well - being will be enough to protect it from attack .
Idiom: larger than life (used idiomatically: yes)
He rose to a 4 star General . His tour of duty included Korea and Vietnam . His larger - than - life presence continues to win him friends . But the most important part of his life is his wife Brenda and his children . After Kuwait , he was offered America 's top army job , Chief of Staff .
Idiom: give it a whirl (used idiomatically: yes)
She explained the sort of things that might be expected e.g. from practical help with the baby , shopping etc , to introducing the new mum to appropriate support groups . Also offering advice if we felt qualified to do so but referring to the relevant health services or back to her if not . I felt quite nervous undertaking this role in case I became ‘ out of my depth’ and could n't provide the new mother with the support that she needed , either emotionally or physically , but on balance decided that the only way to find out was to give it a whirl ! I decided that she either had friends or family nearby or was pacing the streets in desperation ! Thankfully the former was the case .
Idiom: born and bred (used idiomatically: yes)
At first he had thought he must be dreaming . They did n't get sharks in the Severn did they ? He had been born and bred on the river , but had never seen anything like it before . After circling and playing together for probably a minute , the fins had lazily disappeared and Yanto had gone home a mystified man . Josh Cornock , the old retired river pilot , had provided the answer the following morning .
Idiom: for crying out loud (used idiomatically: yes)
they 'd be out the way Come on Come on for crying out loud I wish they 'd hurry up and score Neil Eh ?
Idiom: win the day (used idiomatically: yes)
' I do . He can . And you and he will win this day for us , ' Thorfinn said . ' Quickly … ' He watched Scandlain go .
Idiom: from the word go (used idiomatically: yes)
This seems to be the view that President Bush has accepted . But it is far from clear , given the surprisingly small effect of this continuous bombardment on Iraq 's military potential , that even another month will seriously reduce it . Then you run into the appalling problem that the Americans were conscious of from the word go , and that is Ramadan in the middle of March , and whether the Muslims will fight . Assuming they do , then the following month the sandstorms begin , when it is very difficult to fight , especially in chemical warfare kit . And them you run into the haj , the pilgrimage , when millions of Muslim pilgrims from all over the world , including Iraq , Iran and Jordan , will flood into southern Arabia .
Idiom: keep the peace (used idiomatically: yes)
In fact civil wars may not have endangered the Merovingian state to the extent that Gregory implies . In a sense they were integral to the structure of Frankish politics , serving to strengthen the bond between the Merovingian family and the aristocracy . At the same time Gregory 's emphasis on the civil wars tends to divert attention from the very real achievements made by the Merovingians in keeping the peace . One of the chief functions of an early medieval king was the enforcement of justice . Einhard 's criticism that the late Merovingians travelled around in ox - carts ignored the fact that in so doing they were copying late Roman provincial governors , who used this means of transport to ensure that they were accessible to petitioners .
Idiom: with a will (used idiomatically: no)
But for the moment it is enough to recognize that even unanimity can have its problematic aspects ; and , since unanimity is so rarely achieved on a large scale , we need to consider next the next best thing , the principle with which democracy is very often crudely identified : majority decision - taking or majority rule . Majority Rule and its Problems Is it reasonable , in the absence of unanimity , to equate the will of the people with the will of the majority , as is so often done in everyday politics ? To see what is at stake here , we can juxtapose this question with two others directed at the same problem . Is there any reason why the minority , or any minority , should not be accounted part of the people ?
Idiom: kick the habit (used idiomatically: no)
Turned on to tap ! DON'T be surprised if you catch sight of these girls tapping their feet down the supermarket aisles , or across Alton 's Market Square . They 're members of Wendy Jeffery 's tap dancing class , and they just ca n't kick the habit . The 17-strong group , whose ages start at about 18 but are well - balanced on the 40-plus side , have been tapping the boards at Anstey Junior School on Tuesdays since September . That was when the subject was first introduced to Alton 's further education curriculum for adults , and it 's really taken off .
Idiom: play ball (used idiomatically: yes)
The referee gave it and the debate started . Initially the laws had indicated ho drop - goals may be scored after a free - kick until the ball had gone dead . An amendment then added unless the ball has been played or touched by the other side . Well , what is the definition of ' touch ' ? If a defending player has a loose lace and this touches the ball , may the attacking side drop for goal ?
Idiom: carry the can (used idiomatically: no)
And a ‘ trunk call ’ could have described the weight of the equipment that you lugged around with you . The days of the pin-striped yuppie with his ubiquitous phone in hand are long gone . New technology has produced phones so light that they can be carried unobtrusively in a shirt pocket . With the plunge in cost , a major outbreak of phone wars has broken out across the country , with dealers offering spectacular cut-price deals . And as phones get cheaper , they are within the reach of more people than just businessmen .
