Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: on the run (used idiomatically: yes)
Molly wondered how far the language tapes borrowed from the Fulham Public Library had allowed her father to penetrate the political opinions of a Tuscan cleric . ‘ Of course , the old God - botherer speaks pretty good English . Learnt it off an R.A.F. prisoner on the run during the war . And another thing . He 's suggested a way we might persuade Giovanna to do the washing .
Idiom: play games (used idiomatically: yes)
A Celtic move set Mowbray up for life financially , and Middlesbrough hit the jackpot with a seven - figure profit for a player from the junior ranks . Yet Mowbray has been dogged by injuries since he crossed over the border . He has played only four games since November . ' It is all very frustrating , ' he admitted . Celtic manager Liam Brady was furious when a Scottish TV commentator claimed Mowbray would not play again this season .
Idiom: to the tune of (used idiomatically: yes)
Pollution : Air Canada embarks on acid rain control programme Canada is funding its acid rain control programme to the tune of $ 30 million , in an effort to place a permanent cap on the nation 's sulphur dioxide ( SO2 ) emissions . The federal government will work with the provinces towards the implementation of a national acid rain control plan , to include a national ceiling of 3.2 million tonnes of S02 emissions . The money will also be used to determine the rate and extent of recovery of lakes and rivers and their associated fauna from acid rain damage , and its role in causing forest decline .
Idiom: true blue (used idiomatically: yes)
The little neighbourhood park was ( and still is ) called Kew Gardens , an indication of the area 's British roots . There were a few Jews , an Italian greengrocer and a Chinese laundry . But that was about it : for the most part they were loyal , true - blue , Anglo - Canadians . That vision of Toronto is long gone . Now when my mother flies in from Vancouver she barely recognizes the city that was her home for nearly 40 years .
Idiom: go overboard (used idiomatically: yes)
It was a fine , bright morning , so they wandered about the quay , watching the activity at Harlands and the dinghy sails farther down the lough . The tannoy on the Isle of Man boat gave occasional coughs , and tinny , inaudible announcements , but they did not begin to panic for a while . ' Well , ' said Karen , ' it 's a damn good job I did n't drink enough to go overboard with Mallachy , is n't it ? Is this the Irish way ? The famous unreliability ?
Idiom: get off the ground (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ Skills’ for local people Lastly , where the LDDC has belatedly entered into ‘ agreements’ with local authorities , such as with Newham and Tower Hamlets , and helped to set up training schemes like SKILLNET , designed to improve the skill levels of local communities , it has had little impact so far on getting local people into Docklands jobs . This is because such schemes are taking a long time to get off the ground and because employers generally recruit from non - local networks ( see also Ladbury and Mira - Smith in this volume ) . There is also a political cost to pay for such ostensibly benevolent reforms . In the Royal Docks the London Borough of Newham in 1987 agreed to support the broad pattern of land use in three consortia schemes and co - operate with LDDC plans on land development and transport change in the area in return for the provision of 1,500 rented houses , a minimum of £ 60 million of social facilities and training measures to ensure maximum local employment .
Idiom: off the record (used idiomatically: yes)
I do , quite often.’ He sipped some ale and smacked his lips . ‘ We 're well off the record now , so I 'll tell you something about Jack Scamp.’ ‘ This is why it 's personal . That it?’
Idiom: make hay (used idiomatically: yes)
You 've had that pain under your ribs for a long time . Well , let me tell you , I 'll be here when you do go , and God ! I 'll make hay with what you 've got , every penny of it.’ There followed a silence during which Agnes gripped the stanchion of the door and brought her chin tight into her chest , only to raise it again as she endeavoured to hear what her father was now saying quietly and with a purposeful intent , ‘ You should n't have said that , Alice . You 've made a mistake .
Idiom: with a view to (used idiomatically: yes)
I went to the department store with a view to buying a present .
