Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: see the light (used idiomatically: yes)
The fact that its Photocards lost only £ 494 — eliminating 98.9 per cent of the predicted fraud — made the headlines in dozens of British newspapers . Journalists unanimously welcomed the announcement that Highline Photocards are being offered to customers throughout the network and called on other Banks to follow suit . So far only one Building Society — National & Provincial Bank — has seen the light . Ovations galore as customers speak out THE compliments have been pouring in since Branch Banking Division launched its Service Quality Award programme , Ovations .
Idiom: in the club (used idiomatically: yes)
' Call me Ted . ' ' Is it true what Marcus said ? That you 're the biggest gossip in the Club ? ' ' Certainly , ' said Ted . ' Bigger than that , even .
Idiom: by heart (used idiomatically: yes)
He read this poem only once , he ca n't know it by ~ heart .
Idiom: on the face of it (used idiomatically: yes)
Karelius awoke that morning at half - past six , and lay for a while thinking about Fräulein Müller . How did she fit into things , if at all ? On the face of it , she was what she seemed : a lonely , nervous girl , travelling Europe alone , and , he conceded reluctantly , of very doubtful chastity . But the link with Aranyos through her sister needed explaining . It could hardly be coincidence .
Idiom: walk of life (used idiomatically: yes)
The victims come from all walks of life , but members of ethnic minorities and the poor are most at risk .
Idiom: round the clock (used idiomatically: yes)
SHORT OF HOLDING an arts festival down the darkened drains of Guildford , it is hard to think of a less promising cultural centre than the Arctic Circle . No orchestras , no opera , just loads of seal meat drying on every available ice slab . It is pitch black round the clock and everyone is depressed , drunk and stinks of fish oil . The hardest job of the ‘ Northern Lights Festival’ on Radio 4 fell to Kaleidoscope in Greenland , where Paul Allen set off to examine the arts scene , heaven help him . He arrived at a town surrounded by icebergs and with no road out .
Idiom: out of sight (used idiomatically: yes)
I moved in the end from discomfort , from stiffness : made a couple of circling shuffles on my knees , an unthought - out search for a nest to lie in , to die in , maybe . I looked up and saw again the arrow cut into the tree . It had n't been and was n't far away , just out of sight behind a group of saplings . Apathetically , I thought it of little use . The arrow pointed in the right direction , but ten feet past it , without the compass , which way was north ?
Idiom: pump iron (used idiomatically: yes)
Half way to the door I swivelled and , as if simply following the script of this particular hangover , strolled back to the table and came to a halt with my hands in my pockets a few feet from Davis 's chair . He looked up at me . Yes , even his face was muscular , as though he pumped iron with his ears . I said , " We 'll meet one day . "
Idiom: down the road (used idiomatically: yes)
I go to the pub . I go to the betting shop and people say , ' Hello Sting , ' or ' I do n't like you,'or whatever , but they talk to me . Occasionally , people act very strangely — I was driving down Edgware Road once and a taxi driver pulled up by me , and said , ' Sting ! You 've got a flat tyre , ' and then he drove off . So I pulled to the side and I had n't changed a tyre for a long time , but I got the jack out of the back and started to jack the car up , and while I was doing it , these two ladies went , ' Ah , it 's Sting ' .
Idiom: fly the flag (used idiomatically: yes)
( Case C 216/87)[1990]2 Q.B. 193 , 221–222 ) , as established by Council Regulation ( E.E.C. ) No . 170/83 of 25 January 1983 establishing a Community system for the conservation and management of fishery resources ( Official Journal 1983 No . L 24 , p. 1 ) , whereby only fishing vessels flying the flag of or registered in a member state may fish against the quotas allocated to that member state , which in other words are reserved to ‘ national’ vessels to the exclusion of vessels from other members states . ( For the compatibility with the E.E.C. Treaty , and in particular with articles 7 and 30 , of the distribution between national quotas of the total volume of catches available to the Community , see Romkes v. Officier van Justitie ( Case 46/86)[1987]E.C.R. 2671 , 2687–2688 , paras .
