Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: bring up the rear (used idiomatically: yes)
This was the first sensible suggestion she had heard from the headmaster since she had come to Burleigh School , one week after the beginning of Spring term ( her predecessor having expired , Kennedy 's Latin Primer in hand , in the middle of the pluperfect of Amo with Form 2B ) . She let Glenda Grower lead the way , splendidly striding forward with that swing that showed off her tall , slim figure , and watched the other , older members of staff follow in her wake . Together with Toby Freely , the fresh - faced young man who had been sitting next to Tom Tedder , she brought up , modestly , the rear of the exodus . ' Best thing that 's happened since I arrived , ' she muttered to him , as they shuffled along the lino'd passage towards the headmaster 's quarters . ' Absolutely , ' said Toby .
Idiom: in the long term (used idiomatically: yes)
Either way , interest rates would have to fall in order for world bond markets to clear . He pointed to how the Asian financial crisis in the late 1990s caused the region ’s voracious investment demand to collapse , while simultaneously inducing Asian governments to stockpile liquid assets as a hedge against another crisis . Bernanke also pointed to increased retirement saving by aging populations in Germany and Japan , as well as to saving by oil - exporting countries , with their rapidly growing populations and concerns about oil revenues in the long term . Monetary policy , incidentally , did not feature prominently in Bernanke ’s diagnosis . Like most economists , he believes that if policymakers try to keep interest rates at artificially low levels for too long , eventually demand will soar and inflation will jump .
Idiom: to the tune of (used idiomatically: yes)
Excellent though Johnson has so far proven at the explorer 's notes , Boswell threatens to outdo him regarding Raasay . It is from Boswell that we learn of the height of nun Can , Raasay 's peak on which he danced a Highland reel with old Malcolm Macleod who called him between five and six in the morning to go walking . From Boswell we learn that the Laird of Macleod was in debt to the tune of forty thousand pounds , and this Hebridean Micawber had an income of only thirteen hundred a year . They danced every night . Boswell reported : ‘ The queen of our ball was the eldest Miss Macleod , of Rasay , an elegant , well - bred woman , and celebrated for her beauty all over these regions , by the name of Miss Flora Rasay .
Idiom: to a turn (used idiomatically: yes)
B : Yes . A : Like to go to that film ? Often these act as devices for obtaining the right to a longer turn , like a story . In English , the most obvious examples of this are the cliched openings of jokes like ' Have you heard the one about the … ? ' or personal anecdotes : ' Listen ! Do you know what happened to us last night ? '
Idiom: down at heel (used idiomatically: yes)
THEATRE Making her debut at the Royal National Theatre in February , Frances Barber stars as a hotel manageress in Richard Eyre 's revival of the Tennessee Williams classic , The Night Of The Iguana . Her down - at - heel 1940s hotel on the edge of the Mexican jungle has few guests , but each is extraordinary — from the defrocked priest ( Alfred Molina ) to an artistic spinster ( Eileen Atkins ) . From 6 February . HOME IS WHERE THE ART IS
Idiom: to say the least (used idiomatically: yes)
Putting this point on a more theoretical level , the musical field and the class structure at any given moment , though clearly not unconnected , comprise different ‘ maps’ of social / cultural space , and they can not be reduced one to the other ( see Williams 1981 ) . The fourth category is unsatisfactory , too , this time for two reasons . The development of methods of mass diffusion ( first printed , then electromechanical and electronic ) has affected all forms of music , and any of them can be treated as a commodity ; if a widely distributed recording of a Tchaikovsky symphony turns the piece into ‘ popular music’ , then the definition is , to say the least , unhelpful . At the same time , all forms of what would usually be considered popular music can in principle be disseminated by face - to - face methods ( for instance , in concerts ) rather than the mass media , and can be made available free , or even structured as collective participation , rather than sold as a commodity ; it is hard to believe that a few friends , jamming on ‘ Born in the USA’ at a party , are not producing ‘ popular music’ . There are two definitional syntheses that have a particular currency , both in everyday discourse and among scholarly approaches .
