Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: off the shelf (used idiomatically: yes)
Others think so , too ; Gary Moore has just bought a mini ‘ 58 Flying V as a gift for Albert King . The craftsman is Trevor Usher , a guitar maker and former model boat builder . The models shown here — a Tele , a Gretsch , a Flying V , an Explorer and a PRS — are just the tip of the iceberg , since Trevor offers a whole range of handmade miniature guitars either off - the - shelf or custom built to your exact specification . Trevor uses all the appropriately authentic woods for his models — maple , mahogany , koa and alder — and the hardware and detailing is made from materials including solid silver and mother of pearl . The guitars come complete with hardwood and glass presentation cases , and prices start at £ 99 .
Idiom: high and mighty (used idiomatically: yes)
Goebbels 's rousing ' total war ' speech on 18 February 1943 stirred the Party faithful again for a short time . But outside their ranks its reception was a mixed one ; some , in circles of the ' intelligentsia ' , reportedly labelled the speech a piece of ' theatre ' and a ' comedy'designed for those who had always screamed ' Ja'to everything . And what impact it had made was soon dissipated when it was realized that the ' total ' war was still only partial after all , and that the well - to - do and high - and - mighty were still able to avoid the burdens which fell on ordinary people . Some wits even suggested that the answer to the labour shortage which the ' total war ' measures were seeking to combat was to be found by closing down the Propaganda Ministry and combing out Party offices . By March and April morale in the Party had fallen again , and a wave of propaganda meetings aimed at reviving the post - Stalingrad gloom were practically a total failure .
Idiom: sink or swim (used idiomatically: yes)
Despite that , it was taken without any coordination with other eurozone leaders . Moreover , if Greece ’s voters had rejected the deal that has just been proposed to them , the outcome might have foreclosed any further coordination on the country ’s debt problems with the European ~ Union . Greece would have sunk or swum on its own . So , only days after the eurozone ’s heads of state and government congratulated themselves on their summit success , the concept of coordination was shown to be meaningless for the one country where coordination matters most . Papandreou ’s move also exposes the fatal flaw of grand plans for a political or fiscal union to support the euro : the “ people , ” not governments , remain the real sovereign .
Idiom: in my book (used idiomatically: yes)
One option is to re - establish national democratic control over global markets . This is difficult and smacks of protectionism , but it is neither impossible nor necessarily inimical to healthy globalization . As I argue in my book The Globalization Paradox , expanding the scope for national governments to maintain regulatory diversity and rebuild frayed social bargains would enhance the functioning of the global economy . Instead , policy elites ( and most economists ) favor strengthening what is euphemistically called “ global governance . ” According to this view , reforms such as those that enhance the effectiveness of the G-20 , increase the representativeness of the International ~ Monetary ~ Fund ’s Executive ~ Board , and tighten the capital standards set by the Basel ~ Committee on Banking Supervision would be sufficient to provide a sound institutional underpinning for the global economy .
Idiom: breathe down someone's neck (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ I 'm fine . Not a problem in the world.’ Leith , with two very large problems staring her in the face — the mortgage and Naylor Massingham , despite his action yesterday still there metaphorically breathing down her neck — thought a denial preferable to dampening her mother 's present happy frame of mind . ‘ You were always such a capable child,’ Mrs Everett replied cheerfully , having absolutely no idea , Leith knew , of the times she 'd kept childhood and then adolescent worries to herself on account of Sebastian 's suffering either catastrophe or crisis at the same time . ‘ By the way,’ her mother went on , ‘ you never told me that Rosemary Green had left her husband!’
Idiom: over the top (used idiomatically: no)
In that case , if this Thursday ge get anything like the other Thursdays we 've got enough to last . Is there a book for that like ? Er Webb , Webb missed the first one blasted it over the top and Giggs missed one at the end . They scored all theirs and Giggs had to score his Oh yeah .
Idiom: get lost (used idiomatically: yes)
Other teams stood by with bits of wood pressing , like battering rams , on the pedals . ‘ Just a bit of a delay,’ she said . ‘ All the electricity 's got lost.’ There were nomes everywhere . On the Long Drive there had been a whole truck for them .