Idiom: in the pipeline (used idiomatically: yes)
MORE INVESTMENT : The second phase of the dye house operation to install a £ 400,000 Longclose package Dyeing Machine — the twin of the one already installed last year , is also to go ahead with delivery expected in October . New small capacity dye vats and the repositioning of a bank scouring machine are also developments in the pipeline that make Douglas Reyburn a company confident of its future in a competitive market . Secrets of the Sticky Toe Pads Revealed by Hanna There is a type of frog which is known as a Tree Frog , and there are Biologists that are very interested in why tree frogs do not fall off impossibly steep gradiants .
Idiom: rough around the edges (used idiomatically: yes)
He was the man from her dream ; her own subconscious yearnings had surfaced in sleep , betrayed her , left her body in conflict with her mind . She was transfixed , unable to break away , her limbs weak , molten . ‘ What talisman is there,’ he asked , his voice rough around the edges , ‘ that could protect me from you ? You rail at me , yet it has no effect . It only makes me want you all the more .
Idiom: come clean (used idiomatically: yes)
We are told that we have to pay Swindon another fifty thousand if he plays . But if we went out of the cup it could cost us more in lost revenue . Come clean Steve . Swallow your pride . Play Bodin in the position you bought him for and show off our defence that otherwise will leak goals like two seasons ago .
Idiom: by the book (used idiomatically: no)
Walt Unsworth Rockgear by Layne Gerrard , Ten Speed Press ( imported by Airlift Book Co ) £12.95 My first thought on picking up this very substantial volume , was how on earth can information on rock gear fill so much space . The answer quickly became apparent : there is an awful lot of padding .
Idiom: way to go (used idiomatically: yes)
We need not doubt that the epithet is justified and I think we are on the right track in attributing its powers to nerve cells with their trigger features and projective zones , but the connecting links are missing . Thus our next problems are to understand what principles govern the establishment and modification of the interconnections between unimaginable numbers of nerve cells , how these interconnections endow us with higher mental functions , and the cellular mechanisms that bring about these remarkable processes . Perhaps we are just beginning to see how the brain works , but we have a long way to go . Animal communication PATRICK BATESON
Idiom: in tandem (used idiomatically: no)
Last week 's Birmingham Sports Argus was especially rewarding . Talk about cosmopolitan . Diaz breached Atherstone 's defence at Dorchester ; Raji and Gonzales were in tandem for Boldmere St Michael 's at Walsall Wood ; while Oldbury and Rocester , in the FA Vase against Hinckley Athletic and Burscough respectively , looked to Rossi and Anastasi for goals . Shades of Juventus … could they be , in any way , related ? The picture painted by the reporter at the Beazer Homes League match between Redditch and Willenhall was priceless .
Idiom: shut the door on (used idiomatically: no)
Preston would have preferred him in his cloth cap with the old woolly cardigan he used to wear , or the long grey mac . He did n't look anything like he remembered him . ‘ Come in , lads , come in and shut the door on the fog.’ On a chair in the scullery in his cardigan and his cap and his bad leg stuck out to one side , and his tins of paint on newspapers all around , and a big panel of wood propped up against the wall with a picture on it of a battleship in a stormy sea . And the two of them shuffling in with the hoods of their duffel coats over their heads and their school scarves pulled over noses and mouths like a pair of monks doing the rounds during the Black Death .
Idiom: save face (used idiomatically: yes)
In advance of the upcoming G-8 summit , it is impossible to overlook the fact that , for the first time in seven decades , the United ~ States can not drive the international agenda or provide global leadership on all of today ’s most pressing problems . Indeed , the US has trimmed its presence abroad by refusing to contribute to a eurozone bailout , intervene in Syria , or use force to contain Iran ’s nuclear breakout ( despite strong Israeli support ) . President Barack ~ Obama officially ended the war in Iraq , and is withdrawing US troops from Afghanistan at a pace constrained only by the need to save face . America is handing off the leadership baton – even if no other country or group of countries is willing or able to grasp it . In short , US foreign ~ policy may be as active as ever , but it is downsizing and becoming more exacting about its priorities .
Idiom: go straight (used idiomatically: yes)
Yeah . the drive . And the block is on the right hand side , and you just keep going straight on . Okay , do n't turn right , do n't turn left , go straight on . And the car parks are to the right and the main entrance is on the left and you just keep going straight on straight on straight on straight on and the bottom left hand corner is casualty .
Idiom: see a man about a dog (used idiomatically: yes)
The blizzard was worse now , and what little light made its way between the flakes was failing . In a brief lull we moved quickly down to the river and followed it back down the valley . On our last afternoon we went back to Tromsø to see a man about a dog . To be precise to see a man about a good number of sledge dogs . That night we stayed in the town as our flight was too early the next day to get to the airport from the good country to the south .