Idiom: on the dot (used idiomatically: yes)
The main housework followed , and all the oilcloth floors had to be scrubbed — houses that had oilcloth in those days were supposed to be well off . The only carpet was in the best room , or the visitors ' room as they called it . We had roast meat once a week on Sundays , served at noon on the dot , usually their own home - killed sheep or pork . It would have to last cold for most of the week , with a bit of bacon in between . But every day we would have a pudding , rice or suet , and always different .
Idiom: round the clock (used idiomatically: yes)
A year later he died after suffering months of agonizing pain . His widow is now in a nursing home in Swindon . She can no longer walk unaided , she needs round the clock care and spends much of her time in a wheelchair . The family say if her husband was still alive , he would be looking after her at home . Her daughters , Elizabeth Beak and Rosemarie Craig are claiming damages totalling around £ 100,000 against British Rail for negligence .
Idiom: have words (used idiomatically: no)
' But that is a ridiculous argument because it would look like sour grapes as none of our county players were selected . The MCC do n't have players for selection as such , so it 's the only way we can honourably make our protest . ' And the 66-year - old London financier had harsh words also for the MCC hierarchy who are complaining about the £ 17,000 cost of organising the special general meeting , pushed through by Tuesday 's 108 - 3 vote at Lord 's . ' The MCC made a profit of £ 568,000 last year , it had administrative expenses of £ 2.2 million which included Pounds 47,000 spent on ' hospitality ' — now they begrudge us the paltry sum of Pounds 17,000 for a worthy cause for the good of cricket . And anyway it 's our money , ' he said .
Idiom: small print (used idiomatically: no)
Hence , for years bankers have disliked bills issued by owners or masters of ‘ sailing vessels.’ Underlying these concerns is the bankers ' need for a fair document of title , and fairness requires first of all honesty . Honesty exists when a document is enforceable on the basis of its ostensible ( as opposed to‘small print’ ) terms , or when express warranties are not disclaimed in the small print . A modicum of ocean bill of lading honesty and fairness was attained through late nineteenth and early twentieth century statutory , decisional , and treaty law . 2.4 The Carrier 's Historical , Treaty , and Statutory Liability
Idiom: cut it fine (used idiomatically: yes)
McCarrick put them ahead in the eighth minute and they should have settled it in the 67th when Muir had a penalty saved , but Rimmer made no mistake from the spot to level the scores in the 83rd minute . Tranmere 's reply was instant and decisive , Bishop volleying the winner from a free kick . Crewe 's 2 - 1 win over Mansfield was their first in 10 games but they cut it fine , Cutler scoring the winner two minutes from time . Southend 's players flew off for a week 's break in Spain after a 2 - 1 win at Halifax which put them five points clear at the top of the Fourth Division . Ling and Martin were the scorers , and their goalkeeper , Sansome , saved a penalty before Juryeff 's late consolation goal .
Idiom: back to the drawing board (used idiomatically: yes)
That is the travesty of the guarantee . The way forward is for the Government to admit that the guarantee is not being delivered and that it is being overwhelmed by the recession . They must go back to the drawing board and review the whole of youth training . They should sit down with some of us who are interested in these matters and draw up a quality scheme that works . Otherwise , they will continue to fail thousands of our young people and our country 's training needs .
Idiom: for a song (used idiomatically: yes)
There are also vacancies for computer technicians , secretaries , and mechanics . Details can be obtained from Truro Employment Centre . NOT going for a song THE antiques collection of TV expert Arthur Negus is going under the hammer — and it 's expected to fetch £ 80,000 . The star of Antiques Roadshow and Going For A Song died in 1985 and now his widow Irene has decided to sell .
Idiom: out of pocket (used idiomatically: yes)
Management at Caldaire bus company held top level talks in a bid to remove a clause which has stalled negotiations on the Grange Road site in Darlington . Sainsbury has expressed an interest in the site but a Government clause imposed during the bus privatisation programme means Caldaire can keep only 35pc of the purchase price above £ 1.3 million effectively making a move financially impossible . The company has said a buyer would have to come up with at least £ 8.5 million if Caldaire was not to end up out of pocket . Managing director Mike Widmer said he was still waiting for a decision from the transport department but he felt pressure to move had gone . ‘ While I am quite happy to move if everything is right , there are many obstacles to be overcome,’ he said .
