Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: prodigal son (used idiomatically: yes)
Yes , yeah . So we now have erm , reference to the bible and the erm , prodigal son . The prodigal son was a black sheep to his father , and to his older brother . But how different were the reactions of the two . His adventure started off quite normally , as I 'm sure you 'll remember from the erm , from the parable .
Idiom: make ends meet (used idiomatically: yes)
At first , we could make ends meet , but as it continued we became unable to cover our expenses .
Idiom: like clockwork (used idiomatically: yes)
The rolling of the waves against the rocky coastline made landing difficult , but finally they scrambled ashore . The winding path up the steep rocks was made more difficult by the darkness , and Ingrid was glad of the Norwegian 's hand to guide her . All went like clockwork until they reached the top , where a keen wind cut through their thick overalls , making them shiver . Dawn had begun to break , and daylight crept over the barren countryside . They stood hand in hand , breathing heavily from their exertions , when two shots rang out .
Idiom: cut loose (used idiomatically: yes)
The problems of one particularly sick savings and loan , Lincoln Federal , has already cost the head of the Federal Home Loans Bank , his job and could take some senior elected officials , including Democratic Senator Alan Cranston down , too . It is also besmirching the reputation of the chairman of the Federal Reserve Board , who was peripherally involved . The savings and loan saga provides a startling illustration of how badly matters can go wrong when institutions are cut loose from regulation without proper supervision . It can only be hoped that the newly aggressive financial players of the Thatcher era manage to avoid the same errors . New strains .
Idiom: in the black (used idiomatically: no)
After Carrington 's visit the prominent Soviet commentator Alexander Bovin set down two further Soviet objections to the plan . He maintained that ' the composition of the conference [ on Afghanistan]arouses doubt since most of the proposed participants are clearly hostile to the present government ' . He also found it unacceptable that ' although this has not been set down in black and white , the West is clearly inclined to have the conference discuss the regime existing in Afghanistan , and the character of Soviet - Afghan relations ' . Bovin believed that in place of such a conference ' Afghanistan should conduct direct negotiations with its neighbours , above all with Iran and Pakistan ' . Soviet leaders had been prepared to consider international arrangements and guarantees only on the external aspects of the Afghan problem .
Idiom: join the club (used idiomatically: yes)
We will be having further talks tomorrow . ' The former England midfielder , who is expected to be player - coach , said before leaving for the talks : ' I would be happy to come back north and it will be great to be working with Howard again . ' Queen 's Park Rangers earlier yesterday granted Kendall permission to approach Reid , who joined the London club from Everton on a free transfer in February , and said they would ask no fee for the 33-year - old player in recognition of his ' marvellous attitude ' in his time at Loftus Road . Roy Wegerle , the £ 1 million Rangers newcomer who has declared himself available to the United States , was last night offered the chance of an alternative route to the World Cup next summer by Bobby Robson . ' If Wegerle 's interested in playing for England , I 'll put him in my next B squad , ' said Robson .
Idiom: call someone's bluff (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ That 's the story he 's put around . I doubt it 's true but it 's certainly worked . Nobody 's called his bluff.’ ‘ Yet,’ Graham added . Laidlaw smiled wryly then drank the remainder of the beer .
Idiom: on the cards (used idiomatically: yes)
World No1 Hendry held too many aces for the second - season professional , who scored 51 points in the first frame , eight in the third and none in the other three . Hendry , who has not won a ranking event this season but could well be timing his peak to perfection with the world championship less than six weeks away , followed up with a break of 105 to lead 3 - 0 . A third successive century was on the cards until he suffered a ‘ kick’ on the pink in frame four with his break on 91 . ‘ I 'm playing well and getting better and better all the time,’ said Hendry , who now plays Jamie Woodman for a place in the last 16 . Thai James Wattana defeated former British champion Tony Meo 5 - 1 and now plays Irishman Stephen Murphy .
