Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: hang by a thread (used idiomatically: no)
There was never even a possibility that Barney Clark would ever be more than a wretched cripple . His future , if he had one , involved being permanently connected , by two six foot hoses , to a massive power unit weighing 375 lb . His life would be forever hanging , literally , by a thread , except in this case the ' thread ' would be a couple of plastic tubes . The likely misery he faced was recognised in a lengthy legal document that he was required to sign before the deed was done . One of the grotesque provisions it contained gave him the ' right'(on whose authority — God Almighty 's ? ) to terminate his own life if he found his state unbearable .
Idiom: put the cart before the horse (used idiomatically: yes)
In other words , creation of wealth must precede its distribution . Labour 's promissory notes can not be met by a scale of personal taxation which will become increasingly regressive . It is Labour 's insistence on putting the cart before the horse which fills me with gloom . Labour retains a fatal mistrust in the only assured source of wealth which , warts and all , is the market economy . To re - phrase Churchill on our democracy , the market economy is a very bad system — yes : Guinness , Maxwell , BCCI , Blue Arrow underline its frailties — but no one has yet found a better one .
Idiom: bottom drawer (used idiomatically: no)
People would be auctioning off whole police stations under his nose The broken fragments of the crucifix looked like some bizarre act of desecration . He laid them out on the desk , got a plastic bag out of the bottom drawer of the filing cabinet and swept all the bits and pieces into it . Then he put on his overcoat and pushed the package deep into the pocket . It was almost eight o'clock and the streets were dead apart from a little through traffic .
Idiom: pull a face (used idiomatically: yes)
A cake . Yes your exceedingly slow tonight , even slower than usual . Do n't pull a face . I 'm not . I 'll give you who 's not .
Idiom: speak your mind (used idiomatically: yes)
Working towards incompatible goals can cause a great deal of psychological stress . Nobody can function effectively when attempting to move simultaneously in opposite directions . Examples of some pairs of goals that are inconsistent in all but the rarest cases are : ‘ have children’ and also ‘ have a great deal of freedom’ ; ‘ rise to the top of your profession’and ‘ never work weekends or evenings’ ; ‘ have strong opinions , speak your mind,’and ‘ still have everybody like you’ . Finding incompatible goals may cause you to drop one or more from your list , or reduce the importance of some goals . At the very least , spotting conflicting goals will alert you to potential problems .
Idiom: ring a bell (used idiomatically: yes)
And he 'd got a strip of steel about four inches the half inch and he stuck at the back of his , i it was a long seat that were a four of us sat on with iron legs and they stuck it in the wood and you 'd flip it and it i , you know how it would sto Yeah . And she ke , said yo when th , one day when there was , went out for play time quarter of an hour they rang the bell , she asked me to stop and help her with some papers . But I found out afterwards that was a subterfuge . When they 'd all gone out she says er , what 's that noise they keep making ?
Idiom: call the shots (used idiomatically: yes)
I suppose she thought that it would be mild occupational therapy , but it changed my life . Now I 'm sewing full - time with a small business to bolster my sense of self . ' A few months ago , Joe slunk back home and , although old patterns have not yet been established , Amy feels she has the strength and confidence to call some shots . ' He 's still in a separate bedroom , ' she says , ' and I 've insisted we go for couples counselling . He needs it because I suspect he 's hooked on the secrecy and excitement that could easily make him run off again . '
Idiom: carrot and stick (used idiomatically: yes)
On a clear day you can see the Cathedral . ' Turner had faced back towards the exit from the yard , but he hesitated , saying , ' I know what your game is , Doyle . Carrot and Stick . You 're the Carrot and I do n't want to meet the other fellah . Get my meaning ? '
Idiom: doom and gloom (used idiomatically: yes)
ROCK /Definite articles : LLoyd Bradley on The The at the Town & Country By LLOYD BRADLEY UP UNTIL Mind Bomb it was easy to see why Matt Johnson had never toured The The during its 10-year life span : the group was never more than a shifting collection of session players and ‘ guests’ , songs so devoted to doom and gloom limited audiences to Exit members , the lunacy of the extended format Infected video implied visions far beyond the confines of the stage , and an inflated sense of his own worth would have made the risk of failure too great . But the new album changed all that , with gutsy , chart - orientated pop music , spiced by thought - provoking lyrics . Built around this album , The The at the Town & Country provided as near perfect a late - Eighties rock show as anyone could want .
