Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: with open arms (used idiomatically: yes)
The environmental pressure group Greenpeace decided to highlight a particular nuclear power station as part of its ambitious post - Chernobyl campaign to have all nuclear installations shut down within four years . Hinkley Point was its chosen target . The Greenpeace support was welcomed with open arms . It enabled the small voluntary group to employ two part - time staff — initially myself and Trevor Houghton , who was later replaced by Danielle Grunberg . And it was able to set off on a totally different , and more professional , tack .
Idiom: out of the question (used idiomatically: yes)
My case packed for an emergency is in that cupboard over there . And a couple is less conspicuous than a man on his own … ' ' Out of the question . ' Tweed forcibly removed her hands , walked across to the stand near the door , donned his old Burberry . He picked up the executive case , his suitcase .
Idiom: rule of thumb (used idiomatically: yes)
An officer must know some chemistry and biology , and the local geology and geography . He must , in particular , be familiar with the science of water treatment and purification processes , and well acquainted with manufacturing and agricultural techniques in order to understand local industrial and farming problems . Knowledge of the law relating to control of water pollution , beyond a broad conception of the pollution offences , however , is regarded as unimportant and is claimed by only a small minority of field men , because the job is done ' by experience ' and the application of rules - of - thumb — not ' by the book ' . As long as they know what kinds of acts or events might be prosecutable , they take the view that the arcane business of the law is best left to senior staff . But the real job ( rather than the ideal version articulated by younger men ) is , as we shall see , much less about the application of science and technology to the measurement and control of pollution than the use of negotiating and bargaining skills to secure compliance .
Idiom: on the ropes (used idiomatically: yes)
When his head jerked back to look up at Grant again , it was n't his teeth that were gleaming in the dark now , it was the whites of his eyes , wide with fear . For a sickening moment he swung wildly on the rope and one of his feet slipped a few inches down the wall . Grant 's heart leapt into his mouth and he was convinced Larsen was going to lose his nerve , then his grip on the rope , to plummet down to an unthinkable death . But then the other man seemed to regain control of himself , for the next moment he was shinning up the rope as though he had just realised his life depended on it — quite literally ! Seconds later , Larsen tumbled breathlessly over the edge of the stone coping , helped by a strong one - handed pull on his collar from Grant .
Idiom: nothing doing (used idiomatically: yes)
Yes . Well I knew someone in and I thought to myself I , perhaps he might lend me a hand ? I did touch them one time you see but of course there was nothing doing he wan me ! Some years afterwards walking down here after he 'd been his for his silver wedding , golden wedding and so on er , coming down that dri drift down from the back he looked at me he said I do n't know boy ! I got a nice bit of money and such like I do n't know who to leave it to .
Idiom: good riddance (used idiomatically: yes)
It 's the players who will suffer because of this , not just this week but for years to come . Tbilisi were good enough to win this tie on the pitch … everyone who saw them in Belfast on Wednesday knows that . But if this is what the club resorts to than good riddance to them . They have sullied the good name of their country ; they desperately wanted to make an impression on Europe and they have — in the most unexpected way . Three cheers to UEFA for taking such swift action — in contrast to the way they dithered with Leeds United and Stuttgart last season .
Idiom: turn heads (used idiomatically: yes)
But inside it was as if something had sucked out furniture , leaving the spirit of the house intact . The cooker was in the kitchen , though the refrigerator was gone . Curtains hung pleasantly in the windows , and it seemed that if she turned her head away and back , then the table might reappear where she had sat , where she had served her soup to her mother , sometimes to her mother 's guests . The rest of the house was the same . In the bedrooms were the curtains she had known all her life , and the fitted carpets remained , but beds and cupboards had been spirited away .
Idiom: crystal clear (used idiomatically: no)
Do n't miss the chance to visit the breathtaking Dolomites . The trip to the wine growing area of Valpolicella is always popular . Swimming : Both resorts have small shingle beaches from which one can swim in crystal clear waters . Watersports : Windsurfing , waterskiing and pedaloes are available for hire . Walking : There are several lovely walks along the lakeside , with the two mile stroll between Bardolino and Garda being a firm favourite .
