Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: watering hole (used idiomatically: yes)
As soon as the harvest was in , he would start south again and , next year , would hope to sow and to harvest without paying tax . The Sahara was theirs from the southern outskirts of Ajdabiya to the Egyptian border , to Wainat and Sudan , and then to the French conquests in Chad . Men might travel only by Zuwaya consent , and Zuwaya took fees to guide travellers from water - hole to water - hole on the routes to Kufra and beyond . They had an exclusive licence as desert guides from the Turkish authorities in Benghazi , and they taxed merchants who passed through Kufra . The merchants of Awjla and Jalu contested this claim , but after some years of bloody conflict they were confined to the oases : if they wished to travel outside they , too , had to pay a fee to Zuwaya .
Idiom: have a ball (used idiomatically: no)
Have had better atmosphere 's at funerals — i was in the kop just to the right of the goal and other than the odd comment from fellow fans around me it 's the quitest it 's ever been when I 've gone . Had a good view of the first half chances , especially in the early period and despite the opportunities looking promising the finishing was really crap — the kop seemed to feel that we were never going to score and it was a relief that Deano actually managed to put it in the net from 6 yards . Speaking of Deano — everyone I talked felt that as we had paid £2.7 million for a centre forward would n't it be nice if hung around near the goal or in the box for that matter instead of running all over the show and when we finally get the ball in the box there 's nobody there . I can see why he 's not scored so often this year and why we 're now being linked with Ferdinand . I personally think the linesman on the dugout side of the pitch had the best touch of the ball in the first half .
Idiom: in the soup (used idiomatically: yes)
But ITV Association chairman Greg Dyke said the proposal would lead to the network losing hit shows and mean stars like The Bill 's Christopher Ellison would only be seen on satellite TV . ‘ We would be surprised if this could be described as fair trading in any circumstances,’ said Mr Dyke . 130 mph chef in the soup CHEF Raymond Blanc was clocked driving at 130 mph along a motorway . Five weeks later he was seen doing 95 mph through roadworks .
Idiom: throw someone to the wolves (used idiomatically: yes)
She was telling the truth ; Dana had given no hint of where they were going . She stole a look at him ; he was looking grimmer by the minute — he would n't show any mercy once he caught up with the culprits . It would be easy to tell him the truth but that would mean throwing Dana to the wolves , and that she could n't do . ' How kind , ' he said , and Claudia flinched at the sarcasm . ' Look , Mr … '
Idiom: jump through hoops (used idiomatically: yes)
Stands to reason you do n't get much for that sort of money , but I done well , I reckon . Ex - chasers , and one out of a circus down on its luck . Jumps through hoops . All you got to do is duck . ' He clumped Hoomey on the shoulder and roared with laughter .
Idiom: get to the bottom of (used idiomatically: no)
Loretta finished dressing and was about to leave the room when she caught sight of the unmade bed . Force of habit compelled her to stop and straighten the quilt . As she got to the bottom of the stairs , Jamie emerged from the drawing - room . The smile froze on Loretta 's face as she caught sight of his expression : his eyes were wide and staring , like those of a cornered animal . ‘ I 've got to go,’ he blurted out , skirting past her to the front door .
Idiom: for a song (used idiomatically: yes)
There was nothing in his house to remind him of Ecalpemos . Everything that was left , everything he and Rufus had n't sold , had gone to Ivan Langan with the house . For a song , too , because he had not been able to bear the thought of going back , meeting a valuer , walking about the house , picking things off shelves and out of cupboards . Only once had he returned after they all left and that had been bad enough , like a dream — no , like stepping into the set and scenario of some frightening film , a Hitchcock movie perhaps . He asked the taxi he had taken to put him down at the top of the drift and he had walked to the house .
