Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: face to face (used idiomatically: yes)
So this is a much more familiar model of democracy to us than any of the others that we 've seen so far and for Mill , representative democracy was the only way democracy could survive in the modern world . He particularly was concerned about problems of scale as a practical problem , that is it may well be in a small town you could have a direct democracy , a face - to - face community where people can talk to each other and argue with each other and meet on a regular basis , but as soon as you get cities , countries , nations , direct democracy of any sort is erm absurd Well and we have seen one response for people now making Mill that is that his objections are not being finessed by computer technology , they do n't want to get back into that type of argument , because this is really not the most important argument against direct democracy . To understand Mill 's view or at least to see why Mill makes the argument he does make , er I E not just the argument but other arguments which represent democracy .
Idiom: take someone to task (used idiomatically: yes)
Libra * 24 September to 23 October ) Between the 1st and the 19th you are liable to be preoccupied with partnership matters . Although you may be perfectly entitled to take others to task and even issue a number of ultimatums , you ought to be more concerned with plans designed to give you the kind of personal or professional recognition you seek and deserve . You have a reputation for evading the issue , but before the end of April you ought to become a bigger fish in a decidedly bigger pond . The influence of Jupiter currently in Cancer and passing over the mid - heaven point of your solar chart is quite awe - inspiring but somewhat difficult to harness .
Idiom: without fail (used idiomatically: yes)
' I 'll have it back before supper . Understood ? Without fail , understood ? ' The monitor 's hand reappeared , palmed something to Lawrence . Lawrence was nodding , smiling happily .
Idiom: put the boot in (used idiomatically: yes)
He wanted to look at the contract and check it out and really , with no trouble at all— I think he wrote a couple of letters and said that Pitt was not acting in the capacity as manager that David required and that was that.’ Ken Pitt : ‘ I think the great problem was David was always very insecure and because he was n't achieving the renown he wanted , like most artists he began to worry , bearing in mind that David was now living at Haddon Hall with a few of his friends , all of whom were unaware of what was going on in the office and how we were planning David 's career , what progress we were really making . I think they just sucked up to David , and began to put the boot in really , quite unnecessarily and unfairly . As far as I understand it , it was Angela who pursued the interest in Tony DeFries . In fact , I did n't know until recent years that it was a person at Philips Records who in fact mentioned DeFries to David , and when he did meet DeFries , Angela was very much in favour of David moving from me to him .
Idiom: on the pull (used idiomatically: no)
It is difficult to come to a firm view on these matters , but the nature of support for third parties is clearly of particular significance and affords a crude test of the Alt view — especially in the case of new parties where there can be no established sense of partisan identification . What sense can we make of support for these parties at the polls ? Is it based on the positive pull of their policies , or is it more of a protest vote reflecting a generalised sense of disenchantment with the workings of the two - party politics ? Information on the nature of public support for the SDP throws a certain amount of light on these kind of questions because the party was not formed until 1981 . At the very outset , the party leadership took the view that manifestos and policy promises were part of the " old " politics that was responsible for Britain 's troubles .
Idiom: show a leg (used idiomatically: yes)
Where 's Eddie ? ' He watched her swing an indelicate leg over the top bar of her man 's bike , displaying a neatly rounded calf which would normally have engaged his interest , but in the cruel circumstances failed to register . She pulled the bag and the towelling from the carrier , hitched up her skirts to show yet more leg — still unheeded — and dashed into the Buildings . He could hear her frantic progress up the uncarpeted stairs and along the top corridor until she threw the door open . Panting , her hair coming down , her face red with the effort of riding at speed , she thrust the bag at him , saying breathlessly , ' Rose said that you wanted this .
Idiom: pecking order (used idiomatically: yes)
Roy Green , software field operations manager for the British firm , Systime , believes that India 's best bet for expansion is to go for what is called systems software : programs that run the computers themselves . ‘ They would do best to concentrate on technical software , rather than applications where you have to be in close touch with your customers,’ he said . Old university pecking order draws new blood IF YOU want to know the pecking order of the various departments in Britain 's universities , try looking at the shareout of the 312 new academic posts announced by the Department of Education and Science last week . The jobs are an attempt to inject ‘ new blood’ into university departments where the turnover of staff has fallen to a trickle and to give new emphasis to information technology .