Idiom: in the saddle (used idiomatically: no)
Then there 's Richard Harris as the flamboyant and lethally elegant English Bob , a hired hit - man who arrives in Big Whiskey with his own biographer . The gags fly as fast as the bullets . One terrific running joke through the film involves Munny , who is so rusty in the saddle he ca n't even mount up any more . However , sixty - two - year - old Eastwood , directing his 16th picture , is still sitting as tall in the saddle as The Man With No Name did nearly 30 years ago . HIRED GUN : Clint on the vengeance trail again
Idiom: force someone's hand (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ Very wise , Theodosia . You keep your own counsel , and I 'll keep mine . But if either of them imagines they can force my hand , they much mistake the matter ! Now go . Hector needs his exercise.’
Idiom: at a loss for words (used idiomatically: yes)
What conditions?’ ‘ You must give me your solemn assurance on three counts : that you will not seek to discover the identity of my client , that you will not ask for any further assistance if the venture should prove to be unsuccessful and finally that you will not discuss this matter with any other person ; this stipulation to include even members of your own family and your circle of personal friends and acquaintances.’ Ernest and Rosie looked at one another again , at a loss for words , as he went on , ‘ If you are prepared to give your agreement to such an undertaking , I will give instructions to your bank without delay , and the necessary funds will be put at your disposal . Well , Mr Kleiber — Mrs Kleiber — what do you say to that?’ They did not ask for time to think it over ; there was only one possible answer to such a proposition .
Idiom: keep the peace (used idiomatically: yes)
Medieval kingship was a strenuous occupation . If he played strictly according to the rules , the king had to combine some of the qualities of general , prize fighter , judge and monk . He was expected to defend his people and to keep the peace , and yet also to provide his warrior barons with suitable exercise . He was expected to set an example in knightly exercises , and to show a personal example of prowess in war , although he and his enemies were sufficiently prudent to value him more highly alive than dead , so that a crowned king was rarely killed in battle . He was expected to keep good order ; that is to say , to see that offenders were punished , that evil - doers went in fear of him , that disputes over land were settled in an orderly manner ; and personally to supervise his royal court .
Idiom: out of kilter (used idiomatically: yes)
Only the ‘ Scene by the Brook’ affords some predictable repose . It goes at several different speeds and there are occasional bouts of sour intonation but Brüggen shapes the music — above all , the inner part - writing — less haltingly than Norrington on EMI . In the end , though , it is erratic instrumental balancing that throws the performance out of kilter . Sudden shocks — the screaming piccolo at the height of the storm — are splendid . But it is less easy to take a vanishing oboe at a critical stage of the first movement development or the generally under - nourished and acoustically ill - focused playing of the second violins .
Idiom: in my book (used idiomatically: no)
There is no doubt that performance can be improved in many cases , but the fundamental question has to be asked whether such foliar feeding or boosting is merely making up and filling a gap left by normal cultivation that is not as good as it could be . Plants have evolved to live according to certain natural laws and procedures , and it is no logical solution to improving cultivation to ask plants to live differently to what nature intended . Foliar feeding may be good for emergencies , but not in my book for basic cultivation of roses . Perhaps this is an appropriate place for a few brief notes on the more common chemical fertilizers and organic manures of plant and animal origin . Chemical fertilizers
Idiom: have it both ways (used idiomatically: no)
In Bible class we discussed whether the bread was indeed his body . Surely remembrance was more probable . Did n't the Anglicans try and have it both ways ? Either it was or it was n't . I decided I wanted to be received as a Methodist .
Idiom: free rein (used idiomatically: yes)
He was also largely responsible for rewriting Davis 's Handbook of Chemical Engineering in its two - volume format for a second edition . Davis 's death in 1907 left Swindin looking for another post . He went to work for the Gas Light & Coke Company at Beckton in 1908 but he soon chafed at not being given the free rein to which he had become accustomed at Davis Bros. He then found employment with F. Elmore , an eccentric genius with a novel chemical process and plenty of money to experiment with it . The enterprise failed , but in the course of its failure Swindin developed the ideas and learned the techniques that were the foundation of his success .
Idiom: for the time being (used idiomatically: yes)
Is n't this boring for an engineer ? Should n't this be done by mathematicians or by computer programmers ? Not for the time being . Perhaps one day computers will be big enough and numerical analysts clever enough so that the engineer will only have to pose the problem , but not yet , and not , I think , for some time to come . In the large majority of cases a straightforward mathematical solution is just out of the question .