Idiom: come clean (used idiomatically: yes)
I said I got ta tell you something . He said what ? I said I got ta come clean with you . He said what ? I said you know you 've been having them cherries ?
Idiom: go west (used idiomatically: no)
AUSTRALIAN captain Allan Border and fast bowler Merv Hughes were reported by umpires for dissent during the last day of the drawn First Test against the West Indies in Brisbane yesterday . Hughes exchanged words with umpire Steve Randell after a confident appeal against Richie Richardson was turned down when he was on 47 . The West Indies captain went on to make a match-saving 66 . Later , Border exchanged words with Randell . The two were reported under the new International Cricket Council code of conduct .
Idiom: on the ground (used idiomatically: yes)
Home comfort for Chelsea CHELSEA 'S future at Stamford Bridge was assured tonight after the Royal Bank of Scotland bought the west London stadium . The club now has a 20-year lease on the ground with an option to buy , and relieved chairman Ken Bates said : ‘ I am delighted and very appreciative of the totally supportive role taken by the Royal Bank of Scotland , who have been instrumental in keeping Chelsea at Stamford Bridge . ‘ Chelsea fans everywhere have every reason to celebrate their good fortune . ’ The Bank refused to reveal the amount paid to previous owners Cabra Estates , but they have told Bates that Chelsea do not have to pay any part of the purchase price for up to 20 years .
Idiom: out of pocket (used idiomatically: yes)
A Letter of Licence , by which creditors agreed to postpone claims , brought only temporary respite and did not remove the evil day . As seen , no such means of escaping their liabilities was available to non - traders . In any case , if Parson Woodforde 's manservant Ben Leggatt found himself temporarily ‘ out of pocket’ , all he had to do was to pawn the best pair of trousers he had been wearing over the weekend and redeem them in time for church on Sunday . Since the Act of 1800 pawnbrokers were allowed to charge an annual interest of 20 per cent on all sums under 42s , and 15 per cent on larger sums . A customer who wanted to raise more than ten pounds had first to agree terms and interest with the pawnshop - owner .
Idiom: set eyes on (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ It was Rose 's idea , but I went along with it willingly enough . How was I to know she 'd meet that wretched man ? The minute she set eyes on him , she seemed to take leave of her senses — and he 's been playing up to her the whole time . Ca n't she see what a fool she 's making of herself?’ ‘ I agree it does n't seem an ideal relationship , but surely , the more you oppose it , the more … ’
Idiom: on the money (used idiomatically: yes)
Unions yesterday accused Rolls - Royce of ' blackmailing ' workers into leaving by threatening they could lose enhanced redundancy payments worth thousands of pounds . Alex Ferry , confederation general secretary , said workers were saying managers were telling them compulsory redundancies were essential and warning of a ' last in , first out ' selection procedure . He added : ' Managers are saying if trade unions at local level are not prepared to sign agreements , management will not pay the Rolls - Royce additional severance payments and would fall back on state money . ' White collar workers at Bristol , Rolls - Royce 's second biggest plant , have already held a ballot and rejected industrial action . The threat of compulsory redundancies at car giant Ford has been averted , it was announced yesterday .
Idiom: in the black (used idiomatically: yes)
A man in a black ~ dress is pulling a cart and is standing in front of two men who are seated on a park ~ bench
Idiom: go hand in hand (used idiomatically: yes)
Small towns , therefore , occupied a defined economic niche , even if it is but imperfectly understood . At one level , they would have supplied a range of services and facilities for a resident agricultural population and for travellers on the roads and rivers ; at another , they would have provided periodic or permanent markets for the surrounding countryside in exchange for agricultural products . In most cases the development of these functions would have gone hand in hand with the growth of the settlement and would have been directly related to the increasing dependence of the surrounding hinterland on the goods and services which it could provide . The better and more diverse they were , then the greater the area of influence which could be ‘ captured’ , and correspondingly the more important a site in the economic and urban hierarchy . Additionally it has been recognized that the largest concentrations of first - class villas often clustered around the small towns in preference to major towns or cities .