Idiom: in the club (used idiomatically: yes)
I wondered how long he 'd take to get used to it , to become , in other words , corrupt . I was working on it . We wasted days and days dancing in the Pink Pussy Club , yawning at Fat Mattress at the Croydon Greyhound , ogling strippers on Sunday mornings in a pub , sleeping through Godard and Antonioni films , and enjoying the fighting at Millwall Football Ground , where I forced Changez to wear a bobble - hat over his face in case the lads saw he was a Paki and imagined I was one too . Financially Changez was supported by Jamila , who paid for everything by working in the shop in the evenings . And I helped him out with money I got from Dad .
Idiom: under a cloud (used idiomatically: yes)
Arsenal , Liverpool and Sheffield Wednesday are involved in the chase for a UEFA Cup place tonight . Third - placed Wednesday go to relegation - threatened Coventry , outgoing champions Arsenal visit Norwich and Liverpool entertain Wimbledon at Anfield . Arsenal take an unbeaten 11-match run to Carrow Road , where Norwich may still be under a cloud after their FA Cup semi - final failure against Sunderland on Sunday . Wimbledon could give Arsenal a lift by continuing their jinx on Liverpool . They have lost only once at Anfield since beating them in the 1988 FA Cup Final .
Idiom: down the drain (used idiomatically: no)
My brother - in - law said he read in the paper that erm over a year sort of the amount of oil tipped on our land and down drains which should n't be there is almost like equivalent to the disaster at Exxon Valdez . I heard that . Th erm the amount of oil that people just tip on the ground , or down the drains or whatever Mm . over a year is equivalent to the disaster of the Exxon Valdez .
Idiom: go overboard (used idiomatically: yes)
Leo ( July 24–Aug 23 ) A happier period is ahead , rather than of late , and you 're in for some high times with plenty of hilarity . Do n't go overboard with it , or your owner wo n't thank you . But try to channel your activities to the canine crowd so as to avoid a show - down which could prove to be a great embarrassment . Virgo ( Aug 24–Sept 23 )
Idiom: up in the air (used idiomatically: yes)
In 1979 , the US banned the non - experimental use of 1080 because of its dangers to humans and wildlife other than coyotes . However , shortly before Anne Burford resigned as chief of the EPA , she was due to announce her decision on whether to lift the ban in light of new evidence . The matter is still up in the air , and congress plans to hold hearing in May on whether EPA manipulated data about 1080 to justify reappraisal of the ban . Spaghetti Junction 's repair men are sacked THE DEPARTMENT of Transport ( DoT ) has sacked the county council in charge of keeping Spaghetti Junction in good repair .
Idiom: to boot (used idiomatically: yes)
Cool J makes his acting debut next year in a film with Michael J Fox in which both play ‘ streetwise’ detectives . MADONNA HITS ALBUM 25 tracks and pair of fat lips to boot MADONNA releases here long - awaited greatest hits LP next week on WEA records . ‘ The Immaculate Collection’ is a double set of 25 tracks including the forthcoming single , ‘ Justify My Love’and ‘ Rescue Me’ .
Idiom: have a heart (used idiomatically: no)
6 . KEEP my heart healthy . Diseases of the circulatory system — including heart attacks — are Britain 's biggest killer at 295,794 deaths last year . What better motivation to follow a low-fat diet ? 7 .
Idiom: argue the toss (used idiomatically: yes)
In what way ? In that you 've got a difficulty with an extended warranty . You 're arguing the toss over the small print as to whether or not it 's covered . It 's no , no It is a mechanical breakdown .
Idiom: dog eat dog (used idiomatically: yes)
Futre had been substituted in a warm - up match prior to departure for Valetta and had subsequently fallen out with Quieroz and was left at home for being ‘ not in the correct frame of mind’ to play a World Cup tie . Futre 's mood was no better after a £ 5million transfer from Atletico Madrid to Benfica , though he was recalled to the team who lost to Italy . ‘ Andy ( Roxburgh ) and myself always thought that Switzerland and Italy had to be considered the favourites to qualify but there is now a dog - eat - dog contest involving three countries for second place,’ said Brown . Scotland , therefore , are not without hope in spite of a disappointing start that brought only two points from the first three games . Last week 's win over Malta at Ibrox has left Brown in a determined frame of mind .