Idiom: live it up (used idiomatically: yes)
Manager Andy Roxburgh said : ‘ I do n't expect any problems . We are treating the players like responsible adults.’ Roxburgh 's licence to live it up could be a matchwinner for a Scotland side who have lost in Switzerland and scraped a lucky home draw with Portugal in their opening Group One matches . Anything to lift the tension off what Roxburgh calls ‘ the most crucial match in the whole section’ could be a bonus . The six Rangers players in his squad do not include inspirational skipper of club and country , Richard Gough , whose brilliant leadership helped dismiss Leeds from the European Cup .
Idiom: at sea (used idiomatically: no)
It is due next month , just as her actor husband Alexander Hanson , 33 , starts rehearsals for the national tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber 's Aspects of Love . The couple married three years ago and have a daughter , Molly . Miss Bond , 30 , known for her roles in ITV 's Rumpole Of The Bailey and the BBC 's The Ginger Tree , starred with Ralph Fiennes in Monday night 's Radio 4 play At Sea On Inya Lake . But her final role before the birth has been to co-star with Paul Schofield in a two-hander play for Radio 4 , Rediscovering Leo , to be broadcast next year . Anna Bergman and her father
Idiom: in the hole (used idiomatically: yes)
The next day , make six holes at equal intervals around the top edge of the blue cake drum to accommodate the candy canes . With a sharp instrument , make six corresponding holes in the bottom of the second cake drum ( the ' roof ' ) . Place six of the canes in the base holes and fit the roof on top so that it sits on top of the cake . 8 Using a brush , paint the piped borders around the mirrors with gold colouring .
Idiom: make a mountain out of a molehill (used idiomatically: yes)
As in all aspects of the new church 's life , leaders must lead . We have often found people will nod and agree to the principles but never put them into practice . They were too embarrassed or did n't want to make a mountain out of a molehill . If this is the case , leaders need to do some personal coaching . This means asking : ‘ Did you ask that person for forgiveness?’
Idiom: under the wire (used idiomatically: yes)
“ We do n’t want the Romanians deciding on how we should order our lives , ” a Dutch professor complained . Many former Soviet ~ Republics with EU aspirations have become victims of this loss of nerve , as have the Western Balkan countries . Lithuania , Latvia , and Estonia , which were annexed by the Soviet ~ Union in 1940 , slipped in under the wire in 2004 . But they were small and contiguous to the EU . Ukraine is big , and Georgia is far away in the Caucasus .
Idiom: look on the bright side (used idiomatically: yes)
Thank you Christopher Andreae of Bembridge for pointing out my error . To any readers who feel hard done by or annoyed please accept my sincere apologies . Looking on the bright side , I think this corner of the magazine could turn into a piece of gladiatorial entertainment ! Even with my mistake , only one person answered all three questions correctly : Alan Hezzlewood of Endon . Congratulations .
Idiom: in the same breath (used idiomatically: yes)
On the other hand , other Christians talk constantly about their doubts . But if we listen to them carefully , it is evident that they parade their doubts not so much to resolve them as to evoke public sympathy and to gain that sense of identity which comes from subconsciously defining themselves by their problems . They disparage themselves for doubting and in the same breath defend their doubt like a treasured possession which nothing could persuade them to give up . These two extremes are not so contradictory as they might seem . Both indicate the same unhealthy view of doubt .
Idiom: over the moon (used idiomatically: yes)
A report commissioned by the group identified a total of 315,000 staff which the colony needed to keep . As the figure does not cover families , yesterday 's decision to grant rights of entry to 50,000 households is likely to cover less than 20 per cent of those it targeted . Mr Simon Murray , leader of Honour Hong Kong , said : ‘ I am not saying we are over the moon , but it is progress.’ The Hong Kong Government welcomed the move , saying the package would ‘ help to re - establish confidence’ . But in the Commons , the most striking feature of MPs ' reaction was a chaotic cross - party divide .