Idiom: ring a bell (used idiomatically: yes)
Tradition says that Emperor Frederick , who was missing , lives there . A man once attempted to descend into the cave on a long rope tied at the surface to a bell . He could ring the bell when he could descend no further . Reaching the bottom he saw the Emperor Frederick with a long beard , sitting on a golden throne . The Emperor spoke to him and said that as long as he did not speak to anyone in that underground place , nothing would happen to him .
Idiom: dead in the water (used idiomatically: yes)
Admittedly , the Barbarians were considerably below their traditional strength because of the priorities of the cup and league matches in England and Wales but I doubt if the Barbarians would have lost to South Korea if scummaging had been part of the game . Smart teams such as Australia and New Zealand adopted a version of the game played by Sid Going and New Zealand when they beat Scotland on a deeply flooded pitch in Auckland in 1975 . Instead of kicking the ball high so that it splashed down into a lake and bounced backwards , as Going did on that ludicrous day , the Australians and New Zealanders took advantage of the wide open spaces in sevens and kicked long , flat balls which stopped dead in the water . This forced the defender to chase back and dive for the ball in the mud . The men following up therefore had only to pinion the defender and use their momentum to force him backwards to be given yet another kick instead of a scrum .
Idiom: put two and two together (used idiomatically: yes)
More special , perhaps , than is strictly wise . Sometimes I think that girl will break his heart.’ Ronni stared back at her with a sense of helpless inevitability , suddenly , with a shiver , putting two and two together . She had been right in her deduction that he was in love with someone . And that someone , it now appeared , was Silvia , his cousin .
Idiom: from scratch (used idiomatically: yes)
Far from finding hostility she felt people were very receptive , and her second in command was so competent Eva continued to puzzle over her own sideways move . It must have been a delicate situation . Here was someone in the top position virtually starting from scratch as far as the day - to - day running of the various institutions were concerned , When she tried to lay down the law experienced officers found it hard to stomach . Nevertheless they swallowed their wounded pride and did all they could to help if she asked for advice . " She just went out of her way to get to know what was going on . "
Idiom: carry the day (used idiomatically: yes)
This was done . The committee eschewed comment on the administration of the union , but concluded that the nucleus of a bona fide organisation existed and recommended recognition , subject to the union being registered . This report was accepted by the Tyne District and considered at a meeting of the Executive Council of the Shipping Federation on 17 November 1911 , where the views of the North of England Association carried the day and it was resolved " that the recognition of the Seamen 's Union should be based upon freedom of contract and the employment of union and/or non - union seamen and firemen , free from interference of one with the other " . In the meantime the NSFU had been accepted as a registered trade union by the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies in the previous October . In a formal sense at least , the long period in the wilderness was over .
Idiom: for the time being (used idiomatically: yes)
And poor old Mary Morris , how must she feel ? Geoffrey saw her put a couple of suitcases in her car and drive off . So it looks as if she 's left the master , as least for the time being.’ ‘ Trust John to be out of the country,’ Loretta said wistfully . ‘ He was beastly to me on Saturday night , and it would give me great pleasure to tell him I was right all along .
Idiom: come to mind (used idiomatically: yes)
The suspension generally is good , especially cruising fast on the open road , and the car ‘ flows’ through the bends . But on less even surfaces it can be a bit bobbly . Sportily firm , is the phrase that comes to mind — though you can feel the bumps , they 're nicely cushioned . Comprehensively equipped with electric windows ( one touch up and down for the driver ) , central locking power mirrors and so on , the finish reflects the fact that they take a bit of trouble up in Sunderland . This version was listed in the spring at £ 12,796 , with the range from £ 9995 to £ 17,000 .
Idiom: on the back of (used idiomatically: no)
Future plans The long term future for free range chicken looks set fair . It rides on the back of the general move to increased white meat consumption and a greater public awareness of animal welfare issues . Customer visit The first day included a series of slide presentations and guided tours of the departments .