Idiom: turn a blind eye (used idiomatically: yes)
There was little to prevent tenants disposing of their land as though it was freehold . In the barony of Lewes it was not unknown for heritable copyholds to be entailed , to such an extent indeed that even though the common law harboured reservations as to its legality , the judges ‘ haue bene sparinge to deliuer their opinions because it concerned very many of the kinges subjectes’ . Here is clear evidence that the judiciary could and did temper the law with common sense , and did not habitually turn a blind eye to social and economic realities . The entry for Slapton in the Buckinghamshire muster book contains the almost unique line , ‘ Eliz . Turney her copye landes in all England , xl’ .
Idiom: in the red (used idiomatically: no)
These evergreen shrubs may be trained as hedges or wall shrubs . Use them in combination with deciduous climbers such as Parthenocissus tricuspidata , the boston ivy , or Vitis coignetiae . Both provide sensational autumn leaf colour in rich reds and purples . As summer progresses , warmer colours provided by achillea , crocosmia and agapanthus , come into play SEEDS AND HUES
Idiom: feeding frenzy (used idiomatically: yes)
She smells sweetly of Nivea and stale milk . Beside her my sister bounces in what was once my high chair , pumping puffs of ammonia out round the edges of her Pampers . It is high - tea ; time for another feeding frenzy . But first , grace . Pa 's eyes close above the tips of his fingers then pop back open , catching me out .
Idiom: mend fences (used idiomatically: no)
He turned to Helen . ' Have we got any wire anywhere ? I want to mend the fence . ' The question of age , in fact , filled his head these days , but it was not a matter he wanted to discuss with Louise . Or indeed with anyone .
Idiom: by heart (used idiomatically: yes)
The elder Miss Wynne , Miss Millicent , frowned a little at her sister and was embarrassed . ‘ Violet reads poetry,’ she offered by way of explanation , ‘ especially Mrs Browning 's . She has whole passages of Aurora Leigh by heart , or so it often seems.’ ‘ Do you think,’ Miss Violet said , leaning forward excitedly , ‘ do you think , Signora Romagnoli , do you think that one day I might meet Mrs Browning in this house?’ ‘ Violet!’ her sister remonstrated .
Idiom: on the back of (used idiomatically: yes)
I felt a fearful indignation , like heartburn . My hands and feet were very cold . It was an effort to reach up for my dressing - gown which was hanging on the back of the door and I felt bitter against Richard because he did n't see that I was ill and come to help me . I put my gown on , taking as long as I could , and walked slowly down the passage to Nonni 's room . She had her suitcase open on the bed and was muttering to herself as she took clothes out of drawers and threw them in .
Idiom: bring the house down (used idiomatically: yes)
As Middlemass ( 1979 , p. 445 ) puts it : ‘ As in 1944–45 , employers and managers in a sense detached themselves from the dangerous appeal to the nation , over the heads of the nine million voters who were also affiliated to the TUC’ . The CBI , which had been vocal enough in calling for ‘ curbs on unofficial strikes’ in the late ' 60s , was alarmed by the massive popular resistance to the Heath government 's stand , and its leader Campbell Adamson suggested that a Tory victory in February ‘ would not solve Britain 's problems’ . If the Tories ' supporters in 1970 had liked the sound of anti - union radicalism , a significant number had decided by 1974 that it threatened to bring the house down around their ears . Second , there is the question of Labour support . The resistance to Heath on the part of the union movement clearly had mass support , but equally clearly this resistance movement was not able to constitute itself , as it were , into a hegemonic political force capable of securing a workable parliamentary majority through the Labour Party and imposing a radical alternative course of social development ( it was much less able , of course , to constitute itself as the nucleus of an alternative state power in an extra - parliamentary manner ) .
Idiom: at sea (used idiomatically: yes)
Maintenance crews need floating platforms so that they can stay overnight at sea .