Idiom: on the ball (used idiomatically: yes)
Here , he scored 20 in a tense hour before being caught high at mid - off by Allen off Verity . By contrast , in the second innings , when Australia 's tailenders had been sent in early on a wet pitch , Darling found himself going in No . 9 with 511 on the board and his side 635 ahead . Allen bowled him — played on — first ball . Darling 's mark had been made on his final Test , however , with three catches in England 's first innings , two of them at short leg quite startling . Three weeks later his last first - class innings brought him 62 for Victoria at Sydney , and then marriage took him to Adelaide , where he spent the rest of his days .
Idiom: out of sight (used idiomatically: yes)
" Come in , he 's out of sight , " said his sister , obviously leading her mother in by the hand .
Idiom: apples and oranges (used idiomatically: yes)
by sticking to that . I 'd get up in the morning I 'd have my two pieces of wholemeal bread toasted with a scraping of marmalade on , right , and my butter cos I like that . For my dinner then I 'd have er jacket potato with tuna then about four o'clock I would have an apple and an orange and maybe a Mars Bar cos right . And then before eight o'clock then I would make myself a big meal , I 'd have a , a huge salad I 'd do tinned potatoes cos they were , on this diet tinned potatoes are n't fattening Are n't they ?
Idiom: make the cut (used idiomatically: yes)
And it 's a , it 's a tendency which I think we shall regret . It 's the last place that cuts ought to be made . But supposing we had to make cuts all the same , supposing we just were forced into it , would you suggest that the best idea would be to close down one or two universities , not Sussex of course but one or two of the other universities ? I do n't really think that , that this is likely to , to be an option which governments have to consider . I mean if it 's just economies you 're after , closing down an institution 's not the best way to do it , because the plant remains , and , and you ca n't easily get rid of the staff .
Idiom: buy the farm (used idiomatically: yes)
After leaving the prairies in 1937 my working career took me to many lands around the world for 37 years , and I must confess that during all that time I scarcely thought of my old friend Edna Jacques until January of 1974 , when we were living in Anguilla . Over the years Fred Workman and I had kept in touch and in a note with his 1973 Christmas card he had mentioned Edna 's rise to fame and fortune , and gave me her address . She had bought a farm at Willowdale , Ontario . So I wrote to her to recall pleasant memories of the old prairie days . Back came a signed copy of her latest book ' The Best of Edna Jacques ' and a letter typed on the same old machine on which she pounded out her poems .
Idiom: every last (used idiomatically: yes)
Within a month Renate had lost her job ( ‘ the complaint was that the girl was too slow’ ) and had suffered a sharp decline in health , having contracted chronic catarrh , nervous debility and eczema of the scalp ‘ which made her unable to summon up the courage to get a haircut after a hairdresser had been very rude to her on the subject’ . It took over a year of counselling and treatment to restore Renate to a semblance of ordinary life . By then she could just about face up to the knowledge she had been trying to resist since February 1944 ; that every last member of her family had died in the concentration camps . Histories of debilitating ailments and depression such as Renate 's occur over and over again in the RCM records . In nine cases out of ten , it did not take a professional analyst to detect the cause of the problem .
Idiom: break someone's heart (used idiomatically: yes)
I live in Pentonville.’ ‘ Listen to him ! Make him come home,’ the young woman said to the crowd , ‘ or he 'll kill his dear mother and father , and break my heart.’ Suddenly Oliver recognized the woman he had seen in Fagin 's house . ‘ It 's Nancy!’ he said , without thinking .
Idiom: hit the road (used idiomatically: no)
The two soldiers carrying the wounded Officer dropped him and got down flat , leaving the Officer bleeding and moaning loudly in the middle of the road . I quickly looked round . One of the French Commandos had been wounded ; he was lying close to the ditch at the side of the road , obviously in pain , his face the characteristic colour of the soldier who has been hit . Judging by the position he was lying in , he probably has a leg wound . His eyes are wide as he gazes around in a kind of apprehension .