Idiom: cut and thrust (used idiomatically: yes)
He got excited and depressed , dodged the army , fell in and out of love , occasionally suffered ill - health and played the violin . But he was undeniably withdrawn and pensive . Though we find him joining the cut and thrust of conference debate , or delivering polemical lectures , we also glimpse a man apart , and in an intellect of such stature , it is tempting to describe him as aloof . Yet there is no trace of arrogance in his writings or pronouncements , and for those who could track him down , there was a man who was more than ready to mull over the ideas of lesser mortals . Pais weaves together the strands of Einstein 's life skillfully and objectively .
Idiom: join the club (used idiomatically: yes)
I do n't know what your plans are ; if you 're going to stay here or go or what . I just feel uncertain . " " Join the club , " she said . She looked at him , touched his hand where it rested on her shoulder . " I think I 'll stay .
Idiom: neither here nor there (used idiomatically: yes)
putting it on , that 's true And er so I said oh aye , I said I want , it 's only er fifty P a quid on a , a new oh well that 's neither here nor there so treating last year I should of had that winner , I picked a and it won oh yeah ,
Idiom: fall short (used idiomatically: yes)
Research findings in this field have often proved depressing reading . Most local surveys on the prevalence of disability indicated that existing registers were badly understating it . Surveys of provision have indicated that this still falls short of a desirable level . In most areas there are simply not the resources to meet the expectations that the 1970 Act raised . The gap between provision and need is too great to be bridged rapidly and many shortcomings have continued to be revealed by the considerable glare of publicity directed at the local authority services for the handicapped .
Idiom: one and the same (used idiomatically: yes)
Britain seemed in almost bullish mood as 1977 went out . It seemed well on the way to revival , with the balance - of - payments surplus rising to £ 1,000 m. in 1978 and the pound , now a petro - currency , rising to not far short of $ 2 on the foreign exchange . Douglas Jay observed that the later 1970s were a time of genuine recovery —‘one of the few examples of any Western governments in the seventies reducing both inflationary pressures and unemployment’ at one and the same time . The revival continued for much of 1978 . Indeed , by the middle of that year critics were saying that the cuts imposed at the time of the IMF crisis may have been too harsh , and that fixed investment in manufacturing capacity needed to be stepped up , even though it actually rose by 8 per cent in 1978 .
Idiom: warts and all (used idiomatically: yes)
Governments come and governments go ( or rather they do n't ) , pop idols streak through the firmament and disappear , but there is one constant in a topsy - turvy world , the beacon of truth and clarity that is the NME . And 40 years ago you — or rather your semi - erect ancestors — were asking us why we did n't just change our name to New Accordion Express . Since then , a lot of good writing and bad puns have passed under the bridge — as heroically rounded up here by STUART MACONIE in this ( gulp ! ) warts - and - all history of your favourite rock weekly … Common misconception has it that rock'n'roll was invented when Alan Freed first foisted this brash new music on the unsuspecting good burghers of Cleveland in April 1952 . Wrong .
Idiom: get lost (used idiomatically: yes)
This is an excellent aid to teaching . The radio is widely available — there are few households that do n't have one ; it is inexpensive , compared with other mechanical or electronic equipment , and it is an endless source of material on every possible topic . Radios today seldom need repairing or the attention of a technician ; they do not need accessories which can be expensive and can get lost or damaged . It is also relatively easy for anyone to record programmes , especially if one owns a music centre or a combined radio / cassette recorder . There are , however , regulations concerning the copyright and performing rights of programmes .
Idiom: out of line (used idiomatically: no)
I would win . I think of Mark as my younger brother . Just sometimes his ego gets out of line.’ Ken was a proud traditionalist , a purist , almost a puritan in his stern insistence on standards . But he was n't a hypocrite .
Idiom: lie low (used idiomatically: yes)
I found some barges and was busy strafing them when we were hit by 40 mm cannon shells . There was an immediate loss of power and all I could do was to crash - land the aircraft . We managed to survive the crash but after two weeks of lying - low were captured by the Germans.’ Gordon Hampton remained a prisoner of war until repatriated in May 1945 . After the was he continued his career in the RAF , including command of 50 Squadron with Canberras and an exchange tour with Strategic Air Command flying B–52s .