Idiom: make a clean break (used idiomatically: yes)
Equally , where a young solicitor replaces a retired senior partner whose profit share was substantial , increased shares may be awarded to the continuing partners . ( d ) Liabilities Under the Partnership Act a new partner is not to be made responsible for liabilities of the firm accrued before he joins . In practice , often enough he will be " invited " to accept such responsibility so that his predecessor can be exonerated therefrom and thus make a " clean break " with the firm . A salaried partner 's position must be made explicit , in the interests both of himself and the firm . There are four possibilities which need to be covered:(1 ) that he is held out as a partner and is liable as such;(2 ) that he is held out as a partner but is indemnified against liability as such;(3 ) that steps are taken to ensure that he is not held out as a partner ; and ( 4 ) that , even though the original intention may have been as at ( 3 ) , he is in fact held out as a partner , either by the firm or by himself acting in the course of his work for the firm , in circumstances not initially contemplated by anyone .
Idiom: teething troubles (used idiomatically: yes)
This environment is one where the users and analysts work as a team rather than as expert and non - expert . There is less likely to be a misunderstanding by the analyst which causes a poorly designed system . The user will also know how the new system operates by the time it becomes operational , with the result that there are likely to be fewer ‘ teething troubles’ with the new system . Borovits et al(1990 ) look at some of the benefits of participation on the finished system . Two important aspects of group work are identified : communication patterns and working procedures .
Idiom: in cold blood (used idiomatically: yes)
Karelius , who had never disliked the French as much as an Englishman should , felt himself warming to his country 's enemies . They too had suffered at Fedorov 's hands . He had killed three French officers in cold blood . They would never stop looking for him now . One way or another , the fräulein would be avenged .
Idiom: larger than life (used idiomatically: no)
You should also look at the ways in which the physical movements of the actor are organised to suit the restraints of the small screen . When we turn to the theatre the question of scale is also significant . The theatre is ‘ larger than life’ , not in terms of physical scale , but because movements and speech are comparatively emphatic and intense , even when a play simulates everyday natural surroundings . Some people find this makes theatre less ‘ believable’— less true to their own experience and therefore less convincing than the more restrained performances seen on television and cinema . Theatre invites you to give your full attention to what is happening on stage — the theatrical experience is a very concentrated one and you as a member of the audience are vitally connected to what is going on .
Idiom: get the picture (used idiomatically: yes)
Though this following comment may not affect her work performance as such , Muriel is a person with strong views generally , particularly about religion . She is as honest and upright as they come , but has landed like a ton of bricks on younger members of staff whose behaviour she does n't approve of . If I tell you she is known by some here as ‘ Aunty’ Muriel , you may get the picture . I 'm afraid on more than one occasion , she 's had one or two of the girls in tears . But that said , Muriel is a good person and a hard worker .
Idiom: with open arms (used idiomatically: yes)
Some of this information can already be found in ‘ Euro - Pop’ , issued in Paris by the Centre Information du Rock . Furthermore , there is now a big demand for rock'n'roll from English speaking countries . Audiences have tired of Danish and German bands , though only three years ago they accepted them with open arms . Awareness of Irish acts such as U2 and Sinead O'Connor mean there is a particular receptivity to Irish music . Only two weeks ago I watched a TV programme about the Hot House Flowers .
Idiom: move the goalposts (used idiomatically: yes)
Moving the Shrove Tuesday goalposts MOVING the goalposts will take on a whole new meaning in Sedgefield next week . The traditional Shrove Tuesday football match is to move its goalposts 100 yards downstream . The move follows complaints from local resident Dr Keith Beveridge after his garden was trampled by 150 people last year causing £ 100 worth of damage . The Shrove Tuesday game has been going for 960 years .
Idiom: bright and early (used idiomatically: yes)
The others agreed that it would be more fun to eat in the yard . We wandered back home and when we entered the yard we were called in to go to bed early so we could get up to help in the morning . So it was bright and early when , with a clatter of buckets and bowls , we started to swill down the yard . The lavatories also had a birthday , and Dad left ours unlocked with plenty of fresh newspaper on the nail . The women even cleaned their windows .
