Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: the more the merrier (used idiomatically: yes)
Since I 'd rather look at vegetation than at larch lap panels , I decided to try to cover the whole fence with a rich variety of climbers and wall plants . I planned for year - round interest and used such plants as climbing roses , clematis , jasmines , honeysuckle and Japanese quince . With climbers , I 've always believed in the more the merrier , but it 's important to team up your plants so that one does not swamp and ruin another . If you grow clematis on roses , choose varieties like C. viticella which can be cut back so that they do not inhabit rose pruning . If you enjoy honeysuckle ( and who does n't ? ) go for a mix , so that you have blooms early and late : Lonicera periclymenum ‘ Early Dutch’ for spring , L. Japonica ‘ Halliana’for autumn fragrance .
Idiom: pull out all the stops (used idiomatically: yes)
If only he had some security , if only his art supplies were replenished . Why did his letters meet with an inexplicable silence ? Shortly after these outcries , he pulled out all the stops in an attempt to persuade Theo — who was embroiled in crises of his own and talking of emigrating to America — to join him and become an artist . One motive , of course , was his desperate need for some congenial company . As well as this , Vincent may have been influenced by Zola 's theory that one could make oneself an artist by an act of will , providing one had the temperament —‘Art is nature seen through a temperament’— and although natural talent was helpful , it was by no means essential .
Idiom: bear in mind (used idiomatically: yes)
Furthermore , a very large number of hon . Members are seeking to participate in the debate . It would be possible for me to call them all if they were to limit their speeches to 10 minutes . I have no authority to do that in a half - day debate , but perhaps hon . Members will bear it in mind . If I may say to those on the Front Benches too , half - hour speeches would help the whole House . Mr. Michael Meacher ( Oldham , West )
Idiom: break someone's heart (used idiomatically: yes)
They have quite enough money to afford a hotel . They can try The Fleece if they must come and stay here . Frankly , it wo n't break my heart if we do n't see them at all.’ ‘ Oh Dorothy!’ begged gentle little Miss Fogerty , ‘ do n't talk like that ! He is your own flesh and blood — your own brother!’
Idiom: in stitches (used idiomatically: yes)
Although you can only work on one piece of a garment at a time , you can have up to sixteen separate pieces in each garment file , as long as they will all be knitted to the same stitch and row tension . For a garment that consists of one or more pieces to be knitted at different tensions , a separate file is needed for each tension . Thus a sweater with front and back in tuck stitch and sleeves in stocking stitch would have to be split into two files , one containing the front and back pieces and another containing the two sleeves . It does not take long to get used to plotting points on screen with the mouse , so creating simple straight line shapes soon becomes quite easy . However , anything involving curves is not so straightforward .
Idiom: take the floor (used idiomatically: yes)
On their next public appearance he treated her in precisely the same way . She watched with mounting fury as he danced the night away with Camilla Parker - Bowles at a polo ball held at Stowell Park , the Gloucestershire estate owned by Lord Vestey . He was so eager for Camilla 's company that he did not even ask his hostess , Lady Vestey to take the floor . In the end , Anna borrowed Lady Vestey 's BMW car and drove off into the night , angry and humiliated at her very public snub . Within a month she married Johnny Hesketh , the younger brother of Lord Hesketh .
Idiom: have a few (used idiomatically: no)
‘ Michael annoyed David no end . I suppose Michael was quite a superficial person but to me he represented excitement and it was a period I had to go through . If David was to have a few drinks it would all come out . I remember a couple of scenes when David would just go on and on asking me what I was doing with Michael,’ she says . Rigby deluded herself that Gedge had a basic acceptance of the situation .
Idiom: off the wall (used idiomatically: yes)
There was a strange side effect to the cleaning of the Winter Gardens Empress Ballroom in Blackpool , which was cleaned and restored to its original Victorian splendour in 1984 . The ballroom looked beautiful but when Sir Basil Feldman stood up to give the opening address at the Conservative Conference , though his projection was fine and his microphone working , half his audience had difficulty hearing , and a third were hearing twice . You see , when they took a century 's dust and dirt off those walls , they completely changed the acoustics , swapping grubby absorbency for beautiful , bright marble which bounced the sound all over the place . Beware of feedback , the dreadful shriek or whistle when a microphone is in front of a loudspeaker ( the inanimate , not the human kind ) . What happens is that the mike hears the sound going into it , being amplified by the system and then coming out louder behind it again .