Idiom: see the light of day (used idiomatically: yes)
Manchester died a little and Morrissey retreated to the bedroom typewriter to produce two books . Firstly , and not surprisingly , there was a biography of The New York Dolls ( he had then begun to run The Hew York Dolls fan club ) , then a strange existential affair entitled ' James Dean Is Dead ' which dealt with his hero 's problems with the spoils of success . Both are out of print and according to his publisher ( the wacky John Muir of Todmorden ) are unlikely ever to see the light of day again . ' Morrissey had a wonderful twist of phrase ' , says Muir today , ' His writing was really witty — really very clever but I found his personality fascinating which is why I decided to publish . ' In 1979 Manchester television personality extraordinaire Tony Wilson scraped enough money together to start Factory Records and open the Factory Club in Hulme , consequently rejuvenating the Manchester rock scene .
Idiom: hold water (used idiomatically: yes)
At the meeting he said a lot , but his argument did not hold water .
Idiom: on the ball (used idiomatically: yes)
If there was no shot in or among the human remains , in the cavities of the skull for instance , would it be possible to find it in the soil , among the sand and gravel and pine needles ? Bird shot it would have been or somewhat larger . Rufus had only seen it while eating partridge which had been winged instead of shot in the head and had nearly broken one of his teeth on the tiny ball of lead . He imagined gravel being sifted , all the particles , the minute stones , being picked over by some policeman whose job it was to do that , the tiny flints laid in one tray , the wood fragments in another , and then , in a third , the shot . He could remember so much , he had clear pictures of whole days spent at Ecalpemos , whole conversations recorded that could be rerun in his head .
Idiom: have the last laugh (used idiomatically: yes)
Then it 's group shots and off to a hired room for buffet lunch , more lager , TV interviews and an assessment of the day 's events . Jim Bob says that no way would they have done this if it had been their money , and hopes that everyone got the joke . Looking out over the Brussels skyline , it occurs to me that Carter may well not have that many more opportunities to have the last laugh on a scale like this . From here on in , things could get very serious . Charter USM — the evidence
Idiom: slow burn (used idiomatically: yes)
' I might say this in closing , ' he said , ' … as far as foreign policy goes , Mr Kissinger ( Mr Ford 's secretary of state ) has been the president of this country . Mr Ford has shown an absence of leadership and an absence of grasp of what this country is and what it ought to be . ' Mr Ford recalls in yesterday 's article that his ' slow - burn really reached lift - off ' . When chided by his questioner about signing the Helsinki accords on human rights which , the questioner suggested , allowed the Russians to have dominance in eastern Europe , Mr Ford , as he put it , ' pranced with both feet across the open mine field ' . He declared : ' There is no Soviet domination of eastern Europe , and there never will be under a Ford administration . '
Idiom: across the board (used idiomatically: yes)
£ 750,000 is to be spent to include development work on the main pavilion and a redevelopment and refurbishment of The Meet . Northamptonshire 's pavilion redevelopment and refurbishment was completed in readiness for the start of the 1991 season . The immediate effect of the revenue enhancement however , brought with it a more than proportionate increase in costs across the board and a surplus deflated by approximately £ 100,000 . Gloucesterhire 's redevelopment . The pavilion and new sports hall at Bristol being prepared for the resumption of cricket in June .
Idiom: get to the bottom of (used idiomatically: no)
She was completely at a loss to know how to deal with this man — even more at a loss to know just why he was affecting her this way . Open , friendly and honest by nature herself , she was happiest with others who acted in the same way , but Adam Burns was a riddle she doubted she would ever find the answer to . And yet there was a part of her which longed to get to the bottom of this complex man , an instinct perhaps which told her the quest would be a worthwhile one . With her back still turned to him , she grimaced wryly at her own fancifulness . At this rate she was n't likely even to scrape the surface , and she might as well accept that .