Idiom: cheek by jowl (used idiomatically: no)
Their ' Twelfth Night ' won it outright . It is , therefore , highly appropriate that they have chosen ' As You Like It'for their tenth anniversary production . As in ' Twelfth Night ' , there is a great deal of sexual ambiguity in ' As You Like It ' , and Cheek by Jowl have decided to produce the play with an all - male cast . This is not , of course , the first time that the play has been performed in this way — in 1967 , for instance , the National Theatre mounted a brilliant all - male ' As You Like It ' , with Ronald Pickup as Rosalind and Anthony Hopkins ( ! ) as Audrey . But , of course , all Shakespeare 's plays were originally played by men and boys only .
Idiom: get on someone's nerves (used idiomatically: yes)
And she also used to say it a lot when my sister Natalie was very little , which is what I 'm going to tell you about now . Natalie 's three years younger than me . She gets on my nerves quite often , but I feel sorry for her too . You see , whatever I do , Natalie wants to do , and usually she 's too young . When I joined Brownies , Natalie was four .
Idiom: off the shelf (used idiomatically: yes)
Communications were also a nightmare for first soldiers in Ulster — their primitive radio sets were a disaster in built - up areas . Helicopters were used to provide an airborne relay station but if they were shot down or ran out of fuel , soldiers on the ground often had to resort to the GPO telephone system . Over the years the Army turned to off - the - shelf civilian radio equipment to provide essential communications . Army training has also changed dramatically as a result of the Ulster conflict . A standard Northern Ireland training package has been in operation for some time including intensive urban and rural patrolling , riot control techniques , shooting at fleeting targets , powers of arrest , orders for opening fire , bomb and weapon recognition .
Idiom: eternal triangle (used idiomatically: yes)
Clerks too tend to be travellers , temporary incomers to the towns where they study or just stay ; they are indigent , and they are shown in the fabliaux to supply their wants , in terms of food , sex and entertainment , by dint of their wits . A useful review of the clers of the Old French fabliaux by Phillipe Ménard ( 1983 ) indicates that to be a clerk is a matter of attitude and behaviour rather than simply an occupation . A pertinent statistical table produced by Nykrog shows how clerks are always successful in the eternal triangle of sexual competition , pitted against husbands ranging from knights to peasants . Through the clerkly sympathies of the fabliau corpus we can justifiably reach back to other forms of literature and literary theory associated with students and the universities and assess the fabliaux in that light . Several studies have been produced that point to correspondences between French fabliaux and intellectual ( scholarly ) currents of the twelfth to fourteenth centuries .
Idiom: state of the art (used idiomatically: yes)
Based on state - of - the - art telecommunications technology , the fibre optics networks allow the deployment of a wide range of services with which business customers can fulfil their own individual telecommunications requirements .
Idiom: give someone pause (used idiomatically: no)
This was 1953 . In order to put that offer in perspective we have to imagine a young unknown with rumours of a short classical stage success to his credit , no films worth mentioning and no bankability whatsoever , being offered , in 1988 , about twelve to fifteen million dollars . Yet the offer seems to have given Burton no pause . Fifteen million dollars . Burton said that he had promised to go back to the Old Vic for £ 45 a week to do Hamlet , and he was sticking to it .
Idiom: get it up (used idiomatically: no)
And er but he did one did Melvin , and he he was trotting up the stairs with three men pushing you see , two at the bottom one at the top guiding it , and the top of the piano started to disappear into the staircase . Because it was an old house that they were renovating , and it had got so much rot in it and woodworm , and he said he said he said th there they were walking up one minute and the next minute the piano was just going down through the stairs . And he said Eventually with ropes and various other tackle it took seven of them to lift the piano back up again out of the gap that it had produced in the stairs and get it up the stairs . So y tell you , it 's amazing the the kind of remarkable things . One other one , if I may just , that I 've just remembered that A lady who had a Again this is when I was big removals .
Idiom: daylight robbery (used idiomatically: yes)
TIM RUSSON Voice over At the County Ground , it was daylight robbery ; a smash and grab raid by Charlton . They had 3 attacks and scored 2 goals . The alarms in the Swindon defence failed to ring .