Idiom: in the soup (used idiomatically: yes)
Neighbours of the site are being asked to send their comments on the plans to a Government inspector who will decide whether to uphold Sedgefield District Council 's decision to turn down the extension for the social club . Special lunches : Lent Lunches are being held every Wednesday in the Methodist School Room starting at noon . Proceeds will go to the Church Army College and all are invited to join in the soup and bread meal and Lent discussions . Homemakers : The Heighington branch of the Homemakers group has held a busy programme of events which included a pie and peas supper and planning to visit Darlington Civic Theatre on April 29 .
Idiom: kick up a fuss (used idiomatically: yes)
She understood now what Mr Stanforth had meant by describing him as a man who had deliberately evaded certain responsibilities and involvements , and even kept his affairs in scrupulous order mainly to avoid being badgered , or giving anyone a hold on him . And she thought suddenly , with a totally unexpected flash of dismay and sympathy : My God , you overdid it , did n't you ? You were so successful at it that in the end you could vanish without leaving a soul behind sufficiently concerned about you to kick up a fuss — only a solicitor worried about the legal hang - ups , and especially the money ! Sympathy , of course , might be misapplied here . For all she knew , so far from being lonely and deprived at this moment , he might well be taking his mild pleasures in his usual fashion , with some lady chanced upon by pure luck in the wilds of Anatolia .
Idiom: make a clean break (used idiomatically: yes)
If you 're good ‘ DURING the long cold - war period,’ Warren Christopher , America 's secretary of state , said on May 20th , ‘ policies toward Africa were often determined not by how they affected Africa , but by what advantage they brought to Washington or Moscow.’ He promised that the Clinton administration would make a clean break . Henceforth ‘ an enduring commitment to democracy and human rights’ would be at the heart of America 's relations with Africa . Aid would be allocated accordingly .
Idiom: pull the plug (used idiomatically: yes)
No one doubts the right of the patient with kidney disease to decline treatment . The polio patient 's equal right to self - determination should not be denied merely because he is helpless . Whether a court would grant a patient an order requiring a doctor or whoever to cease treatment , to ‘ pull the plug’ , is not yet known in England . But , it is submitted , the law is as stated above . It should be noted in passing , however , that where a patient is deemed for whatever reason legally incompetent , the law is less clear .
Idiom: by the back door (used idiomatically: no)
Do n't you think she 'll cure me of my wickedness , Jane ? Oh , I can hear some of the guests in the garden . Go into the house by the back door.’ As I went one way , and he another , I heard him say cheerfully to the gentlemen , ‘ Mason 's already left . I got up early to say goodbye to him.’
Idiom: hold the purse strings (used idiomatically: yes)
I would have to go to my constituency and say that I had been outbid by Tory Ministers , and that after complaining for all these years about their accruing power to themselves I had found that I had been wrong all the time . But I know that I am right . The Government have no intention of giving power to anyone except those who hold the purse strings . The paymasters of the Tory party have said,"You will privatise . You will sell off the companies .
Idiom: see the light (used idiomatically: no)
I suggest you check that your stop lights work when you press the brake pedal . If they do then a rear mounted bull bar ( see adverts in LRO yellow pages ) should limit the damage . Seeing the light What type of headlamp do you consider best for the Series III ? I replaced the sealed beam units in my 1971 IIA with halogen quad optic lamps .
Idiom: keep tabs on (used idiomatically: yes)
More specifically , oregano . Has he already been out to dinner with someone before coming here ? If she asked , he would accuse her of nagging , of wanting to keep tabs on him . He would ask what the hell did it matter where he had been , now that he was here ? He would say she always did ask too many questions and why did n't she stay cool , tell him she loved him ?
Idiom: in the dock (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ Onto the underside of the floorboards,’ I said . ‘ There were no slabs of marble in sight when Harry and I went into the upstairs room of the boathouse . I expect , if there are some other blocks still in place , that you can see them from underneath , in the dock.’ Doone with slight reluctance admitted that there seemed to be marble stuck to the underside of one more floorboard on each side of the hole . The plank on the table was about eight inches across .