Idiom: at a snail's pace (used idiomatically: yes)
A Just thought of something I tell your dad cos he called you , he said that you go at a snail 's pace did n't he today ? Oh yeah When they were watching the bloody running this afternoon
Idiom: ring a bell (used idiomatically: no)
The attempt to entice six male sperm whales out of Scapa Flow by playing them some fruity dialogue recorded at a whales ' hen night off the Azores has so far failed . With great foresight , the scientists operating this marine 0898 line had also brought a tape of a large male whale — saying what , we know not — presumably in case these were , well , the sort of lads who do n't like girls . That did n't ring their bells either . All that emanated from the depths were some huffy clicking noises , which is apparently the sound of a whale not being turned on . That , and a few water spouts , but then boys will be boys .
Idiom: go public (used idiomatically: yes)
That is one of the attractive things about the business : that there is no long tail . An attractive and profitable investment ? Possibly , but will they ever go public ? ‘ There is no definite plan … if you were going to , you would want to go at the top , and we are still growing.’ Direct Line Insurance is not a listed company , but Peter Wood 's 1991 total remuneration of £ 1.84 m ( up from £ 329,426 in 1990 ) makes him one of Britain 's highest paid businessmen
Idiom: force someone's hand (used idiomatically: yes)
But this is not enough for the likes of Coventry , who are prominent among the complainers . Millwall take a different view . Their policy is to get in among the big clubs on merit , thus forcing television ' s hand . Naturally , East warms to this . ‘ Clubs will get on the box,’ he says , ‘ if they are doing well and at home to one of the big boys .
Idiom: in the short run (used idiomatically: yes)
Indeed , Buzzell and Gale ( 1987 ) also point this out . First , it needs to be made clear that high returns now must be distinguished from high returns in the long run . In a declining market one might well expect a business that had earlier established a dominant share position to be able to trade on this position in the short run and increase prices and profits , because rivals are unlikely to come into the market or compete strongly for market share . Also , it might be able to increase revenues as rivals drop out of the market . This does not mean , however , that one should invest in that declining industry beyond the level justified by short - run returns .
Idiom: in a fog (used idiomatically: yes)
The drive from Alison McLean 's Didcot home to work is relatively short , but it brings back terrifying memories . It 's only 3 months since her car was written off in an accident on the A34 in Oxfordshire ; an accident in which she was lucky to escape with her life . In heavy fog she collided with a lorry . Her Metro spun across the carriageway , hit the crash barrier and ended up in the southbound lane , just avoiding a head on collision with on - coming traffic . She was cleared of blame , so was stunned when she received a letter from the local authority requesting payment for repairs to the crash barrier .
Idiom: call it a day (used idiomatically: yes)
A big hunk of pork had been hanging — in a wagon tipped up on its side The wolf took one look , snatched it off the steel hook — then looked round for somewhere to hide . The Indians ran out of arrows — they decided to call it a day The Chief let out a cry , he was saying goodbye — then in no time they all rode away . Wagons rolled on again through the valley — women laughed 'cause they 'd kept on their hair
Idiom: scratch the surface (used idiomatically: yes)
Ken ? Well I think if I M R O I think if I M R O members had had a compen a compensation responsibility or er then I feel that the members would have would have would have allowed certain things to happen . I mean when one starts to , to scratch the surface , let me just give one example I mean we feel er I M R O fails on on its membership I mean the fact that you had Bishopsgate Investment Management which was the beneficial owner was an organisation in Liechtenstein . Now I M R O asked er we understand for the be the management of that organisation to give accounts for that for the c for the senior company to I M R O prior to its membership about a I think was about eight working days before I M R O approved that membership . We we 've asked I M R O if they actually got those accounts and what they learnt from the er from the Liechtenstein company and they 've told us they ca n't , they ca n't tell us it 's er it 's private correspondence .