Idiom: run the gauntlet (used idiomatically: yes)
Yesterday the shop stewards ' convener , John Kydd , promised : ‘ We can bring this company to its knees ; it is a choice the company has to make . We would prefer to go back but if we close it for good it would be far better to have no Timex in Dundee than a Timex with scab labour earning scab wages and working under scab conditions.’ On Friday the Law Lords in Edinburgh refused a Timex company management application for a ban on meetings taking place near the factory gates — interpreted by the union as paving the way for a show of force which will test the nerve of the company and its new recruits who daily run the gauntlet of jeering pickets and supporters . Mr Kydd , who on Saturday challenged ‘ there is not a police force in the country can keep these roads open’ , added ‘ we are now entitled by the court to have meetings and if we wanted to we could have half a million up there.’ The promised escalation in activity outside the factory may come at a crucial time for the company , according to Mr Kydd .
Idiom: on the face of it (used idiomatically: yes)
For the first time children aged under 5 years ( other than those admitted for nursery education and those moving to a reception class from a nursery class in the same school ) will be included in the standard number and parents of such children will have admission appeal rights above . The significance of these comparatively simple provisions on open enrolment should not be overlooked . On the face of it they may appear to do little more than give effect to the government 's consistent promise to maximise the opportunities for parental choice in the education system . But they are clearly intended to form , in combination with formula funding under LMS , a system which will make schools subject to market forces in a direct and dramatic fashion . The message to schools is stark and simple : if you can not persuade sufficient parents to exercise their freer choice by selecting your school , your allocation of resources will be less than your competitors ' .
Idiom: behind the scenes (used idiomatically: no)
An unexpected message of good luck from Phillip Schofield , star of the London production , spurred on the cast to give their all . And what first - class entertainment it was — a tribute to the hard work and team effort put in by staff and children from the top four classes . Behind the scenes pupils assisted with scene shifting , props , makeup or designing the attractive wall displays and posters . Rostra on different levels denoted the central acting area , with massed choirs on one side . From the other Charles Biggs , Daniel Boden , Frank Bradshaw and Terry Martin took turns to narrate the potted version of Andrew Lloyd Webber 's popular musical .
Idiom: to die for (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ Most of the atrocities had been committed against the civilian population of Singapore and neighbouring areas like Sumatra , Java , Malaya and the Nicobar Islands . ‘ Those found guilty were returned to Changi Jail where they were put into condemned cells to await their fate of execution , mainly by hanging . ‘ Some of these prisoners were arrogant and felt proud to die for their cause ; others were less so and resigned to their fate . ‘ I remember vividly being on night guard prior to the morning executions when some prisoners sang and rattled their tin mugs against the bars in some form of defiance . Some had cut their hair and nails as mementos to return to their families .
Idiom: have it both ways (used idiomatically: yes)
Revelations ‘ The family have a certain mystique which people look up to because they want to . You ca n't have it both ways.’ Prince Michael , 50 , gave the interview at the time of revelations over the state of Charles and Diana 's marriage . He said : ‘ I think the present hoo - ha will die down .
Idiom: make a splash (used idiomatically: yes)
Honest , I did n't even know thinking had been invented . But there I was , and thinking — I may as well say it , thinking bad thoughts about my father . How he was so oppressive , how he was so strong and hairy and his voice was so loud and when he washed of a morning he made splashes in the wash - basin and blew his nose into the water , both nostrils at once into the soapy water and … Well , look , Christ , never mind thinking , like the whole concept of FATHER was alien . Come on , down there in the basement , we just spawned , remember .