Idiom: in business (used idiomatically: yes)
Of their six sons , only three Jean ( married to Marguerite Delalande ) , Nicolas ( married to Anne Mauger ) and Louis ( married to Marie Mauger ) continued the Hotteterre line and had sons who worked as instrument makers in Paris . Borjon 's Traité de la musette establishes that a father and his two sons , whom I have shown to be Jean I and his sons , Martin and Jean fils aîń , worked together in instrument making . A declaration of 19 September 1693 by Anne Mauger , wife of Nicolas , makes clear that her husband and three sons , Nicolas aîń , Nicolas ( dit Colin ) and Louis shared in the same instrument business . Although we do not have such specific documentation for Louis I , married to Marie Mauger , and his sons Jacques ( -Jean ) , Louis and Jean they too would have manufactured under a single family mark . Thus , each of the three sons of Loys de Haulteterre can be identified with a maker 's mark which was continued by his sons ( and in some cases grandsons and great grandsons ) as successors .
Idiom: Dutch courage (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ I did n't invite that,’ Polly cried . ‘ He 'd been drinking.’ ‘ For Dutch courage ? Or was he drowning his sorrows?’ She clenched her fists .
Idiom: for Africa (used idiomatically: yes)
Latinos have walked taller ever since . INTERNATIONAL Aid for Africa Nothing to lose but your chains AFRICA is the only continent in the poor world where people ended the 1980s worse off than they were at the start .
Idiom: up the river (used idiomatically: yes)
They were made inevitable by the meddling of man . At Pevensey , reclamation of the adjacent estuary had reduced tidal scouring , which had previously kept the river mouth open . In consequence , the water , unable to escape through the blocked outfall , flooded the land , and navigation up the river was also prevented . Successive new channels cut in 1402 and 1455 failed to remedy the problem , and Pevensey Castle , which still rises dramatically above the marshes whose creation ensured its demise , was abandoned . On Romney Marsh , silting of river mouths was worsened by the problem of peat shrinkage .
Idiom: up to no good (used idiomatically: yes)
The infamous Stanford Prison study experiment ( Haney et al . , 1973 ) , which had to be stopped because students in role as either prison warders or prisoners forgot they were in role , is powerful evidence of this possibility . Drama and make - believe play , unlike other second - order experiences , can look like a real event because of the concreteness of the medium . A headmaster friend told me recently that he had burst into a classroom mistakenly thinking some pupils were up to no good , only to discover it was drama ; and I recall one of my own students , in playing the role of a prisoner - of - war camp commandant berating the ‘ prisoners’ and warning them that he had ways of finding out where the missing prisoner was if he did n't own up , was somewhat taken aback to hear the voice of the school caretaker call from the other end of the drama hall , ‘ There 's a boy here , Mr. Ainscough , skulking by this radiator’ ! Geoff Gillham ( 1979 ) , in a paper read to a Cockpit Theatre Conference in 1978 , raises the question of why young children are not generally confused by the two . The answer he gives is that the child freely enters the make - believe world secure in the signals from the real world that the real world is continuing to exist .
Idiom: in the red (used idiomatically: yes)
Alt has blamed oil for this appreciation , while other economists have blamed the government 's tight money policies and high interest rates . Industrial output fell by 11 per cent between the second quarter of 1 979 and the last quarter of 1982 , and between 1979 and 1985 industry shed 1.5 million workers . The balance of trade in manufacturing swung from a surplus of £ 2.75 billion in 1979 to a deficit in 1984 of £ 3.75 billion and the years 1983 and 1984 were the first time in history that Britain 's trade balance was in the red on manufactures . Non - oil imports increased by an average of 4.5 per cent per annum from 1979 , while non - oil exports increased by 1 per cent per annum . Only in 1984 did non - oil output recover to its 1979 level .