Idiom: with a vengeance (used idiomatically: yes)
Without my exercise , I was a crying wreck . I would go out in all weathers , at all times : exercise was an addiction . I took up dancing again with a vengeance ; grinding through as many as six lessons a week . I cursed myself for lack of balance ; I was determined to be a professional dancer . Everyone , including me , was convinced that I loved dancing .
Idiom: behind the scenes (used idiomatically: yes)
I rejected the offer and said that , if these were the terms , Williams had better go ahead and sign Senna . ‘ Since then relations with the team have not been good . And I refer to the directors rather than the scores of people behind the scenes at Williams . ‘ I have listened to many different opinions , some well - meaning and some not , and we 've heard public statements made by Senna . ‘ To say that I have been badly treated is a gross understatement .
Idiom: fall by the wayside (used idiomatically: yes)
Rugby League : Injury blight offers NZ hope By PAUL WILSON ONE SOURCE of solace to the so far disappointing New Zealand tourists , who have a last chance at Leeds tomorrow to silence the doubters prior to the first Test next Saturday , must be the rate at which Great Britain 's best players are falling by the wayside . Before the Kiwis arrived Britain had lost Ellery Hanley and Garry Schofield , two of their most experienced and feared performers . Yesterday they lost two more in Joe Lydon and Tony Myler , ruled out with hamstring and back injuries respectively at Malcolm Reilly 's preliminary squad session .
Idiom: behind bars (used idiomatically: yes)
Tory agent quits his party in row over loan for house . Tug of love … mother 's fight to keep children in England . And behind bars … puppy is seized in rabies scare . Good evening . ANNE DAWSON
Idiom: cap in hand (used idiomatically: yes)
At its heart were the twin problems of economic failure and social disintegration . Britain was no longer paying its way in the world . One of the most enduring memories is of the Labour Government having to go to the International Monetary Fund , ‘ cap in hand’ , to ask for a loan to prop up the UK 's sagging economy . But there was more to it than coming out with the begging bowl because of a particular crisis . That was just a symptom .
Idiom: wear the trousers (used idiomatically: yes)
Did I look like a hooker on the trawl ? No . ' We do not serve females wearing trousers , ' he said . A lifetime 's habit of apologising to the person who treads on one 's toe is hard to break ; and ( in common with most middle- aged and middle - class women ) I have hardly ever encountered overt hostility from strangers , and never been ' chucked out ' before . I forgot everything I ever knew about standing up for myself and , without argument , I slunk meekly into the night .
Idiom: follow in someone's footsteps (used idiomatically: yes)
He knows every inch of the islands and , even better , is the proud owner of a huge Irish wolfhound . The dog bounded ahead across the shifting sands . Blair and I followed carefully in its footsteps , mightily encouraged . When we arrived , Atlantic waves were breaking over a rock bar , surging with each swell through a narrow channel into the pool . The sea was emerald green , crested snow - white , and the water was myriad - coloured ; reflecting golden sandy shallows , with shades from green hills and blue skies shimmering across the surface .
Idiom: make history (used idiomatically: yes)
There was a spectacular incident at the finish of the race when Jonathan Aiken , in attempting to squeeze past a bunch of riders at the line , clipped a grass verge and bounced across the track but although he took a nasty looking fall he was uninjured . Britain take silver medal BRITAIN 'S dressage riders made history today when they took a European Championship team silver medal in Lipica , Slovenia . It is the first time a British team has ever won a dressage medal and only the second in any major international championship . The only other previous success was in 1978 when Jennie Loriston - Clarke won an individual bronze in the world championships at Goodwood .
Idiom: on the back of (used idiomatically: yes)
And the arrival of Mark Caughey , Tony Henry , Sammy Troughton and Billy Whitehurst did little to appease . They were all whole - hearted players , but the fans were expecting ‘ wannabes’ rather than‘been theres.’ It did n't help of course that Linfield were striding towards the championship , on the back of inspired signings such as Dessie Gorman . Why could Glentoran not land players like him ? Why did lads like Trevor Williamson not want to go to the Oval ?