Idiom: in the short run (used idiomatically: yes)
Now reconsider equation ( 1 ) . We used that equation to argue that an increase in the money supply must lead either to an increase in P or Y or both . It follows from the above account of the expectations - augmented Phillips curve that in the short - run , both Y and P rise ( and unemployment falls ) , but that in the long - run , unemployment returns to the NUP and Y falls back to that level associated with the NUP . This means that in the long - run , the full effect of any monetary expansion will be on the price level . Adaptive and rational expectations
Idiom: argue the toss (used idiomatically: yes)
The Forum has a Council of Management drawn from organisations with an interest in the nuclear industry , such as British Nuclear Fuels Ltd , UKAEA , Shell Nuclear , Whessoe Heavy Engineering , Fairey Engineering , GEC , Tube Investments , Vickers , Sir Robert McAlpine , the Central Electricity Generating Board , the South of Scotland Electricity Board , Kleinwort Benson and the British Insurance Committee . Through the BNF , these worthy enterprises put the facts about electricity from nuclear power before the public through the many information channels available to it . A remarkable number of MPs attend BNF 's annual autumn meeting , arranged precisely for people who do speak out and argue the toss on nuclear issues . This is quite a feat , for not even when a lunch is offered do my parliamentary colleagues turn up in droves for a morning seminar . But somehow the BNF pull in the parliamentary crowds , as they did last autumn , when it organised a heavyweight panel including Con Allday , managing director of British Nuclear fuels Limited , Ned Franklin , director of the National Nuclear Corporation , Sir Walter Marshall , chairman of the CEGB , and Lewis Roberts , not only director of the Atomic Energy Research Establishment at Harwell , but now also chairman of the recently formed Nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Executive directorate .
Idiom: tit for tat (used idiomatically: yes)
It would be silly to try to represent the duel between the Miller and the Reeve as merely good - natured fraternal leg - pulling . But just as the " Miller 's " energies are concentrated in his sustained and masterful display as a raconteur , the spleen of the Reeve is released in his self - reflection and in his pointed but ultimately harmless fabliau . The pair of fabliaux assimilates the two tellers ; it leaves them standing virtually hand - in - hand rather than at blows ; they are reconciled by the tit - for - tat of fabliau tale - telling . Such an interpretation is not merely a case of reading some preferred assumption into the silence on the subject of the Miller 's relationship with the Reeve that descends after the Reeve has finished his tale . The Reeve is able to round his tale off by repeating the socially integrative prayer with which the Miller ends his tale , and stating that all is now square :
Idiom: break new ground (used idiomatically: yes)
We were the first to act as Arranger and Dealer for a privatised water company . We acted as Dealer on the first Sterling Commercial Paper programme with a syndicated bank guarantee . And we broke new ground when we arranged a £ 150 million programme on behalf of The Mortgage Corporation — the first case of a Sterling Commercial Paper Issuer being backed by a US Investment Bank covenant . ( Three months later , to our mutual delight , The Mortgage Corporation came back for another £ 100 million . ) We 'll help you explore the possibilities of high finance .
Idiom: watering hole (used idiomatically: yes)
This has sensibly not escaped the British heavyweight champion ; so for all the understandable excitement felt when knocking out Tyrell Biggs in the seventh round , by far the most important of 32 consecutive victories he has achieved since turning professional in 1984 , he was not reluctant to focus on the flaws . ‘ I 'm still learning this business,’ he said . Mason occupied two spaces on a tier of seats normally reserved for visitors to his manager 's gymnasium above the Royal Oak , a grimy Victorian watering hole in Canning Town . He wore a luridly decorated black tracksuit and a broad smile . ‘ Did anyone speak to Biggs after the fight?’ he asked .
Idiom: fall short (used idiomatically: yes)
Appendix B is rather one earlier in the process where the European Community have produced a green paper , on European Social Policy , which will have impact upon employment legislation later on in the process . This green paper is capable of being commented on , by this sub - committee through , our normal channel would be the A C C. It does n't contain a lot of detail , it is a matter of principle , and er , hopes and aspirations . Where we think and I mentioned this in the conclusion , and indeed , in the recommendation , where we think as officers it rather falls short , is that , although it does mention in the text , equal opportunities in all our er , activities as we would understand it here . It fails to put forward any options for accept for erm , equal rights , for disability or race , and we think this is an omission , and if it were your intention to write a response , we would want to include that point in the response we make . Thank you , Chris .