Idiom: behind closed doors (used idiomatically: yes)
Like so much of the social security system it had become regarded as politically untouchable . My experience with the pensions inquiry had already taught me one invaluable lesson . It is simply not necessary to make all policy behind closed doors . Indeed , obsessive secrecy can be entirely counterproductive for policy - makers . It creates suspicion and alienates the public .
Idiom: turn the tables (used idiomatically: yes)
It 's diluted with methylated spirits . And it 's raw linseed oil , you dip your you have it in a dish and you dip this pad into the into this dish and you put a little drop of raw linseed oil on that , and you work it in and you go round and round in circles and you you know , I mean , and that 's left . You maybe turn this table upside down and then you work on the legs . Mhm . The same procedure .
Idiom: things that go bump in the night (used idiomatically: no)
And children 's stories . Tales Told in November . Things that go bump in the night . And an epic which they say is unreadable . ' ' I think the feminists are interested in her , ' said Paola .
Idiom: have a heart (used idiomatically: no)
Thoughts misinterpreting bodily sensations These thoughts stem from our misunderstanding of our physical sensations . These include ‘ I 'm having a heart attack’ , ‘ I 'm going to pass out’ , ‘ I 'm dying’ . These thoughts occur because people imagine something very serious must be wrong with their body to cause the symptoms that they are experiencing . Such catastrophic thoughts are central in increasing our anxiety and thus making the physical symptoms worse .
Idiom: with a will (used idiomatically: yes)
They added their prayers to those of the other women . Hareem prayer mats were spread next to the braziers and the women began petitioning God for the health of the boy . They set about their prayers with a will , always , of course , adding the final coda that His will be done . Sometimes after their formal prayers , which were said a minimum of five times a day , they continued to sit with their feet in front of them while they carried on long conversations with God . Informal though respectful chats .
Idiom: have the last laugh (used idiomatically: yes)
He took his beads from the small purse . They hung loose from his hand . ‘ Anyhow it no longer matters to you or to me , but whoever has the last laugh in the whole business is going to have to spend a hell of a length of time laughing . We have to try to work as best we can and pray .’ He looked so strained and tired that they offered to say the Rosary in his room but he brushed the offer aside .
Idiom: pull out all the stops (used idiomatically: yes)
Jill Kelly has volunteered to set - up the Society stand and man it on Saturday and Elsie Streek will on Sunday but they would both appreciate some help , to give them a break during the day , from amy teacher who will be there . 7 MEMBERSHIP Last you pulled out all the stops and we reached our target of 3202 . This year we need to show a 5 % increase but are currently 200 down on last year . PLEASE KEEP RECRUITING NEW CLASS MEMBERS — do n't forget they get three months free ( Oct / Dec ) by paying 1989 membership now :
Idiom: rough and ready (used idiomatically: yes)
Following Fillmore ( 1971b ) , let us first distinguish two kinds of deictic usage , namely gestural usage and symbolic usage . Terms used in a gestural deictic way can only be interpreted with reference to an audio - visual - tactile , and in general a physical , monitoring of the speech event . As a rough - and - ready guide , one can think of these gestural usages as requiring at least a video - tape of the speech event if the proper interpretation is to be available from a recording . Instances would be demonstrative pronouns used with a selecting gesture , as in:(23 ) This one 's genuine , but this one is a fake or second or third person pronouns used with some physical indication of the referent ( e.g. direction of gaze ) , as in:(24 ) He 's not the Duke , he is . He 's the butler There are usually a few words in a language that can only be used gesturally : for example there are presentatives like French voici , and toasts like British English cheers .
