Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: walk of life (used idiomatically: yes)
One such was the Countess of Portland , who at Carisbrook Castle ‘ declared she would fire the first cannon’ rather than surrender . The camp followers of the English Civil War , were a curious group . They might be from almost any walk of life from whore to female preacher , and would follow their army ( or any army in some cases ) throughout the campaigns . As part of the baggage train that followed the army , supplying support , women would nurse , launder for , comfort and feed the troops . Their support role was of vital importance and they would be paid for their work , allowing them to keep themselves and their children .
Idiom: under the sun (used idiomatically: no)
But something did delay her ; she stopped and stood to stare at a marvel of nature , so strange as to suspend belief . Admittedly , it was a rather small marvel , but one of such grotesque rarity as to excite the deepest interest , and to earn the highest possible commendation for its discoverer . The marvel sat , in its quiet perfection , on the scented , firmly rounded flowerhead of a white viburnum , its four upfolded wings trembling a little under the early sun : it was a double butterfly . Quietly as a cat stalking a bird , Nicandra approached the heavily blossoming viburnum ( first , of course , disposing of the violets ; luckily there was a pocket in her pinafore ) ; she very much doubted the possibility of picking the viburnum without disturbing its phenomenal occupant . Holding her breath , she forced her nails through the softer stem below its blossom she held it with delight and relief at the sight of the still clinging butterfly .
Idiom: lone wolf (used idiomatically: yes)
An abbreviated version , I suspect . Howard is still a little jealous of his authority , has n't yet quite grasped the new set - up since my Ministry was established . I got the impression you 're something of a lone wolf . I like that.’ ‘ And you 're authorizing me to leave for Brussels , to handle the problem in any way I see fit ?
Idiom: do the trick (used idiomatically: no)
Times have changed and now courageous young men on noble horses come out to kill us with their spears . In this bright new world there is no place for the dragon : no one wants the shadow , wants the dark magic which is as old as the caves in the hills where we dwell . It is not easy to kill a dragon , but it can be done , and there are many handy manuals to teach an aspiring hero the tricks of his trade . It is much much harder to tame a dragon , to embrace a dragon , and to love and accept the darkness and the fear . There are no manuals for this struggle , for it can only be done by those who have pure hearts and sharp wits and the wisdom to know themselves .
Idiom: take the plunge (used idiomatically: no)
Maman lost it — oh go and get her Dada , she 's in the yard and Anderson — I do n't know what Anderson 's going to do to her . " She was crying and jumping up and down . The young horse took a horrified plunge away from the crazy little object . Dada swore at him as he pulled the bit through his teeth before he could get his head up . He bent towards Nicandra .
Idiom: cakes and ale (used idiomatically: no)
Hot cross buns , Simnel cake and Easter biscuits ( see recipes on page 60 ) contain currants and mixed spices that have been eaten at Lent since Elizabethan times , although their use goes back to the Middle Ages when only the rich could afford spice . Spice and fruit breads , similar to hot cross buns , were typical Elizabethan Lenten fare . Cakes and ale were a common combination ; sweet spice buns were eaten with cheese , which was often melted in ale or wine . During the fasting days , especially on Friday when no meat was eaten , a posset often replaced a meal . Posset was heated milk enriched with eggs , sherry or wine , sugar and nutmeg , and it was sometimes accompanied by hot , buttered sweet buns .
Idiom: round the clock (used idiomatically: yes)
No , it certainly does n't worry me , the rank structure at all . But I think it probably does worry some of the other wives . Well what all the wives do agree about living in their fortified compounds guarded round the clock is that the end of this tour ca n't come soon enough . Most are counting down the days . Tomorrow night the soldier 's tale .