Idiom: on paper (used idiomatically: yes)
You might be able to learn it parrot - fashion out of a book or be able to put it on paper . That 's something I could n't do . I could n't write my job down on paper . It 's about eighty per cent experience and the other twenty common sense.’ Some field men have been in the job long enough to have seen the protection of the environment become a matter of considerable public concern .
Idiom: once in a while (used idiomatically: yes)
So I just follow a hunch . Did anyone ever tell you that you bear an uncanny resemblance to a young Harrison Ford ? ' ' Once in a while . Anyone tell you you look just like — ' ' Hush up , guy .
Idiom: go to the wall (used idiomatically: yes)
The argument begs the massive question of why productivity has been absolutely so low for so long . Production might well rise but would it not most probably be high - cost ? Certain firms might go to the wall under domestic competition but , as the proponents of the policy admit , ‘ the British economy as a whole is being feather - bedded’[Godley , 1979 , 233 ] . Unless it is prodded and pulled by the government , what is to stop it rolling over into a more comfortable position ? And this brings the argument full circle to the question of government competence .
Idiom: above par (used idiomatically: yes)
And as Morse opened his passenger door , he stood for a while looking up at the Pole Star , and asking himself the question he had been asking for the past two hours : was there any way in which Downes could still have been the murderer after all ? Many of Morse 's ideas were either so strange or so wildly improbable that most of them were always doomed to early disappointment . Yet , as it happened , he was registering well above par that evening , for three of the four ideas he had formulated were finally to prove wholly correct . Lewis had fallen fast asleep on the back seat of the police car and remained so for the whole of the journey back to Oxford . In his younger days , he had been a middle - weight Army boxing champion , and now he dreamed that he was in the ring again , with a right - cross from a swarthy , swift - footed opponent smashing into the left - hand side of his jaw .
Idiom: on the face of it (used idiomatically: yes)
A productivity shake - up appears to be taking place that could boost the economy in the 1990s . This would be good news : America had the worst productivity record of the seven big industrial economies in the 1980s , with average growth of only 1 % a year — less than half that in Europe or Japan . On the face of it , the 1990s look no better . Non - farm productivity rose by an annual rate of 1 % in the first quarter of this year , barely offsetting a fall in the fourth quarter of 1990 . But look again .
Idiom: jump through hoops (used idiomatically: yes)
There is an obvious difficulty in explaining all learnt behaviour in terms of conditioned reflexes . Animals learn to do many things that they never do as an unconditioned response to any stimulus . For example , a dog can be taught to jump through a hoop , but there is no stimulus to which jumping through a hoop is the unconditioned response . This difficulty was overcome by the concept of ' operant conditioning ' , developed by the behaviourist , Skinner . The idea is that if some action , X , is followed by a stimulus , for example food , which is ' reinforcing ' , then the animal is more likely to do X in the future .
Idiom: drop someone a line (used idiomatically: yes)
WE welcome the following who have recently joined us at Eagle Mill : THREE employees have retired from Eagle Mill in recent months : His friends and colleagues gave him a memorable send off and presented him with binoculars ( for his bird watching ) , a leather writing case ( so that he can drop us a line from far off places ) and a couple of brandy glasses ( empty — unfortunately ) . John received a hi - fi system and a picture of an African scene from the Company . 50 years combined service
Idiom: keep a low profile (used idiomatically: yes)
Those who are inclined towards reform reversal , place much more weight on the way the long dominance of the Conservative LDP party allowed it to pack the Supreme Court with its own nominees , so that the independence of the Judiciary is a myth . Or alternatively , that the Judiciary fears that too much intervention in the area of protecting individual rights , may result in a revival of pre - war encroachment by the executive in legal affairs . So keeping a low profile avoids getting embroiled in political controversy , which is the proper province of the elected Diet . If the absence of active Judicial intervention is to be explained by confidence in the Diet 's ability to represent electoral consensus , we can see how Japan could manage without the fierce watchdog role that the constitution envisaged for the Supreme Court . But is such confidence in the Diet warranted ?