Idiom: draw the short straw (used idiomatically: yes)
' Who 's that gorgeous looking baby on the front cover ? ' . Yes , I know what you 're all thinking — shame it turned out to be me — Andy Harris . As the ' lucky ' person who drew the shortest straw to be editor of the first edition of the revamped CIBLINGS , it comes down to me to think of something to fill the vast amount of space which is the front page . Firstly , my thanks go to David Bowley for without him I would never have learnt the art of letching which is essential for the editorial role . Thanks also go to the publishing team who put so much into making this possible , they are ( in obligatory alphabetical order ) : Moray ' World Traveller ' Lawson Debbie ' Where 's my contact lens'Maddison Deirdre ' Baby obsession'Seeley Joe ' Newsdesk'Tarrant
Idiom: stake a claim (used idiomatically: yes)
This is a matter which should be finalised swiftly so that the party can move on to formulate appealing economic and social policies . The Government is in disarray at present but various indicators suggest that the economy may be coming out of recession . If Labour can not stake its claim to be the future government , it may be by - passed by events and find itself back in the wilderness . Atkins in drive against pirates STORMONT Minister Robert Atkins today dealt a crushing blow to thousands of counterfeit and pirate video and audio tapes .
Idiom: on the ball (used idiomatically: yes)
I sensed the Boks would tire if we got the ball behind them and it worked.’ Rob Andrew , who led England out on his 50th appearance , pulled the pin with a succession of superb chip kicks behind a defence notorious for a knack of creeping up offside . Jeremy Guscott snatched his 15th try in 24 internationals , Dewi Morris pounced behind the Springbok scrum for his fifth in 11 when Garth Wright 's put - in squirted out too quickly and Carling wrapped it up when two Springboks panicked under an Andrew bomb , allowing him to fall on the ball . Wales call for Proctor Llanelli 13 , Australia 9 .
Idiom: under the influence (used idiomatically: yes)
Whether or not a person is ‘ drunk’ is a question of fact and degree . Although the Shorter Oxford Dictionary says that it means that the person has drunk ‘ intoxicating liquor to an extent which affects steady self - control,’ it is arguable that the person must have taken intoxicating liquor to excess so that he has lost the power of self control . It has been held that the term relates to being under the influence of intoxicating liquor , and the offence is not capable of commission where the intoxication is induced by a substance other than alcohol , such as a solvent . Disorderly conduct bears the same significance as it does in the section 5 offence , and is likely to involve conduct such as shouting or singing in such a way as to alarm persons near by , uncertainty of gait , staggering , lurching or swaying , and behaviour that causes people to take evasive action . For the constable , the advantage of this section is that it confers an immediate power of arrest .
Idiom: on the make (used idiomatically: no)
It was later found to be useful to set up separate databases for each functional group , which prevented earlier versions of the full database being corrupted as experiments in sorting and producing reports were carried out . Data Validation Before moving on to make use of the database , it was necessary to assess whether or not the data itself was valid for the organisation being studied , bearing in mind that so far the exercise had been a systems-thinking one , rather than a study of what was happening in practice . The validation was carried out by first producing in report format a list of activities and associated information that appeared relevant to each functional group , then asking questions of selected staff on the basis of this list . As a result , it was possible to draw certain conclusions :
Idiom: at the end of the day (used idiomatically: no)
It seemed to me an absurdity . I could see that no NHS patients should be postponed by a private patient except on the basis of priority of application , but that a private patient should be postponed because he was paying , and no one else was , struck my middle - class mentality as an unacceptable anomaly . At the end of the day I had the satisfaction of presiding in the Lords debate on the Bill and noting the very last words in Barbara Castle 's account of the affair : ' Now , unexpectedly , I have received a letter of ' appreciation ' from Harold for the ' hard work and long hours'I have put in over the consultants ' ' package ' . I found it a bit stilted , but Ted thought it warm . ' You know who has inspired that , do n't you ?
Idiom: cut and dried (used idiomatically: yes)
This is because majors work on the priority system . If your band is n't this week 's priority , you are probably going to be forgotten . It is n't quite that cut and dried , but if you are signed to a small company with any degree of commitment , you can be sure that the company and their staff are in their weekly meetings pushing to get results from your music . Independent and Major Publishers Basically , publishers make paper transactions .