Idiom: no two ways about it (used idiomatically: yes)
Someone who gave good face on film . Someone like Clint . No two ways about it , Clint Schneider was dynamite . At 25 he 'd found his way into the hearts — and often the beds — of every foxy fraulein in the fatherland . Clint had it all : a top filmstar , successful grand - prix driver , gold medal winner at the Munich Olympics .
Idiom: on the make (used idiomatically: yes)
New dealers are then brought in to replace the dishonoured ones . As an ex - Harvard dealing director once pointed out,"Dealers are two a penny nowadays ! This is manifestly untrue of the good ones , but mediocre young men on the make are proliferating . As one manager wryly remarked of his firm : " All aboard the pirate ship ! " Futures salesmen are a tougher breed than share salesmen .
Idiom: stand the test of time (used idiomatically: yes)
Their style is that of The Carpenters , Manilow , Joel and their ilk , but younger and ( street ) wiser , and ‘ Sundrive Road’ is n't sterile . It 's full of emotion that , though managed and sculpted to the mainstream — produced to a glowing sheen by Steely Dan hand Garry Katz — has the integrity to evoke smiles rather than condescension . ‘ I Believe’ and ‘ Rachel’ , already released as singles , will stand the test of time , but it is n't until you hear a song like ‘ Buffaloes’ , with its breathy vocal and unashamedly pretty piano , that you see how and why Swim stand to make a big impression , if not here then in America , where their musical heart has its spiritual home . ‘ Road’ , with its sweet country twist , is a song destined for Nashville if e'er there was . ‘ Then Love Begins’ only lives to be heard on some Midwestern FM easy listening station — which you may find funny or sad in itself .
Idiom: tip the scales (used idiomatically: yes)
He must have known that in her hurt and disillusion she would have been unable to work , to do her vital revision . Geography is n't a difficult subject . I think that knowledge tipped the scales . She knew she was going to jail . She was devastated by the loss of Dominic .
Idiom: kiss ass (used idiomatically: yes)
' I never did understand , an old man like that and a five - star general to boot , why he went around dressed up like a nineteen - year - old Second Lieutenant , ' said Truman , reminiscing years afterwards to Merle Miller . ' There were times when he was n't right in the head . And he just would n't let anybody near him who would n't kiss his ass . ' And so the telegram was sent , a come - uppance which deserves quotation as an act that may have saved the world from early extinction by sheer megalomania : ' I deeply regret that it becomes my duty as president and Commander - in - Chief of the United States military forces to replace you as Supreme Commander , Allied Powers ; Commander - in - Chief , United Nations Command ; Commander - in - Chief , Far East ; and Commanding General , U. S. Army Far East . — Harry S. Truman , Commander - in - Chief . '
Idiom: break new ground (used idiomatically: yes)
GARDEN DIY A new Expert book has been brought out in time for Christmas . Called the garden DIY expert , it is the latest addition to Dr Hessayon 's record - breaking range of Expert gardening books , and it literally breaks new ground . The garden DIY expert makes an ideal Christmas present for the keen and not - to - keen gardener , as it will be used all year round . Winter , spring , summer and autumn — there 's always something that needs doing out there .
Idiom: rank and file (used idiomatically: yes)
A character model may be armed with any weapons available to the troops themselves , subject to the usual restriction regarding weapon use — for example , it is impossible to wield a double - handed axe and a halberd as both require two hands to use . In the case of characters the models must actually carry the weapons ascribed to them . Note that regimental champions ( Bosses ) are always assumed to be armed and equipped exactly as the rank and file members of their regiment . Items marked with an asterisk ( * ) are not used by Orc or Goblin troops and are not therefore available to your army 's characters . They have been included out of a sense of completeness .
Idiom: break the ice (used idiomatically: yes)
And that does do that . So to start with what we 're doing is just having a little assessment , seeing what sort of driving erm techniques that you have . And also we can have a little chat , providing it does n't upset any concentration , just to break the ice and settle in and er relax you and to drive normally . And er I say , we 're we 're not here to er nitpick , picking up every little fault that a driver does going along the road . Cos it does n't matter who you are or what you are , reverse the roles , everybody makes mistakes when you 're driving .