Idiom: under the weather (used idiomatically: yes)
Coping with problems During the menopause a drop in hormone levels may account for a temporary loss of sexual desire in women , but this need not be more than a passing loss . General feelings of being under the weather and slight depression can all combine to make sex seem uninteresting or just a necessary chore ! Frequent periods and heavy bleeding may be further non - inducements to regular sex . It is important to realize that this state of affairs is only temporary and that sex may become even more exciting and rewarding once the menopause has passed .
Idiom: behind the scenes (used idiomatically: yes)
Nobody else seemed to be interested . None of the agencies involved in the official investigation of the Flight 103 bombing , either British or American , had even attempted to question him about the activities he had observed on Cyprus , despite all the rumours of the DEA 's involvement . To save his neck and protect his family was perhaps not the noblest of motives for coming forward as a witness , but if the DEA had not sought to frame him under the misapprehension that he was feeding information to Pan Am and the media , and if the DIA had not lacked the will to protect him behind the scenes , the idea of coming forward would never have crossed his mind at all— indeed , he might never even have known that he had a contribution to make to the Lockerbie investigation . As a secret agent of the Defense Intelligence Agency , his first , last and only duty would have been , as always , to the US government . But with his back to the wall , and with the octopus bent on destroying him through no fault of his own , his first , last and only duty was to his family .
Idiom: by the same token (used idiomatically: yes)
The second is their enormous libraries of films , which usually produce enough money to cover their overheads . If a big studio has a bad patch , as Fox did until a year ago , then the library can carry the studio . By the same token , the easiest way for a big studio to commit suicide is to sell its library — as MGM has . The last cushion the big studios can rely on is sheer size . Even with the advantages of other income sources , studios depend on a few hits to pay for a large number of duds .
Idiom: on edge (used idiomatically: no)
Emerging Lessons from the Crisis ITHACA , NY – The US financial system is careening on the edge of a meltdown . All that has kept the much - vaunted font of global capitalism from sliding into cataclysm is the US government , which has effectively become the guarantor and lender of last resort . How could things have come to such a pass in a financial system once touted as being the deepest and most sophisticated in the world ?
Idiom: make the cut (used idiomatically: no)
Ms. Waschbuesch earned much applause for emphasizing that for families no cuts should be made , because the government already does not provide sufficient support .
Idiom: lame duck (used idiomatically: yes)
There was irony in the fact that Patrick was once again back in Richie 's parish . He had to admit that it was not unpleasant to be taken in hand by someone so positive and avuncular . And Richie was no longer treating him like a lame duck . The Romanian trip had put paid to that . ‘ Meanwhile , until we know what the Kamalians are up to the more people we have on the job the better .
Idiom: in the red (used idiomatically: no)
' You can use this room while you 're here . Stay ! ' he commanded the dogs . It was necessary to descend two steps to enter a room carpeted in a rich red , which contrasted strongly with white walls and black beams . The curtains were of a deep pink and a multi - coloured patchwork quilt covered the king - size bed . ' But this is a double bed , ' she pointed out somewhat unnecessarily .
Idiom: cost the earth (used idiomatically: yes)
Authors in countries around the world are constantly releasing software for business and pleasure use . The most effective way to guarantee rapid distribution is to let people try the program out before asking them for payment . Imagine if your local electrical store allowed you to take a TV home for a month to sample its quality before parting with your money , you would be sure you had made the right decision before it cost you the earth . This is basically the Shareware concept . As one of the U.K 's leading shareware distributors we take programs from around the world , assess them for quality and general appeal , and print detailed reviews for you to read .
Idiom: rack your brain (used idiomatically: yes)
You 'll probably need help filling round here . I was going to say , I have no idea , unless there 's , if they 're on the agenda , I 'll pick them up and see , if there 's anything else , you 'll have tell me about it I 'm afraid , chair . I 'm not immediately aware of anything else , but members , please rack your brains as we go through , Diana ? You gave us , you gave us some dates on page three , item one hundred and twenty , thirteenth and fourteenth of December . I believe we 've taken a decision on that for the health conference , last time round .