Idiom: to a turn (used idiomatically: no)
Cathy Panton - Lewis led the three Scots who all made the cut . A 74 left her on 149 , three strokes ahead of Gillian Stewart , while Julie Forbes , over her bout of flu , matched the former 's 74 to finish on the qualifying mark of 155 . Prosser , now a clear favourite to complete a maiden victory as a professional , had a slight hiccup when she found sand to lose a shot at the short second before birdies at the third and sixth carried her to the turn in 35 , one under . Two more birdies coming home compensated for the bogeys she had at the fourteenth and sixteenth holes . Last - hole birdie saves Seve
Idiom: come to think of it (used idiomatically: yes)
All she 'd done was to make a bit of polite conversation ! As far as she was concerned , she was n't bothered if Lubor never ‘ beavered away’ again . Though , come to think of it , what with Lubor being away for some days last week when she 'd arrived , he must have quite some time off from his duties . Determined not to look at the brute of a man opposite , Fabia was in the act of deciding that she would ask him nothing in future — not even for a ride back to Mariánské Láznë , she 'd take a taxi sooner — when she was suddenly brought to an abrupt halt . Oh , hell !
Idiom: bread and circuses (used idiomatically: yes)
Exactly which planet , I dunno . A very mysterious , nasty record , and one that asks whether we 're being used by the powers - that - be by going out raving on E every night instead of overthrowing the rich . A case of bread and circuses , and it 's about time someone said it for the rave generation . Fact . TERRY EDWARDS : Executes Miles Davis Numbers
Idiom: behind bars (used idiomatically: yes)
And yet plenty of unpigeonhole - able types in here seem to hold that flawed artefact very dear indeed , relentlessly calling for minor track ' Penguins ' throughout the set ( in vain ) , and pummelling the air with knotted fists for ' Partial ' . ' STAVE - DIVING IS PROHIBITED . OFFENDERS WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE ' , goes the notice behind the bar . Take a running jump ! Somehow , I think the New FADs crowd are above all that .
Idiom: in bed with (used idiomatically: yes)
I often used to get stomach - ache if I had n't had enough to eat so when I woke up with a pain I thought maybe I was hungry again , but because the baby was due any day I thought it best to tell my mum . She was quite calm and told me to get a watch and try and time how far apart the pains were . So I sat in bed with a slice of bread and jam in one hand and a watch in the other , trying to time the pains . They did n't hurt exactly , it was more of a niggly pain but I worked it out to about once every four minutes or so and my mum said we 'd better ring the hospital . The hospital said I 'd better go in and sent an ambulance round for me .
Idiom: out of order (used idiomatically: no)
The elevator was out of order and we had to walk to the fifth floor .
Idiom: in the red (used idiomatically: yes)
The £ 550 m mentioned above was charged against profits for the year following an actuarial valuation of the company 's main pension fund as it stood on January 1 1993 . The valuation was undertaken to determine the future pension charges to group accounts . Fund £ 750 m in the red Unfortunately , the fund was found to be £ 750 m in the red , with assets of £ 13,440 m covering 95 % of liabilities , compared with asset coverage of 109 % at March 31 1992 . Vallance attributed the shortfall to three main factors : the cost of providing benefits to former employees during the year ; the impact of recession on returns made on the fund 's investments — property in particular ; and a drop in dividend growth due to the Government 's proposed advanced corporation tax on future gross dividend income , as announced at its March 1993 budget .
Idiom: chickens come home to roost (used idiomatically: yes)
Oh it 's terrible they must rub their hands together you know when these booms are going , you know , oh as much money as you want because they must know what 's gon na happen when they , you know , when the cows come home , they must know when the chickens come home to roost they must know what 's gon na happen What they 're going to that there are gon na be so many thousands of people in a right mess and they 're
Idiom: buy the farm (used idiomatically: no)
Farmers get the fresh feeling SUPERMARKETS have taken over the consumer food role that farmers and market gardeners traditionally played in selling products direct to the public . On Easter Sunday and Monday April 19th and 20th , farm shops and food and drink producers from southern England are coming together at a traditional food fair at the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum , Singleton , near Chichester , to show how local produce can be bought on a regional basis . Visitors will be able to see , sample and purchase many of the products on show , including cheeses , dairy produce , vegetables , pates and smoked fish , bread , preserves , honey , mushrooms , wine , beer and cider . Cheese
Idiom: take someone to task (used idiomatically: yes)
Whether you feel that these cocktails are what your roses will be happy with is very much like you considering whether you would be happy and healthy on a diet of fast and convenience food like hamburger and chips and little else . Balance is the key — and moderation at all times . We shall be taken to task if we disregard foliar feeding . It has its proponents , but has become all out of proportion , I feel , and needs to be put into correct perspective . See what you think .