Idiom: in the red (used idiomatically: yes)
By November 1958 there was nothing in the cloakroom . A row of pegs on one wall faced a row of pegs on another , eight feet apart . A small window , rather high up in the wall facing the door , was glazed in frosted glass with a single pane above of the stained kind in a dark purplish - red . The stone floor was covered in very light brown linoleum with a pattern of black fleurs - de - lis . Ernest fetched a stool from one of the classrooms .
Idiom: not bat an eye (used idiomatically: yes)
' It used to be virtually impossible to find a place to go . It used to be so secretive . ' Now most people do n't bat an eye . We are not cranks or nutters . I just love the feeling of being without clothes .
Idiom: with a will (used idiomatically: no)
However the Government , with the help of the Front armies , faithful to their duty , with the help of the Council ~ of ~ Cossacks , which has united under its command all the Cossacks and which , strong with the morale which reigns in its ranks , and acting in accordance with the will of the Russian people , has sworn to serve the country as its ancestors served it in the Troublous ~ Times of 1612 , when the Cossacks of the Don delivered Moscow , menaced by the Swedes , the Poles , and the Lithuanians .
Idiom: over your head (used idiomatically: yes)
From this sort of outing , I thought , one catches one 's death of cold . The boy , our guide , had already dashed ahead . ‘ Put this over your head,’ said Mr Thabane , offering the plastic raincoat . ‘ Nonsense,’ I said , ‘ I do n't mind a little rain.’ ‘ Still , hold it over you,’ he insisted .
Idiom: economical with the truth (used idiomatically: yes)
Exasperated with all this pussy - footing , and knowing of Mountbatten 's wishes that what he had said should be known , I saw to it that a transcript of the Suez programme reached my friend Bernard Levin at The Times , and he published the core of it in two long articles . Needless to say there was not a whisper of dissent from the Arab world . But I was not surprised when , several years later , I read that Sir Robert Armstrong , appearing for the government in the Spycatcher trial in Sydney , had admitted to cross - examining counsel that he had been what he called ‘ economical with the truth’ . It seemed to be in his blood . There are few people who came to know Harold Macmillan who do not have some anecdote about him , and I am fortunate in that having interviewed him at length twice , as well as running into him on a number of other occasions , I have garnered quite a few .
Idiom: thick and fast (used idiomatically: yes)
Voice over It 's to relieve congestion like this that an Aylesbury by - pass is planned . But protests have come thick and fast from those who say it will bring even more traffic . Now doctors say it 'll bring severe health risks … most seriously for asthma sufferers . He says asthma has been becoming increasingly common for the last 20 years for reasons we do n't understand .
Idiom: on the run (used idiomatically: no)
Please do n't close it.’ Jailbirds fight free FOUR remand prisoners were on the run last night after they attacked prison officers and jumped handcuffed through the smashed window of a moving coach . One of five officers was kicked unconscious and another had his nose broken after one of the prisoner slipped his handcuffs to lead the assault . Six tried to break out but two were recaptured by police .
Idiom: on the carpet (used idiomatically: yes)
The seeing eye dog is tracking the smell of burning back to a cigarette on a luxury movie - house carpet — Odour potent as the first land - breeze
Idiom: confirmed bachelor (used idiomatically: yes)
Allen Wright on a superb production at Perth Theatre , an apt swansong for outgoing artistic director Joan Knight WILLIAM Nicholson 's play Shadowlands , about an autumnal love affair , is a perfect vehicle for Tom Fleming to make a triumphant return to the stage . This fine actor , whose appearances on the stage are all too infrequent , is well suited to the part of CS Lewis , committed Christian and seemingly confirmed bachelor . Today , 30 years after his death , Lewis is remembered more as the author of such enchanting children 's stories as The Lion , the Witch and the Wardrobe than as a writer and broadcaster on ethical and religious questions , but it is one of those BBC sermons which he delivers at the beginning of this play . Seeking some sense in all the suffering which God appears to condone , Lewis proceeds to quote from personal experience …
Idiom: in the soup (used idiomatically: yes)
CHARLES ALLEN Managing Director , Compass , Queens Wharf , Queen Caroline Street , London W6 . THE COLOUR OF MONEY ONE of our bar staff recently came into the kitchen to ask if she could look in the soup kettle to see what colour the soup was . ‘ It 's green,’ I said . ‘ It 's broccoli and ham.’