Idiom: run riot (used idiomatically: yes)
For example , he refers to Dozmary Pool as being perpetually drained by piskies with leaking shells . As every true Cornishman knows , it was the wicked Tregeagle who was supposedly punished with this thankless task . Further West Borrow really let his imagination run riot , writing of the ‘ sacrificial rock’ on Carn Brae above Redruth and the gulleys as ‘ … outlets for the blood to stream down’ . He was , however , intrigued to talk in Mousehole with those who claimed to have known Dolly Pentreath , the last native speaker of Cornish , who had died in 1778 . He wrote also of an old man who had supposedly been snowed in , in pitch darkness , inside his stone hut , for thirty hours .
Idiom: on the ball (used idiomatically: yes)
And with military police on hand to keep out the hordes of autograph hunters that will dog the tourists ' every footstep over the next 10 weeks , there were no interruptions . With only four days to go before Sunday 's opening three - day game against Bombay , the Ranji Trophy Chamions , the batsmen welcomed the practice . Vice - captain Alec Stewart said : ' Practising indoors at Lilleshall before Christmas was ideal for getting the feel of bat on ball , but it 's always different outside . ' The wickets have n't got as much pace , and the light is different . It takes time to adjust . '
Idiom: in light of (used idiomatically: yes)
The deposit system has been devised in response to strong representations made by both voluntary and private sector providers on the importance of maintaining a pattern of cash flow as similar as possible to current arrangements . A copy of the Service Agreement is available from the Department on request . You will appreciate that it may be subject to redrafting in the light of experience . Meetings with the Reference Group of local providers will continue periodically to allow Lothian 's purchasing arrangements to be reviewed ; in addition we are pleased to receive feedback at any time . FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON LOTHIAN SOCIAL WORK 'S PURCHASING ARRANGEMENTS , PLEASE CONTACT :
Idiom: in the red (used idiomatically: yes)
Because once the vigorous discussion , rarely does anyone sit and accuse us of having had clearly party political discussions , we had a job of work to do and as a result of that job of work is in front of you now in items one and two . Item one deals with further delegations and aspects of further delegations er to primary and secondary schools . The officers on part of the panel have consulted schools very carefully about the last remnants of possible delegation which might arise and the recommendations are as presented to us in red , set out in section three . Section three point one gives aspects of further delegation which the panel considers after consultation with schools should not be proceeded with in nineteen ninety four , ninety five and justification for that is in the papers which is attached to agenda item one . It should be realised of course that this does not close the door on further delegation each year should indeed there be indication from the schools that they would so wish .
Idiom: take to the hills (used idiomatically: no)
Hungarians put their surname before their christian names . Adam Clark was the Scotsman who designed the Széchenyi Bridge . The tér is in fact a busy roundabout from behind which a cable car takes you up on to Castle Hill and the ancient fortress area of Buda . From the tér it was only a short walk along Fö utca ( Clan Chief Street ) to the Jardin . The menu was an exercise in school French , but the food was good , even if it bore no relation to anything I knew as French cuisine .
Idiom: catch a cold (used idiomatically: yes)
It looks like the temperature is going to drop tonight , so be careful not to catch a cold .
Idiom: food for thought (used idiomatically: yes)
This concerns matters such as heirarchy , scale , harmony , decoration and art . There is also a photograph and model tour of the buildings the Prince likes and dislikes , including the development of a new suburb for Dorchester . At the very least , the exhibition provides food for thought : as the 21st century nears , do we really want architecture that looks as if it was built in the 18th ? WHAT THE CRITICS SAID Prince Charles ‘ is incapable of distinguishing between the good and the bad , only between what looks old and what looks new … ’ Martin Pawley , Daily Telegraph .
Idiom: make or break (used idiomatically: yes)
K - series : first ' turn - key ' Caterham None of the companies we spoke to would forecast how many cars they aim to sell in 1993 , nor how many customers who would previously have bought kits are expected to switch to type - approved cars . But Chris Smith sums up the make - or - break situation of the market in turmoil : ' The low end of the market is thinner than it used to be , and the other buyers do n't want to mess around with scrapyards . ' From Calibra to Viper Bob Eaton , the man who brought Lotus to GM and gave us the Calibra , is about to become chairman of Chrysler .