Idiom: on the nose (used idiomatically: yes)
It is becoming increasingly essential that Carling recovers from his strained thigh muscle in time for Saturday 's first Test against the All Blacks . There was further bad news on the injury front both stand - offs received head wounds . Rob Andrew went off with a bang on the nose which needed an X - ray , although it was later revealed that there was no fracture , while his replacement Stuart Barnes had 12 stitches in a head wound caused by a stray boot . The Lions ran into similar refereeing trouble as in Auckland in the second match , conceding 15 penalties during the second half . Stamping
Idiom: all along (used idiomatically: yes)
This is the that 's the lemon , orange and grapefruit tree there . Oh yeah ? The grapes are all along here see behind the washing ? Yeah . And she 's got kiwi fruits and peppers and all sorts of things growing in the garden .
Idiom: drop the ball (used idiomatically: yes)
I am sure it will benefit Gareth Simmonds when he eventually becomes a panel referee . Talking about Gareth , he refereed the Scotland v Spain game in December and had an interesting situation with a Spanish try . Near the end of the game one of the Spanish players fell over the Scottish goal - line with the ball in his possession , but dropped the ball as he fell on it . On the television replay it was pretty clear , and even the doyen of television commentators , my old friend Bill McLaren , sounded slightly surprised as Gareth awarded the try . However , there is nothing in Law which prevents a player dropping the ball and then falling on it for a score .
Idiom: under the sun (used idiomatically: yes)
A state religion that included all others obviously conduced to this objective . And it was under the aegis , so to speak , of the Sol Invictus cult that Christianity proceeded to prosper . Christian doctrine , as promulgated by Rome at the time , had much in common with the cult of Sol Invictus anyway ; and thus it was able to flourish unmolested under the sun cult 's umbrella of tolerance . Being essentially monotheistic , the cult of Sol Invictus paved the way for the monotheism of Christianity . At the same time , the early Church had no compunction about modifying its own tenets and dogma in order to capitalise on the opportunity afforded it .
Idiom: fly the flag (used idiomatically: yes)
The Secretary of State was empowered by section 14(4 ) to dispense with the nationality requirement in the case of an individual on the ground of the length of time during which he had resided in the United Kingdom and had been involved in the fishing industry there . The applicants ' vessels failed to qualify for entry in the new register and they challenged the compatibility of the relevant provisions of the Act of 1988 with Community law by an application for judicial review . The Divisional Court referred to the Court of Justice of the European Communities the question whether Community law affected the conditions which a member state might prescribe for the entry of vessels in its national register and the right of vessels to fly its flag and carry its nationality . By further questions , as reformulated in part by the Court of Justice , the Divisional Court also asked , inter alia , whether requirements as to nationality , residence , domicile and control imposed by a member state as conditions of the registration of fishing vessels and the right to fly the flag of that state were compatible with Community law , including article 7 of the E.E.C. Treaty ( principle of non - discrimination on the ground of nationality ) and article 52 ( right of establishment ) , and whether the answer to that question was affected by the existence of a power to dispense with the nationality requirement in the case of individuals and by the existence of national fishing catch quotas allocated by the Community pursuant to the Common Fisheries Policy .
Idiom: from scratch (used idiomatically: yes)
Here 's one I made earlier … I could have , of course , come up with a ‘ Blue Peter’ type solution creating a wet and dry trickle filter from old jam jars , sellotape and the centre of a toilet roll . The aquarium tank could have been built from scratch via a visit to the local glass merchant and the whole thing topped off with a cut price supermarket security flood light . However , my experience of do - it - yourself aquarium methods is that:— ( a)There is usually no real way to be sure that the piece of equipment devised is adequate for the purpose unless of course it is a straight copy of an existing commercial model .