Idiom: get it in the neck (used idiomatically: yes)
Cor ! I said if the transport get that load of L T M thrown back Robin is gon na get it right in the neck ! And if Robin gets it in the neck I shall get it in the neck and I shall be getting it in the neck because of you ! So I said I think Well then what did he say ?
Idiom: odds and ends (used idiomatically: yes)
Now is certainly the time for fundamental reform . Since the introduction of A levels , English , Welsh , and Northern Irish schools , unlike schools in Scotland , Europe , or America , have expected pupils to study at most three examinable subjects in their years in the sixth form , these three being generally either all arts or all science subjects , though mathematics has been found commonly on either side of the divide . Apart from the three subjects intensively taught , pupils may make up their timetables with scraps of non - examined , and therefore non - serious , odds and ends . Such has been the normal pattern . The effect of such narrow specialization in subject content and style of teaching has already been remarked on .
Idiom: the grass is always greener (used idiomatically: yes)
And for the future ? Only lack of challenge in her job would lure Professor Costall away from Bradford . ' The other man 's grass is always greener and I had the opportunity when I was younger to work abroad . I 've been in the United States , I 've been in Europe , but the politics and the way people behave was just the same the world over . After about five or six years of wandering I returned to Bradford . '
Idiom: play with fire (used idiomatically: yes)
Lady Thatcher is scheduled to make an explosive and finely timed entry into the debate tomorrow to stiffen the sinews of the Euro - sceptics . But Welsh Secretary David Hunt warned : ‘ The consequences are very serious indeed . ‘ People are playing with fire if they contemplate the Government will just be defeated on Wednesday and everything settles down the following day . ‘ These are very important issues . We have to show our confidence , not only in the Government , but also in John Major.’
Idiom: pass the buck (used idiomatically: yes)
Normally he would have been too shrewd . In turn , the heat was applied to Martinho and then myself . Martinho wanted to please them , so he passed the buck to yours truly . I said , ‘ The bandits will not be beaten until you have Osvaldo 's dead body.’ That was about as welcome as a stick of shit in the tub - water .
Idiom: go it alone (used idiomatically: yes)
Earlier , at a London news conference , Mr Ashdown challenged Mr Kinnock and Mr Major to make clear where they stood in the event of a hung parliament . He accused them of failing to face up to the implications of the voters ' choice should this happen , and of preferring to hide from the truth . ' They prefer to go it alone , creating instability and uncertainty , ' he said . Election ' 92 : Party leaders in 20-minute TV grilling By Philip Johnston , Political Correspondent
Idiom: free rein (used idiomatically: yes)
Still , overall , business investment – excluding construction – has returned to 10 % of GDP ( from 10.6 % before the crisis ) . With so much excess capacity in real estate , confidence will not recover to its pre - crisis level anytime soon , regardless of what is done to the banking sector . The financial sector ’s inexcusable recklessness , given free rein by mindless deregulation , was the obvious precipitating factor of the crisis . The legacy of excess real - estate capacity and over - leveraged households makes recovery all the more difficult . But the economy was very sick before the crisis ; the housing bubble merely papered over its weaknesses .
Idiom: catch someone's eye (used idiomatically: yes)
By HUGO DAVENPORT THE word ' hook ' is Hollywood slang for the distinctive twist in the plot set - up of an otherwise familiar generic story . It is designed , like a fishing lure , to catch the audience 's eye and yield a rich haul at the box - office . And , just as an effective fishing lure may be fabricated from cheap , shiny metal , it is generally possible to summarise a commercial movie 's hook in one sentence . What , then , is Hook 's hook ?