Idiom: up to scratch (used idiomatically: yes)
She was obviously a very well - educated woman . ‘ She had been everywhere , and lived in New York for a while , working in art galleries . ‘ Knowing Phillip and Arthur , they would never have tolerated fools gladly and Meli was certainly up to scratch intellectually — although towards the end , she was very frail.’ Phillip 's niece , Priscilla Pescott , said at her home in Victoria : ‘ It 's not right to think of Uncle Phillip as just somebody waiting in the wings for Marje Proops . ‘ He had his own complex emotional life , of which Marje was just one component .
Idiom: see the light (used idiomatically: yes)
poison in some rat poison in it yeah , and they eat it . He said what ever you do he said do n't cover the hole up , he said they like they like to , they like to see light . Oh ! So we 've left the hole uncovered with stuff all the way around it .
Idiom: water under the bridge (used idiomatically: yes)
And that was it for another year . The fairy tale was over ; the winners and losers and gone . All water under the bridge until next year . Wall of silence over’ known’killer Police investigating the murder of John Stanley , who was fourteen and from Moss side in Manchester , say that some people know who the killer is , but are too frightened to speak out .
Idiom: jump on the bandwagon (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ He 's right , you know , Kate . She 's not a child any more.’ ‘ Oh , Mum , do n't you jump on the bandwagon . She 's so grown up that she shouted herself hoarse through a bloody pantomime not two hours ago . I saw a girl not much older than her battered and dying in a hospital bed , not twenty - four hours since .
Idiom: on board (used idiomatically: yes)
I ease away from the crowd along the railing , wondering where she will be . Des and Rufus have agreed to stay down in the outboard and wait . I have come on board alone . Round the far side of the cabin - house , away from the dance deck , the lights are dimmer . Most parties when I was young , this is where you 'd want to bring your girl — quiet , secluded , romantic view across the water .
Idiom: pull a face (used idiomatically: yes)
I can not make sense of that rhyme . What are the waters of Jordan?’ He pulled a face at me . ‘ That 's why I was talking to our young beauty last night . Is there , in this God forsaken place , some stream , river , house or church bearing the name Jordan ?
Idiom: give someone the slip (used idiomatically: yes)
As the PFF " horse thief " , I would be told to visit the Group commander when I next called an No 5 Group to explain some aspects of our techniques , or indeed a lapse in recent sorties , I was always made most welcome and enjoyed"Cocky 's ' confidence . He would gently put his point of view and add " go tell your master " . It was on one of these occasions that Guy Gibson was ushered into"Cocky 's ' presence and , just prior to his appearance , the AOC had given me a slip of paper with the names of about 20 pilots whom he asked me not to recruit — as a favour to him — which was his style . When Gibson and I left the office , Guy turned on me and bluntly told me the fate that would overtake me were I to steal one of his crews . Now " Cocky " did not tell me what his list was intended for , I had assumed that Gibson was referring to his own unit , No 106 Squadron .
Idiom: get the picture (used idiomatically: no)
The closer we come to the game the more we focus as a group , and the more people drop off the equation . Down towards the last hour I 'm the last person to drop off just trying to leave them with as many positive thoughts and perhaps talking quietly to the odd individual . I 've got a picture of the way I want us to play , and if I can get that picture in 15 heads we 've got a chance of playing the way we want to . If it 's only in seven what we get is confusion . But in the end , at that last hour , it comes down to the 15 and everything we do is focused down on that last hour . '
Idiom: tongue in cheek (used idiomatically: yes)
In many ways this has destroyed nationalist confidence in the RUC . ' Cheek Dr Hendron also hit out at some unionist politicians who , he claimed , condemned loyalist violence ' with a tongue in their cheek ' . SDLP and Alliance delegations both had talks with the Stormont security chief yesterday . Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams described the meetings as ' little more than a PR exercise ' .