Idiom: keep the peace (used idiomatically: no)
From ROBERT FISK in Taif , Saudi Arabia IT IS difficult to know who is the more isolated : the 62 members of the Lebanese Parliament or the 73 members of the Lebanese press corps . Lebanon 's MPs — 31 of them Muslims , 31 of them Christians — have left the militia leaders behind in Beirut to keep the peace . The MPs are here to scrape the rust off the derelict machinery of government , to recreate the corroded institution that will have to elect a president and produce a government which can impose its rule on Lebanon — and on the militia leaders . Hence the isolation .
Idiom: at the end of the day (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ We received work via the Australian Embassy that Mandela could n't attend either test but wished to meet the Wallabies’ , said French . ‘ He was terrific and spoke openly about how pleased he was that the tours had taken place . He called in his full executive to meet us and I 'm sure at the end of the day that this meeting went a long way to the tour going ahead instead of being cancelled’ . S.A.R.U. 's side of the street Current unification — cosmetic or cast - iron ?
Idiom: lay an egg (used idiomatically: no)
More amazing still are the skills of those animals which can travel vast distances guided by scent , without even laying a trail . THE SCENT OF HOME Salmon lay their eggs in the gravel bed of fast - moving streams or rivers . The young parr which hatch out are dull - coloured , making them difficult to see in their freshwater home . However after one to three years a signal , possibly hormonal , causes them to don the silvery camouflage of sea fish .
Idiom: on the nose (used idiomatically: yes)
Towing forwards going down wind means that there is no possibility of being blown over , but the controls must be held or locked otherwise the control hinges may be damaged by the surfaces slamming across against the stops . In very strong winds the critical place for ground handling is at the tail . Always make sure that the person on the tail is briefed to hold it up until someone has their weight on the nose . After coming to a stop with the glider facing into wind , holding the tail down is the worst possible thing , and even leaving the nose unattended for a few moments is dangerous . It is always safer to transfer the person on the tail to the nose , where his extra weight can be more effective .
Idiom: up to scratch (used idiomatically: yes)
Reckon you 're up to it ? Think you 've got what it takes to be a COMMODORE FORCE Megastar ? We 're always on the lookout for really great Megatape games , so if you think your game comes up to scratch , send it in ! Do n't expect any favours if your game 's crap — ZZAP ! 64 's was no - one 's free lunch , and COMMODORE FORCE will demand even higher standards . If your offering 's a blinder , though , you 'll be handsomely rewarded !
Idiom: have a few (used idiomatically: yes)
and you can watch them barefoot in the Cotswold water Park this weekend … another Gloucestershire sportsmen who 's celebrating a record is jockey Willie Carson … at the weekend he rode winner number three thousand five hundred … so where better place to start our round - up than in the winners enclosure ADRIAN WHITBREAD / Swindon Town Oxfordshire jockey Richard Dunwoody has a few thousand to go before he can ever catch Carson … that ca n't be done in jump racing of course … but the new champion is off to a flying start to the new season … two winners on saturday he won the first at Newton Abbot this afternoon Riding through Gloucestershire yesterday some of the best cyclists in britain as the 1993 Tour of the Cotswolds got underway … the first race was way back in 1951 but this could be the last unless a sponsor is found to save the race … this one was the biggest and best in a long while … for the first time in 30 years it was open to professionals as well as amateurs and drew in two former world champions in Tony Doyle and Danny Clark and three Milk Race winners in …
Idiom: lame duck (used idiomatically: yes)
Of course the financial markets would prefer a straightforward Tory government . ‘ But they realise that a partnership government would be better than a Labour government , and much better than a minority government of either party.’ Such a government , he argues , perpetually teetering on the brink of defeat and another election , would be nothing more than a lame duck . Last year , Mr Ashdown and his advisers embarked on ‘ war - gaming’— what social workers would call ‘ role playing’— to explore the moves and counter - moves likely to be made in a hung Parliament . The strategy devised from this included setting out his shopping list for a post - election pact so far in advance that the Liberal Democrats would not get the blame if a deal fails to materialise , and a second election is forced .
Idiom: turn someone's head (used idiomatically: no)
Not that a girl would ever be allowed to touch the great hammers or take the white - hot metal from the furnace with the giant tongs . There was nothing for girls , only drudgery and breeding , specially paupers like herself . Midnight had turned his head . His face was in darkness , but he must be looking at her . She looked down , afraid that the shirt and waistcoat had shaped themselves round her small breasts and so betrayed her .
Idiom: play games (used idiomatically: yes)
The contents of your AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files can influence PC performance but not to the degree you complain of . Certainly , you should try to use as ' clean ' a system as you can whenever you 're running your games . Why not boot from a lean ' n ' mean floppy system disk whenever you want to play a game on your PC ? Modern games make more demands on the humble PC and need acres of hard disk space , plus as much as 610Kb of free system memory . Check through the documentation of Wing Commander II and see if it really needs Expanded memory .