Idiom: pick up the pieces (used idiomatically: yes)
Wigan is interesting as a small northern town , sort of happy to be a little , quiet , workers ' town . I like that . Though still it has all the marks of makeshift industrialisation and decline , with municipalism picking up the pieces , building endless estates of council houses . Municipal minimalism , or , as my dad puts it , barracks and buses . There 's a housing estate built about forty years ago on a disused pit .
Idiom: turn the corner (used idiomatically: yes)
He was ( in retrospect ) surprisingly luke warm about the potential of cross-London links — ‘ show me the market ’ — although he was no doubt pleased to accept in this first year in office an offer from the GLC to fund the third-rail electrification over 8½ miles between Dalston and North Woolwich . 1983 . Turning the Corner . The economy was improving , and evidence of increased confidence within L&SE can be found in 1983 in the eventual introduction of electric one-person-operated trains between Moorgate , St Pancras and Bedford ; the opening of no less than four new stations ; and government approval for the long awaited electrification of the Tonbridge-Hastings line . After its well publicised trials and tribulations , limited electric working from St Pancras commenced on 28 March and the electric service was officially inaugurated by the Secretary of State , Tom King , on 15 July .
Idiom: as a rule (used idiomatically: yes)
The exercise of state authority as a permanent function shall as a rule be entrusted to members of the public service whose status , service and loyalty are governed by public law .
Idiom: on the rocks (used idiomatically: yes)
' Taken up bird - watching ? ' ' I went up towards the belvedere to take some pictures , that 's all . I … tripped on a rock and fell over . ' She was n't in the habit of lying to Iris and knew she was n't making a particularly good job of it . Iris cocked a sceptical eyebrow .
Idiom: larger than life (used idiomatically: yes)
You 'll find him behind a small wooden counter in the left - hand corner of the bar . He 'll be selling T - shirts , scrimshaw souvenirs and changing money ( for which he charges no commission ) — all in any one of seven European languages . He is not the laughing larger - than - life character you might expect to find . He is a small , quiet man , with a friendly smile and a firm handshake . The first time I came across him I had arrived in the Azores with a blown - out mainsail , flat batteries and was in need of cooking gas .
Idiom: in stitches (used idiomatically: yes)
Green Door , Give Me the Moonlight , Hello Dolly and Tower of Strength are among those retaining that old magic . The audience did n't want to let him go and he returned to sing a little jazz , leaving the stage to rapturous applause . A superb supporting ‘ cast’ included Hi Di Hi star Paul Shane , whose quick wit had the audience in stitches . Lots of oneliners flowed as the professional polish of a top - rate comedian shone through . And there was he joined up with ‘ Our Eli’ and Jim Casey for more laughs later on .
Idiom: have a ball (used idiomatically: no)
Association . Eh , I do n't think . And they 've got two matches going on together have they , they 're , they 've different colour balls ? Oh I see . She ca n't even get the hang of it .
Idiom: better late than never (used idiomatically: yes)
He has helped with the menu for the new £ 6.95 tea service , which includes sandwiches and varieties of fruit cake . ' A decent fruit cake is far more appetizing than cream cakes and French patisserie , ' said Mr Christian . Better late than never ! OXTON are in championship form with their recent run of success almost enough to have landed a Weightman Rutherfords Liverpool Competition title . The Wirral club , without a championship success in over 40 years , have already won seven of their nine games this season .
Idiom: life and limb (used idiomatically: no)
In 1866 he moved to 11 Nelson Street , where he remained until his death , turning 24 Hardy Street into a private nursing home . Although he became critical of the methods of the old bone - setters , and especially of their views on diseases of the joints , he had learned from watching his father 's manipulative practices , and in his workshop he followed their practice of making their own splints . He also constantly experimented with new designs , and the Thomas splint for compound fractures of the lower limbs was widely used during World War I , from 1916 , for the transport of stretcher cases from the front to casualty stations , and saved many lives and limbs . His patients were mainly Merseyside dockers and shipyard workers , and seamen injured at sea , and he had to deal with many severe accident cases . His free Sunday clinics at 11 Nelson Street from 1870 onwards became famous , and patients arrived in handcarts , wheelbarrows , and donkey carts .