Idiom: catch fire (used idiomatically: yes)
Fireworks are explosives . All carry a measure of danger . Firemen want people to wear clothes which wo n't catch fire . Even the humble sparkler can cause horrific injuries when combined with a highly flammable shell suit . Male speaker
Idiom: change hands (used idiomatically: yes)
by Barbie Dutter NEWS REPORTER A MYSTERY buyer is to take over one of Edinburgh 's leading shopping centres . The Cameron Toll centre , which attracts 200,000 shoppers per week , is expected to change hands for more than £ 30 million . The deal is expected to go through in March after structural checks are complete . Centre manager Susan Nicol said the management team would remain the same and there would be no noticeable difference to shoppers or tenants in the way Cameron Toll was run — although it was hoped the new owners would invest in a facelift for the centre .
Idiom: easy does it (used idiomatically: no)
boy erm easy does it easy does it erm not talking to me for some reason . erm something like play it cool boy I do n't know what it is , it 's really crap though .
Idiom: have a heart (used idiomatically: no)
It is a tricky decision , though . The manager ca n't justifiably desert either of his regulars at the moment but knows that if he walked the street and canvassed the fans there would be only one answer : bring on the Frenchman ! I 'll make a further prediction that if ‘ Eric the Enigma ’ is substitute , Ferguson will pray for the chance to bring him on and bask in the reception for a stylist after Old Trafford 's heart . Two consecutive wins and the signing of the year have lifted a great weight from the place . But the Manchester derby is no scene for false optimism .
Idiom: get on someone's nerves (used idiomatically: yes)
she can insulate the house . Well that do n't stop it from getting on her nerves does it ? Yeah , but it do n't get on her nerves that 's the whole point ! I mean she 's obviously able to throw it off . I mean , she 's in there Mick .
Idiom: beg the question (used idiomatically: yes)
If one is still searching for ways to explain this absence , believing with most ethologists , socio - biologists , and even some social anthropologists that aggression is part of human nature , then the obvious place to look is for some form of ritual as catharsis , or try to identify some other culturally constructed behaviour pattern which allows the individual Chewong to shed negatively valued arousal states , like anger , which according to such theories would build up and erupt in uncontrolled violent behaviour . Not only have I been unable to identify any such ritual — it would , for instance , be incorrect to interpret the shamanistic seance as practised by the Chewong in such terms — but other practices , analogous to eskimo dog beating as presented by Briggs ( 1970 ) are equally absent . However , I would argue that it begs the question to phrase it in such a way . I do not disregard the possibility that some rituals in some societies do indeed perform such a function , but this interpretation would be meaningful only if the members of those societies could be shown in their various ideas and practices — in particular those concerning personhood — to endorse such an interpretation . In other words , let us avoid a priori assertions about human nature and try instead to perform a systematic explication of indigenous ideas concerning human nature and social and cosmological relationships .
Idiom: hard as nails (used idiomatically: yes)
His late father Gordon Wood , will be well remembered by an earlier generation . He played for the British Lions , winning at least two test places on the 1959 side in New Zealand . Young Keith looks a great prospect , a fast and astute runner with the ball , hard as nails in driving play , a good kicker and passer . Some hooker ! But what impressed most viewers of the deliberations at Thomond Park was the crisp passing of the Garrowen backs when the opportunity arose for spreading the ball wide , something that does n't often occur in local derbies at Thomond Park .
Idiom: on paper (used idiomatically: yes)
Next question . Viscount Montgomery of My Lords , I beg leave to ask the question standing in my name on the Order Paper . My Lords , the Government er plans to dispose of the land St Pancreas site , once it is no longer needed for the building project , the British Library is preparing a case for retaining some of the land for further library buildings . We shall of course consider the Library 's proposals carefully when they 've been finalised .