Idiom: in the black (used idiomatically: no)
Confusion . It had killed more than one of Delaney 's friends , in a smoke and gas - filled embassy room ; and a night time brush in the Falklands — a tragic clash of SAS and SBS . Out of the fog came a figure in black . Delaney 's Uzi zeroed in , pressure increased on the trigger . In the nick of time he saw the yellow triangular patch on the shoulder .
Idiom: turn tail (used idiomatically: yes)
This was probably very similar in the heterostracans except that here the tail lobe was scale covered , perhaps with some special scale rows aligned along the length of fin ( see above ) . From here anaspids , lampreys and perhaps some thelodonts developed a downturned asymmetrical tail ( hypocercal ) , and in the first two there were definite endoskeletal fin rays with , in at least lampreys , associated musculature . In cephalaspids the tail is turned upwards ( epicercal ) as in gnathostomes and here too there were probably muscularized endoskeletal fin rays developed . The tail of galeaspids remains poorly known . Paired pectoral fins of gnathostome - type were only developed in cephalaspids ( and perhaps pituriaspids ) where there is evidence of an endoskeleton and associated muscles .
Idiom: join the club (used idiomatically: yes)
She had quickly learned the rudiments of windsurfing , and her instructor told her that she was a ' natural ' . She had spent more than she intended on the wetsuit , but could n't resist its bright fuchsia colours . Today she intended to apply to join the sailing club and , hopefully , find herself a second - hand sailboard . The spring day was unseasonably warm , and after two hour 's tuition she went into the clubhouse . Her instructor had given her the name of a boy who was selling a sailboard and who would be here in time for the afternoon race .
Idiom: in the same breath (used idiomatically: yes)
Human thinking and language would dissolve into a topsy - turvy jumble of uncertainty if we were to use the word know as if it were interchangeable with words like guess or dream , or if we were to say right when we really meant wrong . The reason that knowing is different from guessing or dreaming is that knowledge implies an unspoken submission to what is real or thought to be real . I can legitimately say , ‘ I know’ , and add in the same breath , ‘ but I am open to being shown I am wrong’ . But if knowledge is to have any substantial meaning , what I must never say is , ‘ I know’ , and then add , ‘ but I am sure I am wrong . If we say we know something , a personal and responsible commitment to what we know is assumed in our claim .
Idiom: hit the bottle (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO LIE ABOUT DRINK HABITS’ STEPHEN WHITE MORE and more women are hitting the bottle — but they do n't like to admit it even to themselves . And the biggest female fibbers about what they tipple are high - flying career women who turn to drink to help cope with work pressures . The number of women who drink heavily soared by more than 20 per cent between 1984 and 1990 , according to a report on Britain 's changing lifestyles .
Idiom: once in a while (used idiomatically: yes)
All the Alu RNA needs then is an enzyme to transcribe it back into DNA . Such enzymes do exist — they are known as reverse transcriptases — but they are generally believed to be exclusive to RNA viruses , which need them to transcribe their RNA genes into DNA for replication inside cells . However , if the Alu transcripts can once in a while , borrow the reverse transcriptase of a passing virus , there is nothing to stop them from propagating in increasing numbers in generation after generation of mammals . And it is thus perhaps not surprising that there are already so many of them among our genes . Where comet jets come from
Idiom: come to terms with (used idiomatically: yes)
So prior to the funeral , which was to be held in the church attached to the great house , Artemis was despatched with her nanny to Scotland , to stay with relations in a remote castle , where once more no reference whatsoever was made to the tragedy . It was all intended for the best . The reasoning behind it being that she would not be able to come to terms with the notion of her mother being dead , so by removing her from the place where the tragedy had occurred and allowing enough time to pass , she would better be able to come to terms with her loss . It was also to be hoped , her father told her nanny prior to their departure , that by the time his daughter was returned to Brougham , the memory of her mother would already be fading . In the very same week as Lady Mary Deverill was being laid to her final rest in the family churchyard at Brougham , across the Atlantic Ocean , in the statue packed graveyard of the Church of St Peter and St Paul , Westfield , Boston , Massachusetts , the recently bereaved Patrick Milligan entertained a very different hope from the father of the little girl in England .