Idiom: have a heart (used idiomatically: no)
Billy Ray Cyrus COUNTRY singer Billy Ray Cyrus has admitted to streaking in his hometown of Flatwood , Kentucky , in the Seventies . Cyrus , who had a hit with Achy Breaky Heart , said he would ‘ jump out in front of cars and scare ladies ’ . However he now admits : ‘ It was stupid . ’ TV 's most famous bar
Idiom: off the hook (used idiomatically: yes)
Now this has been forced to change . I asked the new director there , John Hutchinson , whether this concerned him . ‘ Not in the least’ , he told me , ‘ In fact , it lets us off the hook and will enable us to have more freedom perhaps than before’ . The gallery is based in Trinity College and shows work by contemporary artists from both Ireland and abroad . Hutchinson describes the gallery as , ‘ a mini Hayward’ , the architecture ‘ late 60s brutalism’ .
Idiom: better safe than sorry (used idiomatically: yes)
' You ca n't catch it like that , though , it 's —''You ca n't be too careful , though , can you ? They do n't really know that you ca n't catch it like that . Better safe than sorry , that 's what I say . ' Mr Carter and the two large lackeys walked to the head of the queue . ' Who is this Carter ? ' said Marcus , watching the man sit down with his breakfast .
Idiom: let sleeping dogs lie (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ But unfortunately for him when he told me a bit about what was on the disk I had a blinding flash of inspiration.’ ‘ I perceive that you 're a public - spirited youth . It did n't occur to you to let sleeping dogs lie , if you 'll forgive the cliché?’ ‘ No , I 'm afraid it didn't.’ ‘ Oh , I expect you 're right , my boy .
Idiom: take someone for a ride (used idiomatically: no)
Voice over It 's a sight all to familiar in garages up and down the country . Thieves , having stolen a car , take it for a joy ride and then strip it before setting it alight to destroy the evidence . It can be heartbreaking . Simon Jay had his briefcase and cassette radio stolen from his car this morning .
Idiom: go straight (used idiomatically: yes)
The down side , of course , is that hasty discharges often result from shortage of beds and thus the new procedures will probably block beds . Geriatrics beds are those most likely to be blocked while assessment teams explore alternatives to residential care . At present two thirds of all people admitted to Nottinghamshire 's nursing homes go straight from hospital , and most are elderly . In Bassetlaw the liaison sister for elderly people , Frances Fairclough , has been seconded to look generally at community care planning and specifically at discharge procedures . Over the past year Mrs Fairclough has piloted a scheme with one general practice on discharge planning .
Idiom: point the finger (used idiomatically: yes)
Thirdly , there is therefore never a single hypothesis at stake . Popper 's case for the falsifiability of genuine hypotheses involved definite refutations by experience . Quine suggests very plausibly that , even if experience shows something to be wrong with a theory , it can not point a finger at any particular hypothesis . The idea behind confirmation is that if hypothesis H implies prediction P , and if P succeeds , then H is confirmed . Popper objected that pseudo - scientific theories can be confirmed by this logic , and recommended the logic of refutation : if H implies P , and if P is falsified , then H is refuted .
Idiom: rank and file (used idiomatically: yes)
The only other government member in the Council ( apart from Ryzhkov , sitting ex officio ) was Bakatin . There were two appointments from the Academy of Sciences , namely Shatalin , a pro - reform economist , and Osipyan , a theoretical physicist . Two members drawn from the rank and file of the Congress of People 's Deputies were Kauls , a highly successful agricultural manager from Latvia , and Yarin , a metalworker from the Urals and a leader of the United Workers ' Front , an unofficial blue - collar organization set up in mid-1989 [ see p. 36898 ] . The latter was regarded as a conservative and a Russian nationalist , as was Rasputin , a celebrated poet and the only non - communist in the Council . Another figure from the arts was Aytmatov , a Kirghiz and one of the Soviet Union 's most renowned living novelists .
Idiom: part company (used idiomatically: yes)
Eventually it could give thousands of jobless youngsters , who may otherwise have turned to crime , the chance of a well - paid job or a better future . A new university opened today — for car workers . It 's being run by the car parts company Unipart , to give specialist training for its four thousand employees . Without it , the company says it could n't compete with businesses overseas . ERIKA BARNES / Cowley
Idiom: see the light (used idiomatically: yes)
He climbed the emergency stairs to the next floor and crossed to Goodenache 's door . It was all quiet . He could see the light under the door . They 'd switched it off earlier , when they 'd left Goodenache . He put his hand on the door handle and tested it .