Idiom: fair game (used idiomatically: yes)
By fighting back only when the bully attacks you , you are allowing him or her to pick the time and the place that suits them ; it may be a good idea to reverse the roles . The whole point of the exercise is that the bully knows what you intend to do . Tell him that you have decided to wage unrestricted war ; that , from this moment on , he is fair game ; that you may attack him without warning at any time ; that he will be at risk whenever he is in or near the school or club where the bullying takes place . He will immediately be under pressure . Even if he is not frightened , he will still have to be on guard at all times — just in case you jump out and attack .
Idiom: off the cuff (used idiomatically: yes)
The council tax is related to the number of people in a house , but it offers more generous treatment for people such as students , who will not add to the household bill . Have Ministers considered taxing people who accommodate students as a business the universal business rate rather than the property rate , and whether that might be a way of avoiding any burden falling on students ? I raise that as an off - the - cuff thought . We must also make it crystal clear how much shopkeepers , who gave us so much flak when we introduced the business rate and the community charge , will now be paying . They will still pay the universal business rate , but what will they contribute to the new council tax ?
Idiom: streets ahead (used idiomatically: yes)
Labour 's front bench wants the party to appeal more to middle class voters . But former deputy leader Roy Hattersley has already made a defiant call for a return to traditional Labour values . Soaps are streets ahead in Top 100 Matthew Benns And this is what TV viewers have been watching this year …
Idiom: take the bull by the horns (used idiomatically: yes)
But the low end must be driven hard by Novell . Thus it is that the company is halving its prices , making it clear that the competition with NT will be serious . This is not a desperation move , he insists , but is a pre - emptive strike against Microsoft : ‘ We are taking the bull by the horns’ . BEAME & WHITESIDE LAUNCHES BW - SERVER SOFTWARE FOR REMOTE ACCESS Dundas , Ontario - based Beame & Whiteside Software unveiled its BW - Server at the InterOp show earlier this month .
Idiom: steal someone's thunder (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ But we never takes things like this lightly , so everyone was taken off the aircraft so it could be searched,’ he said . — Reuter Coppers narked as thieves steal their thunder By Frank Urquhart THE villagers listened patiently as a very senior policeman tried to persuade them they could do without their village bobby .
Idiom: on the hop (used idiomatically: yes)
Picking up the underwear from the chair , she dumped it on the floor . ‘ You have a sit down , luv , and I 'll go and get myself ready . Sorry about the mess but you caught me on the hop like . I 'll only be ten minutes . She disappeared through a door that George had not noticed before and called over her shoulder , ‘ Take your coat off and get comfy.’
Idiom: hit the road (used idiomatically: yes)
The zoo can bring something new to almost every activity under the sun . MULTI COLOURED ROAD SHOW In May , the Multi - Coloured Roadshow hit the road on its way to Avoniel and Andersonstown Leisure Centres . The theme was ‘ Light and Colour’ with the Ulster Museum Science Bus providing fascinating experiments and equipment to demonstrate the properties of light — including the ‘ Laser Amazer’and ‘ Plasma Dome’(see right ) . The zoo provided a variety of animals ranging from chameleons to fire salamanders to show how animals use colour in nature for camouflage , warning and display .
Idiom: lie low (used idiomatically: no)
Irrigation is necessary to sustain the crops which grow on the fertile , loess - covered lowlands of one of Europe 's richest grain - growing regions . Paradoxically , large - scale drainage and flood - control measures are also needed at other times of the year . The Danube and its principal tributaries , the Sava , Drava and Tisa , rise in areas where heavy rainfall is supplemented by melt water from Alpine glaciers , causing frequent inundation on the low - lying ground further downstream . The Vardar region The Vardar river , which flows through the centre of the Macedonian republic , reaches the Aegean Sea near Salonika .
Idiom: all in a day's work (used idiomatically: yes)
Without the dehumidifier the crew would often be cold and wet even before they set off on a mission . Now they will always have a warm start ' . All in a day 's work A new committee was formed in the Acomb area of York in January of this year and is already enjoying a great success with its fund raising efforts . The members were very busy on 1 June when they held a grand tombola at the finish of the annual raft race in York .