Idiom: in tandem (used idiomatically: yes)
Although photographed attending a conference on July 29 , his whereabouts on July 27 and much of July 28 remained uncertain , and fuelled speculation that he might have used the opportunity to make an undisclosed trip to Madrid . The Speaker of the House , Thomas S. Foley , on Aug. 5 announced the establishment of a two - pronged official inquiry into the October Surprise allegations . A Senate foreign relations subcommittee was due to work in tandem with a task force drawn from the House . Nomination of Supreme Court Justice President George Bush on July 1 nominated Clarence Thomas , a black federal Appeals Court judge with strong conservative views , to the US Supreme Court .
Idiom: work like a charm (used idiomatically: yes)
' Great ! ' I said and went home and tried it . It works like a CHARM ! Since then I have found other uses for it in my knitting room such as to anchor down that very important latch tool and to put in place the little basin on the weighing machine which tends to flop off when I go to weigh a heavy jumper . Where to hang the steaming kit for a shadow pleated skirt is always quite a problem .
Idiom: steer clear of (used idiomatically: yes)
I think that we must all be full of the sense or profound thankfulness that we are living in this country , under a system of National Government … . True to our traditions , we have avoided all extremes . We have steered clear of fascism , communism , dictatorship , and we have shown the world that democratic government , constitutional methods and ordered liberty are not inconsistent with progress and prosperity . The collapse of appeasement put paid to Baldwin 's isolationist patriotism , and.opened the way for the Left . In the prosecution of the war , the Left discovered far greater opportunities for political advance than any that had arisen from the anti - war struggles of the 1930s .
Idiom: feeding frenzy (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ We have been waiting for grants but there has been some debate about whether croquet is a sport because of the pace it 's played at.’ The Government department concerned for dishing out the dosh in these matters must presumably think croquet is a corporate hospitality device . Records tumbled during the final Middlesbrough Match series on Hemlington Lake as glorious weather signalled a carp - feeding frenzy . Anglers Choice starlet Graham Metcalfe topped the proceedings for the second successive week and set a new five - hour best of 16–8–0 . Drawn in the middle of the grassy banks , sweetcorn in conjunction with the pole at 11 metres brought five common carp , the best 3–2–0 backed by crucians and tench .
Idiom: in the driving seat (used idiomatically: yes)
The night is black and humid ; sweat crawls under her armpits , between her thighs on the plastic - covered seat , courses between her breasts . They are bumping along a wide highway , stalls stacked with water melons separating the two streams of traffic , the outlines of corrugated - iron roofs defining a shantytown on either side . Her escort lounges in the driving seat , one hand laid casually on the wheel , the other engaged in smoothing back his hair in a relaxed manner belied by the slightly puzzled looks he flicks sideways at her . He fires questions at her . ‘ You had a good trip ?
Idiom: on the money (used idiomatically: no)
Panic , too , and also an unbearable excitement like an itch you were forbidden to scratch . ' You poor darling , ' she said . In 1970 — if you were eighteen and could lay your hands on a little ready money — it was almost de rigueur to travel overland to Greece where , in an idyllic island setting , you could hang out in the coolest way imaginable with amiable drug - dealers and liberated chicks . Peter planned to beat the rush by leaving at the end of May. He had left school the previous December , having failed to get into Cambridge , and was due to go to Essex University in September .
Idiom: in the bag (used idiomatically: no)
' It 's either in my bag or at home . Hang on a moment . ' She knew quite well that her address - book was here , in her shoulder - bag . But the pretence of searching for it gave her a moment to think . Ivor was going to be furious about this .
Idiom: have other fish to fry (used idiomatically: yes)
The book is Fish and Chips and the British Working Class — : page 109 , with thanks to the Leicester University Press fax machine , is more substantial . The Incident happened in the 1930s when a Hartlepool couple were jailed for attacking a shop owner who 'd remonstrated with them for drinking out of the vinegar bottle . Whether it was because he had other fish to fry is unrecorded , but Hartlepool 's chippies had made the law courts before . In 1894 James Macgregor , a West Hartlepool JP , was fined five shillings for selling fish and chips at 3 am on Christmas Day . With the condiments of the season , presumably .