Idiom: never say die (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ You 're very young,’ said Mrs Khalid comfortingly . ‘ You 'll change your mind.’ Mrs Khalid had a soft expression and lively eyes but a never - say - die - ishness that quite reminded Ellen of Rhoda . She wondered whether , if Mrs Khalid were in love with her son 's friend Sharif , would she do as Rhoda had done , try to marry off her daughter to Sharif just to keep him in the family ? And thought no , probably not .
Idiom: up a tree (used idiomatically: yes)
This one time , he 's off balance . ' ' When they want to shoot a tiger , ' Sophie told him , ' they tether a goat near a tree . A guy with a gun sits up the tree and waits . Eventually , the tiger arrives and tears the goat 's throat out . That 's when the man with the gun shoots the tiger . '
Idiom: in the red (used idiomatically: yes)
My name is Howard DeVore and I 'm to be your host for the next eight hours . ' Lehmann sat at the back of the room , some distance from the others . A huge viewing screen filled the wall at the far end , while to one side , on a long , wide table made of real mahogany , a detailed map of City Europe was spread out , the Swiss Wilds and the Carpathians marked in red , like bloodstains on the white . DeVore , Lever and the others sat in big leather chairs , drinks in hand , talking . Above them , on the screen , the funeral procession moved slowly through the walled northern garden at Tongjiang : the Li family , the seven T'ang , their generals and their chief retainers .
Idiom: make or break (used idiomatically: yes)
KEITH RICHARDSON / Coach Voice over They 've been open all hours … at Kingsholm this week … running on overtime getting ready for a game that could simply make or break the season … you know what they say about it never raining … it 's been pouring on Gloucester this season … defeat for the Cherry and Whites tomorrow would put them on the relegation trapdoor … chat keith richardson STING
Idiom: slippery slope (used idiomatically: yes)
Mr Cowan believes young children can get sucked into a world of petty crime and solvent abuse as a result . ‘ They are associating with much older children and , in some cases , adults . That is the start of the slippery slope as far as I am concerned.’ CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a livestock market and housing estate outside Darlington have taken a step forward . Representatives of the Darlington Farmers Auction Mart have met the borough council to finalise conditions on their plans to move the market from Clifton Road to Holdforth Grange in Hurworth .
Idiom: kill the messenger (used idiomatically: no)
Hollis turned and spat a stream of yellow phlegm . ' Yes , I know , but the French protect and afford us every comfort . Those messengers were killed by outlaws . It sometimes happens . ' Benjamin nodded and quietly turned the conversation back to horseflesh .
Idiom: word of mouth (used idiomatically: yes)
Well , when you first come to a station you do n't know anybody , so you 're stuck with the official net , the boards for incoming business , the hall for the locals . You do n't do that long before you realize it 's a waste of time . The Eladeldi supervise everything , and anyway the jobs worth having all go on word of mouth . But by the time you 've found that out , you 've met a few people , and you do n't need to hang around the hall any more . What you do is stake out a corner of one of the canteens , the zero - gyms .
Idiom: go to ground (used idiomatically: yes)
And then they would start wrangling , and she would shout that he was keeping her awake and fall asleep while he listened for hours to her breathing ; and next morning reprisals would be exacted for her fatigue . After a week he walked out , suddenly , with their five - year - old son . He left a meticulously explanatory note on her dressing - table to say that he and the child would be telephoning , and went to ground at the airport hotel . It was Friday . He had three days off .
Idiom: all over the place (used idiomatically: yes)
follow you up It would be real boring just listening to a load of rubbish would n't it ? I mean making up conversations all over the place . Suddenly it clears this bit . What you 're memory ?
Idiom: behind bars (used idiomatically: yes)
Griffin O'Neal will undergo specialist treatment after pleading guilty to shooting up former girlfriend Lynn Oddo 's car in a drunken rage . He was only spared a long jail term when 24-year - old Lynn agreed to drop assault charges providing he went into therapy . She said : ‘ I 'd rather he was sorted out than behind bars . But I never want to see him again.’ According to police reports , he threw Lynn to the ground and kicked and punched her .