Idiom: come to a head (used idiomatically: yes)
Elections were to be contested up to the level of Dáil Éireann when the movement had built up sufficient support . There was a quixotic suggestion that elected representatives north and south should meet to set up an alternative national parliament which would proceed to ‘ legislate’ for the whole country . This , it was suggested , could lead to a situation of ‘ dual power’ , which might come to a head over the ‘ nationalisation’ of some foreign - owned factory which would be ‘ occupied’on behalf of the Irish nation . In June 1968 William Craig read out in Stormont lengthy extracts from a document published in the secret IRA journal An tÓglach ( the volunteer ) . This contained several passages which gave credence to the idea that the nature of the IRA and its aims were unchanged :
Idiom: out of the loop (used idiomatically: yes)
The crash was caused by what was described as an unfortunate error of judgement by the pilot . JUNE 1992/WOODFORD / Manchester The forty seven year old aircraft failed to come out of a loop during a flying display at Woodford aerodrome near Manchester in June . An expert told the court that the Spitfire appeared to suffer a high - speed stall and did n't gain enough height to complete the loop . The pilot , David Moore from Horsley in Gloucestershire was an experienced display flyer , but the inquest in Manchester was told that he misjudged the height of the Spitfire during the loop .
Idiom: fall short (used idiomatically: yes)
In the case of orphan children the position is relatively clear : a child without parents needs someone to care for it . But children , with parents , who are not receiving proper care are a more complicated category to define . The state has , in a sense , to define what proper care is , or at least what falls short of it . It has to take powers to intervene in family life and take into care children who are being neglected or badly treated . So the reasons why many children are in care depend on what the statutory powers and duties of the child care service are .
Idiom: at the crossroads (used idiomatically: yes)
The heat was now oppressive . The western clouds had thickened and the old wounds in Sharpe 's leg and shoulder began to ache ; a sure prophecy of rain . He lunched with the Prince of Orange 's staff in the remains of an orchard behind the farm at the crossroads . Harper , of whose status none of the Dutch was quite certain , shared the princely cold chicken , hard - boiled eggs and red wine . The Prince , momentarily forgetting his orders for Sharpe to change into Dutch uniform , dominated the luncheon conversation as he eagerly expressed his wish that the French would attack before the Duke returned from his meeting with the Prussians , for then the Prince could defeat the enemy with only the help of his faithful Dutch troops .
Idiom: seal of approval (used idiomatically: yes)
The Spaniards were thrown out of their stride by a Torino side superbly marshalled by former Real player Rafael Martin Vasquez and Belgian midfielder Enzo Scifo . EUROPEAN CUP Mini - leagues set to gain UEFA seal of approval By Graham Turner UEFA must feel they have reasons to describe the new European Cup formula as a qualified success .
Idiom: see the light of day (used idiomatically: yes)
We 'll be going through the Warners vaults here , with a list of material that 's never been released . The BBC also has previously unheard material that we have access to . There 's so much good stuff that has never seen the light of day . Plus on the anthology there will be original versions of , for instance , Stevie saying , ' This is how Dreams goes . ' And I kid you not , she 's tapping out ' bom , bom , bom , bom … ' on the piano with her index fingers !
Idiom: by and large (used idiomatically: yes)
Existing ties may help to reduce the number of events experienced ( arrow h , Figure 7.1 ) , reduce the likelihood that events will be perceived as stressful ( arrow j ) , and provide emotional support after the event ( arrows i and k ) . But mutual aid organisations which have proliferated over recent decades are based on an assumption that practical and highly specific emotional support after the event , and from new social relationships , is helpful . Research which has attempted to untangle these issues has not , by and large , employed sufficiently sophisticated methods to clarify the picture . Two often - cited studies are illustrative of the problems of measuring support and assessing its timing , and therefore the mechanisms through which it exerts its effects . Gore ( 1978 ) studied the impact of unemployment at five points in time leading up to and following the shutdown of two companies .