Idiom: in the sticks (used idiomatically: yes)
Beryl assessed . ‘ Do n't overdo it . I want you for the West End after your six weeks in the sticks , and you 'll have to have a bit of bosom.’ ‘ West End?’ Sarella had been back two days and her feet had scarcely touched the ground .
Idiom: drop someone a line (used idiomatically: yes)
If my plane does n't crash , and if I do not get kidnapped by organ thieves , I will drop you a line at the beginning of the week .
Idiom: play games (used idiomatically: yes)
I 'll do it . the way going back they got before . Whereas me and you got a team together , you said forty two playing league and four playing here and four playing a league game . That 's right , yes . So you got .
Idiom: on the level (used idiomatically: no)
BELOW Excavations in distant countries with hot climates is the popular idea of archaeology . This excavation is taking place at Tell Akko ( Acre ) in Israel , an important biblical port . This particular part of the excavations is concentrating on the Bronze Age and Iron Age levels . Archaeologists and historians studying the period since writing has been in use — the last few thousand years — examine different types of evidence , although they overlap at many points . For example , a historian will be interested in finding out what is written on a sheet of medieval vellum , whereas an archaeologist will want to know what animal skin was used , how the vellum was made , and what pigments were used for the ink .
Idiom: out of the blue (used idiomatically: yes)
But one night I had a vivid dream of her , that she had died . About two days later she did die , without having been ill or , I understand , having shown any sign of failing . I just dreamed out of the blue that she had died , and then she did die . The other dream was much nearer the bone . I dreamed that Elm Cottage , my father 's old home ( and his father 's and grandmother 's home before him ) , was in terrible distress .
Idiom: lend a hand (used idiomatically: yes)
The gate was the only way through with a bike . Then she thought of the Brownie Promise and the Brownie Law and the Brownie Motto , all of which she knew by heart and had often said aloud when riding along the country lanes , so that she would be able to say them if the wonderful day should come for her to join a Brownie Pack . To do her best and help other people , to think of others before herself , to do a good turn every day , to lend a hand — she was only partly keeping the Promise , the Law and the Motto by setting off to save the Brownies ' van from what could be a nasty mishap . She had to be brave enough to finish the job , braver than she 'd ever been before , really to fulfil the Promise and the Law . Dare she push her bike through that gate — past those fierce horned heads ?
Idiom: pack a punch (used idiomatically: yes)
Well , no . Revell 's tactic has been to make the body four inches deep , to maximise the volume of air within the guitar ; the body is in fact almost as deep as the soundhole rosette is wide . This generous depth , combined with a full - scale neck , a heavily arched back and a lightly - strutted belly , means that the guitar packs a lot more punch than it has any right to — more than a Martin 0–16 New Yorker , I 'd say , although that 's only from memory . However , you 'd buy an instrument like this for tone , not out - and - out volume , and this one possesses a weird and rather wonderful sound : a subtle , silvery treble , slightly nasal and Martin - like G and D strings , and a bass sound that 's tight but surprisingly rich . Stick that lot together along with the teeniest , faintest soupçon of banjo , and you 've got something that sounds almost like a miniature piano .
Idiom: get the better of (used idiomatically: yes)
Despite these injuries , six days later , over the same circuit , he won the Grand Prix des Nations motorcycle race . Nuvolari dovetails his two and four - wheel careers and , in 1927 , won the Rome Grand Prix in a Bugatti . He gave up motorcycling in 1929 when his love of cars got the better of him . Italians were now coming to the fore in car racing thanks to Alfa , and Nuvolari joined the team as the man to spearhead their attack on the German manufacturers . A driver with great skill and courage which belied his frail - looking body , Nuvolari stayed with Alfa until midway through 1933 .
Idiom: join the club (used idiomatically: yes)
Every two months you also receive Stamp Bug News , a topical magazine for club members . It costs three pounds to join for two years , or five pounds to join for five years . Does the idea of joining the Stamp Bug Club , interest you a lot , interest you a little or not really interest you at all ? Not at all . Not at all .