Idiom: fall short (used idiomatically: yes)
The first requires the subsidence of a whole series of oceanic islands : the second attempts to use the fluctuating sea levels of the Pleistocene , which are well evidenced by all sorts of phenomena , as the explanation of the features of coral reefs . If we believe in the idea that the most economical hypothesis is the best , then Daly should win , but it seems at present as though the evidence in favour of the subsidence theory , with its ad hoc lowerings of islands , is considerably greater than that for the Glacial Control theory . Let us consider the latter theory first and see where it falls short . Broadly speaking , Daly envisaged a phase of stability in the earth 's crust between the last major earth movements in the Tertiary period . and the oscillating sea levels of the Pleistocene .
Idiom: do the trick (used idiomatically: yes)
Pedxing , No Shoulder , Unlawful To Cross White Line , Traffic Laws Strictly Enforced , Stay In Lane , Upgrade Maintain Speed . Does My Chauffeur Need To Be Told All This ? Would n't DRIVE do the trick ? We came out of the beach - hut belt and slid down on to the barrelling freeway . Now here it comes again — the gnashed , gap - toothed skyline , the graphics , the artwork of New York .
Idiom: work to rule (used idiomatically: yes)
I I dunno there Can you give some idea of how it came about that you in fact decided strike ? When we started well we were in trouble in York When we at then we were going on the go slow system you know , we did n't produce much slate we were on the go work to rule . We let this carry that out for a month or so , and he was very annoyed about it . Everybody went home an , we were all on picket line after .
Idiom: wear the trousers (used idiomatically: yes)
I met him at a dance held in the Airmen 's Mess ( so romantic ! ) , when I 'd only been at Binbrook three weeks . I 'd been on duty in the Met Office since 8 am , and managed to comb my hair and put on some lipstick before going straight down to the dance with June , one of the other Met Waafs . I was not , for once , wearing my battledress trousers , but had put on my uniform skirt with my battledress top . This was the most flattering setup that we had , so therefore it was banned . The battledress trousers were inclined to go baggy and the uniform jacket was a bit severe , so whenever we could get away with it we wore the other two items , and tended to let our hair float over our collars — also banned .
Idiom: join the club (used idiomatically: no)
But a few weeks ago our youth rugby team could n't raise a side because the golf club was holding a junior scratch championship on the same day . I used to play cricket until about ten years ago , when the A470 was driven through the village pitch . So I joined Glyn-Neath Golf Club instead . ‘ Royal Glyn-Neath ’ , we call it , although in those days it was only a little nine-hole course . I 'm the club 's President for life — great honour , that — and in 1985 we launched the bi-annual Max Boyce Classic to raise money for improvements .
Idiom: in the bag (used idiomatically: no)
Although these materials are made from nylon fibres they have a comfortable feel . Some manufacturers use taffeta nylon , cotton , polycotton or viscose for the linings , although these add to the weight of the bag . Ripstop fabrics are used in some top quality bags ; these have a fine grid of stronger fibres running through the fabric , giving extra tear strength without increasing the weight . ZIPS Some manufacturers offer the choice of a full length zip or a short side zip and some sleeping bags have no zip at all .
Idiom: on the rocks (used idiomatically: yes)
THE APOSTLE PAUL Constantly in his writings , the apostle Paul makes reference to the characters and events portrayed in the account of creation as recorded in Genesis . On most occasions he refers to them to underscore a particular fundamental truth and if evolution is true and creation is simply a myth then some great biblical truths are built on sinking sand and not on solid rock . In explaining God 's order in relation to authority , headship , etc . , Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 2 verse 13,'For Adam was first formed , then Eve . ' When warning the Church in Corinth to be on their guard against false preachers and false gospels he wrote ' But I fear lest by any means , as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtility , so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ . '
Idiom: hit home (used idiomatically: no)
Home and away RUGBY LEAGUE 'S Regal Trophy semi-finals on January 2 and 9 will not be staged at neutral venues this season . The first team out of the hat in Monday 's draw will get home advantage . In charge LIVERPOOL 'S David Matthews has replaced Fred Howard on England 's three-man referees ' panel for the Five Nations ' Championship .