Idiom: fit the bill (used idiomatically: yes)
So he labels them ‘ restricted’ and continues to pursue his ideal by identifying it with a specific culture , that of classical Greece , where the ‘ potentialities’of literacy were fully realised . Unfortunately classical Greece as a whole does not live up to these ideals either , and he is forced to recognise certain periods and sectors of that society as having ‘ restricted’ literacy . The search becomes desperate and one begins to get the impression that Aristotle alone is going to fit the bill . The constant narrowing down , redefinition and drawing of ever more refined distinctions lead to a position where the argument has no general significance at all : Greek society , defined in a particular way , represents the advantages of a form of literacy defined in the same way . Greek society developed ‘ logic’ , ‘ scepticism’ etc .
Idiom: cheek by jowl (used idiomatically: yes)
So I felt that our heritage was basically a spiritual heritage … . I went to Gaelic matches in Dublin . I went to Croke Park and I had not the slightest interest in Protestantism but I did come from a Fermanagh family where you did live cheek by jowl with republicanism so I had imbibed it undoubtedly and it resurfaced , the inherited knowledge of the heart of the controversy in Ulster . It was there all the time but I had turned my back upon it in a sense , so when I got converted , and of course I was listening to the Big Man 's comments on events and I recognized the validity of what he was saying . I do n't come from an evangelical background , I came from a raw environment straight into the contentions of the Big Man and you could n't have been too extreme .
Idiom: at cross purposes (used idiomatically: yes)
Introduction Nobody just talks . Every speech - action includes the transmission of messages through the ‘ languages’ of gesture , posture , clothing , hair - style , perfume , accent , social context etc . , over and above , under and beneath , even at cross - purposes with what words actually say . And even when we are not speaking or being spoken to , messages from other ‘ languages’ crowd in upon us : horns toot , lights flash , laws restrain , hoardings proclaim , smells attract or repel , tastes delight or disgust , even the ‘ feel’of objects systematically communicates something meaningful to us . The need to communicate is a key characteristic of human society ; it serves basic social functions and it signals the ability to store information and to learn from it .
Idiom: spot on (used idiomatically: no)
Not so ; but what you see is the product of long debate and anxious reflection . What are the main changes ? Editorials and Commentaries are where you read this , rather than in the middle of the journal ; the typography has changed ; now and then we break from two columns to three on the page ; and there is a spot of blue on the cover . Many lesser touches have been applied . These changes are a response to the wishes of subscribers , as expressed in readership surveys , and of the editorial staff , as expressed in repeated cries of woe .
Idiom: on the run (used idiomatically: yes)
FOOL 'S GOLD June Wyndham Davies £ 4.99 ( Coronet ) ALICIA LANGDON is a woman with a dark secret . Born into society , she struggled against the hardships of the mining camps during the outbreak of Gold Fever in California . And now she is on the run from the vigilantes , accompanied by her Chinese companion and an orphan . As Alicia begins to build a new life for herself she is increasingly drawn towards the brusque yet magnetic charms of the Cornishman who owns Tresco , a remote ranch near the High Sierras . LOVE DOWN UNDER James Leasor £ 4.99 ( Grafton ) BEFORE Jason Love , the West Country doctor with a passion for the 1930 's American Cord car , flies out to visit fellow Cord enthusiast Charles Robinson in Cairns , Australia , he is entrusted with a mission from his Wiltshire village .
Idiom: rock the boat (used idiomatically: yes)
Conference , the document quite rightly identifies the common ground between our two unions . It points to the cooperation which already exists . So why do we need to formalize these arrangements , why rock the boat at time when the political climate is ? You do n't believe for a minute that this government will stand by while the two biggest general unions get together , no way , they 'll attack us in any way they can and I warn ya they have n't run out of ideas yet . I 'm all in favour of fighting the Tories to protect our members ' interest , but we wo n't be doing much fighting because we 'll be using all our efforts sorting out internal squabbles .