Idiom: rub shoulders (used idiomatically: yes)
It 's all down to you . Your votes count by mail or phone — and by telephoning your choice you have the chance to join us at our superb Dorchester luncheon . Five phone voters will be chosen at random by computer to join the fun and rub shoulders with the stars . Each winner will , of course , be invited to bring a partner to the Dorchester . So vote now !
Idiom: get to the bottom of (used idiomatically: yes)
They seemed to be shrouded in mystery , and Fran was itching to find out more . On the surface the man seemed to be part of the backbone of the community , but she had only to remember the marked reluctance shown by those of his employees she had tried to interview that afternoon to realise that all was n't as it seemed . There had been genuine fear on some of those people 's faces when she had mentioned Martin 's name , a fear she could appreciate after what had happened to her last night , but it had n't shaken her determination to get to the bottom of the story . Gathering up the last of the cuttings , she locked them in her briefcase , then looked round , too restless and on edge to relax . There was still almost half an hour left before Luke Calder was due , time she would prefer to spend doing something to take her mind off the coming evening .
Idiom: jump the queue (used idiomatically: no)
The management should n't try to be one of the boys . ' Instead of subsiding now that he was no longer touching her , the disturbance he had caused deepened as she looked at him and understood that the warning was a personal one , merely dressed up as professional advice . He thought her pleasure in Florian 's win was for her once and future lover and , presumably , that in her euphoria she was going to let him jump this queue of men he had convinced himself she had waiting for her sexual favours . ' I want to talk to you , ' she told him levelly , her decision finally made . He leaned forward once again , subjecting her to the unnerving illusion of being pinned by his shadow , trapped and oppressed by it , as if it carried physical weight , composed of all that he felt for her , lust and contempt .
Idiom: pull the plug (used idiomatically: yes)
Miranda is lying on her tummy for she has the bath to herself , and she 's pretending she 's swimming , thinking of it getting dark and Manjiku rising , rising from the deep , tracking her . Serafine slaps her bottom , softly , with a chuckle , and tells her , ' out now . ' She pulls out the plug , and the water drains , so Miranda can not swim any more , and lies there , feeling the water suck away from her . ' Come on out now , Miss Miranda , ' says Feeny . ' The bath 's no place to lie catching cold . '
Idiom: have a heart (used idiomatically: yes)
Evidence of the existence of dry rot may be found in a musty smell pervading a suspect space ; the presence of a whitish cotton - wool - like fungal growth on timber ; cracking and bulging of joinery mouldings such as skirtings and door linings owed to the shrinkage of hidden fixing timber which has been attacked by the fungus ; and readily apparent ravaged timber showing deep cracks across the grain , giving a ' cubed ' appearance . Once dry rot has been discovered , the only remedy is extermination of the fungus together with the rectification of the unhealthy conditions which invited the attack . The fungus has no heart nor ' Achilles ' heal and unless it is completely destroyed to its limits , it will develop fresh strength and start again to devour the timberwork . There are two possible strategies for the treatment of an attack of dry rot . The building owner may either employ a builder to carry out the work or opening up and eradication , or he may call in one of the numerous specialist firms to deal with the attack .
Idiom: on the house (used idiomatically: yes)
Come and see us for a pint , I 'll meet you in so and so and we 'll go for a pint ' , and all that , y'know . They do come round again , but once they find out you 're using again , they just drop you like a brick … . I 'm working on my own house at the moment . The thing is , it 's a vicious circle , it 's Catch 22 really , 'cos I used to have a good self - employed business , going painting and decorating and I used to have a good clientele and that and I found over the years that , when it became harder and harder to score and the prices rocketed and all that , it got out of hand , out of proportion , that I was spending more and more time off the job than I was on the job , looking round to get the stuff and I found I was unable to carry on working without the drug , because I just felt so bad and I could n't climb ladders and I thought I was a danger to myself and anybody else that I had working with me , y'know . And I 'm saying to Mrs Jones , yeah I 'll do whatever , y'know , I used to have some good contacts with Estate Agents and that and they would just ring me up and say will you come and do so and so and we want it done within six or seven days , y'know , a house that they were selling , that they 'd want completely doing from top to bottom inside and out .