Idiom: take heart (used idiomatically: yes)
The Landrat of Ebermannstadt in Upper Franconia , frank as usual in his comment , reported that people in his area Were too careful to say such things as ' Hitler will give us no peace till everything has had it ' , but said instead ' there wo n't be any peace before … ' , and meant the same thing . It was squarely concluded that Hitler , through the over - estimation of his own strength and rejection of all overtures for peace from neutral states , ' bears himself in the last resort the blame for the retrograde development which has now set in ' . Opponents of the regime took new heart from the Stalingrad disaster , and their limited revival resulted in a spread of illegal broadsheets and surreptitiously daubed graffiti , attacking Hitler ' the Stalingrad Murderer ' . In Munich , the Stalingrad disaster prompted the group of students who , largely inspired by moral and religious idealism , had the previous year formed the ' White Rose ' movement and circulated anti - Nazi leaflets in Munich University , to stage a suicidally brave public demonstration of their detestation for Hitler and Nazism in a defiant manifesto displayed all over the university buildings : Fellow Students !
Idiom: go to the dogs (used idiomatically: yes)
Movie director Michael Winner 's card — Lia Williams in a sequence from his new film , Dirty Weekend — displays his twin passions of movies and younger women . Tramp nightclub owner Johnny Gold lives out a housewives ' fantasy in the arms of the exotic Chippendale hunks on his camp Christmas card . Christmas has definitely gone to the dogs — at least in novelist Jilly Cooper 's latest bedroom scene . So tacky in tartan , scarlet and gold — do we mean Derek and Ellen Jameson ? We surely do .
Idiom: on the side of the angels (used idiomatically: yes)
Max appeared disappointed by the reply as he peered down again at the grisly work on which he was engaged . The contrast between the two men would have struck any observer that morning . The stout , hump - backed surgeon — circumspect , but perky and confident ; Morse — looking distinctly weary , his jowls semi - shaven by an electric razor that had seemingly passed peak efficiency , and yet somehow , somewhere underneath , a man on the side of the angels . ‘ There 's some deep bruising here,’ began Max , pointing to Kemp 's left temple , ‘ but the main blow’— he jerked the head towards him before caressing the crushed skull with a gentle reverence —‘was here.’ Characteristically Morse sought to swallow back the bitter - tasting fluid that had risen in his gorge ; and the surgeon , with understanding , pulled the rubber sheet over the head again .
Idiom: left and right (used idiomatically: yes)
From Washington Road , one leaves a typical middle - American urban scene to be transported into an old South environment within a matter of seconds . It happens too fast . His heart will have started to race as he looked left and right and saw the two main practice strips . Jack Nicklaus was practising on one the first time I arived . Excitement turned to terror .
Idiom: under the table (used idiomatically: yes)
In the late Seventies I interviewed Jiri Menzel , finally allowed out of the country of his birth after years of neglect , at the National Film Theatre . I asked him through his interpreter whether he could now make the films he wanted again . The answer was a warning kick under the table . The interpreter , as I should have known , was his police minder . Early this year , the Jakes government collected together the eight films banned outright in 1970 , including Menzel 's Skylarks On A String .
Idiom: over the counter (used idiomatically: no)
In fact , it was a police exercise and was solely staffed by two undercover officers calling themselves Gary and Aggi . They purported to be shady jewellers willing to buy in stolen property . Cameras and sound recording equipment were discreetly sited in the shop so as to record all that occurred over the counter . Some transactions were conducted with honest customers but the object of the exercise was to recover stolen property for the owners and obtain evidence against those who had either stolen or dishonestly handled it . The cameras clearly identified the property as it lay on the counter , and the vendors who produced it .
Idiom: in black and white (used idiomatically: yes)
I 've got copyright there . send it . I 've actually said it now , and it 's down in black and white or red and green or whatever ! But , do you know what I mean ? Mm .
Idiom: on and off (used idiomatically: yes)
The chair has to come to rest at the bottom of the stairs and you need room to get on and off at both ends . Some lifts have rails that can fold up at the bottom if space is tight or if a doorway is going to obstructed . Some have swivel seats to make getting on and off easier . Are they safe ? All lifts are fitted with Key Switches that can turn them off to prevent children playing with them .
Idiom: take it easy (used idiomatically: yes)
Clark had a bad back — arthritis — and in one scene they are driving through the crowd going to the rodeo . Well , Monty kept punching Clark in the arm out of sheer exuberance . Clark kept saying , ‘ Please , stop’ , but Monty just kept hammering away and Clark said , ‘ For God 's sake , Monty , take it easy.’ When Clark took off his shirt he had black - and - blue bruises over his shoulders and arm . But Monty hit him again and Clark turned on him and said , ‘ I 'm going to hang one on you , you little bastard , if you do that again.’