Idiom: get stuck in (used idiomatically: no)
The Kurdish refugees want to see Saddam 's promises enforced by American power ; some of the 500,000 who fled to Turkey have drifted home , but not the 1 m who fled to Iran . Yet the confusion in Dohuk , a Kurdish city left empty by the flight of refugees , shows how all decisions hung on an autonomy agreement . The Americans and British , intent on not getting stuck in the town , wandered in and out talking of electricity and sanitation , then said they would send a few soldiers for a short time . The United Nations , having agreed with the Baghdad government that some 500 UN security men can be stationed in Iraq , sent ten guards in five white Land - Rovers from its Geneva office . Iraq 's soldiers retreated a few miles from the town ; its policemen were still there masquerading as traffic cops .
Idiom: against the grain (used idiomatically: yes)
Indeed , information from sacked ministers and sympathisers in the police ensured that the ULFA 's leaders all evaded the army crackdown that followed . The ULFA may now simply oblige the Asom Gana Parishad to accept its nominees as candidates for election . That may go against the grain for some AGP leaders , who entered politics as advocates of non - violence . But their main aim is to rid Assam of ‘ foreigners’ , by which they mean virtually all Bengalis , whether from Bangladesh or not . In power , they found it legally difficult to identify and expel illegal immigrants , so many now think the ULFA has the more effective solution .
Idiom: fight fire with fire (used idiomatically: yes)
JACK CHARLTON 'S Republic of Ireland last night were warned by the Spanish to prepare themselves for World Cup war tonight . The last salvos were fired between the rival managers when Spain 's Javier Clemente threatened to turn the Roman Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium into a battleground . Spain , clearly fearing Ireland 's physical strength , have decided to fight fire with fire in this Group Three qualifier . Clemente said : ‘ If Ireland want a war , then Spain must take protection . My Spanish players must have a strong , physical approach.’
Idiom: out of the box (used idiomatically: no)
When I was n't with the animals I spent hours playing with my favourite toy , a large piece of wood which I pretended was our horse , Dicks . I also had two dollies , one made for me by our great family friend , Mrs Fawcett , the other stitched by my mother from an old piece of quilted petticoat . Sometimes I would make a house out of the large old boxes stacked in the yard , and take in my dollies and set up home . I was perfectly happy until I was sent to school at the age of five . I was very shy and not the sharpest of children .
Idiom: on the back of (used idiomatically: yes)
He decided the five were entitled to their £ 13 ticket money back plus £ 7 costs . Delighted Mr Mitchell , 32 , from Birmingham , said : ‘ Ours was a victory for the paying customer . ‘ The terms for refunds were on the back of our tickets which meant we did not see them until after we had made the purchase.’ Warwickshire refused to comment . The Test and County Cricket Board were last night seeking urgent talks with major counties to consider an appeal .
Idiom: dig deep (used idiomatically: no)
Our ration is used up and there 's no more till Tuesday . There 's saccharin on the tables , though.’ Vi dug deep into the pocket of her broad canvas belt and placed three sixpenny pieces on the counter . That was something else she would have to get used to , she supposed . No purse .
Idiom: take someone to task (used idiomatically: yes)
Other writers expanded on , and embellished , earlier statements on the ' freedom of the press ' , its role in society and its practices . The press acquired an educational role and the role of ' watchdog ' : . it was the ' fourth estate ' taking governments to task and protecting the public interest as well as representing public opinion ; and it could also help create a politically literate society . In all these intricate ways , the press became the channel par excellence through which political debate was to be conducted and political society came into existence and survived . The nature of political representation and the meaning of ' public opinion ' would all change as a consequence of the existence of the press .
Idiom: hold someone's hand (used idiomatically: yes)
I have breakfast with Ali the next morning . I ask why , unlike the old days , everyone , everywhere , seems to love him . ' Because I 'm b aadd , ' he clowns , but them holds up his shaking hand , spreads his fingers and says : ' It 's because of this . I 'm more human now . It 's the God in people that connects them to me . '