Idiom: by the book (used idiomatically: yes)
Probably . Mary - Lou stuffed her English grammar into the back of her desk and pulled out a French one . The spider feeling itself dislodged by the book ran out in a fright . It ran almost up to Mary - Lou before she saw it , she let the desk lid with a terrific bang and gave a heart rendering scream . Everyone jumped in alarm , Mademoiselle leapt to her feet sending a pile of books clattering from her desk to the floor she glared at Mary - Lou
Idiom: over the counter (used idiomatically: yes)
But as closing time approached , staff became unhappy with the two defendants ' use of foul language . When they were asked to leave , Parratt and Wilkins became aggressive . It was claimed that they poured their drinks over the counter and then smashed their beer glasses . Then as Parratt left the pub he punched his fist through a pane of glass in the door . The defendants were spotted walking back home by police a short while later .
Idiom: in the saddle (used idiomatically: yes)
Come to laugh , no doubt , and what a splendid opportunity they were being presented with ! Grinning as they approached — as well they might!— pretending they were just passing by , brimming with glee , big muscular athletic boys . She had seen them on their expensive horses , swooping across country , confident in the saddle . Beasts ! The parents had all departed into the warehouse with Uncle Knacker to ‘ knock up a few looseboxes’ .
Idiom: cut corners (used idiomatically: yes)
I turned back under them , and they all overshot me . I looked round very carefully but could see nothing , so I turned back on the tail of the nearest Hun , who was chasing some Hurricanes in front of him . We were all turning gently to port as I cut the corner and was slowly closing on the Hun . I was determined to get him , and must have been concentrating so intently on his movements that , like a fool , I forgot to look in the mirror until it was too late . Suddenly there was a crash in my cockpit — bits and pieces seemed to fly everywhere .
Idiom: word of mouth (used idiomatically: no)
Young and eager , he was well placed to capture the emergent UK rap scene , and his forthright personality also made him a match for America 's often egoistic rap stars . Only later , as a reputation as the best hip hop photographer on either side of the Atlantic was developing , did the appropriateness of his childhood nickname , Normski , become evident — given that is , the abundance of ' skis ' in the world of rap , from T - ski Valley and Joeski Love to Jamalski . Word of his fuel - injected mouth was enough to secure a casting for Dance Energy in ' 89 , and originally he was to co - present the programme beside Prince 's former dancer , Cat . At the eleventh hour , she bowed out , leaving him to anchor the show alone . ' I was shit scared , and it was so hot under the lights that I could smell burning — my clothes were smouldering .
Idiom: by heart (used idiomatically: yes)
MILE 179 . We approach Lava Falls , the last and the biggest of the major rapids on the river , in a thunderstorm . Twenty - four miles of calm water preceded the rapid , and by now we know the statistics by heart : a 37 ft drop in 200 yards , the biggest rapid in North America . Powell and his men made a three - hour portage around the left shore . We will run it in 27 seconds .
Idiom: rub shoulders (used idiomatically: yes)
5.6 Sharing the PGCE programme As the induction course runs concurrently with the summer term of the PGCE programme , the foreign teachers will join the PGCE students for method seminars on one day each week . In doing so , it is hoped that they will not only benefit from the content of the seminars ( topics such as sixth - form teaching and exams ) but , by rubbing shoulders with and getting to know British teacher- trainees , come to a better understanding of the role - model of a language teacher in the UK . 5.7 Applying for jobs As the teachers will have to compete for jobs on the open market , it will be important to offer them guidance on how teaching posts are obtained in the UK .
Idiom: at the end of the day (used idiomatically: yes)
My thanks are due to all those , including volunteers , who have become engaged in this initiative . I am confident that in some ten years time , Save The Children will be a strong pan - European organisation , perhaps the strongest as such within the European Community . Well at the end of the day all our work is for the benefit of children , individual children , individual human beings like you or like me . Perhaps the most lasting memory I have of the past year is a conversation with a small nine year old boy in Liberia in West Africa in August . He was resident in an orphanage which is supported by Save The Children .
Idiom: on ice (used idiomatically: yes)
From your hotel on the Magdallen Islands , you can enjoy daily programmes which include wildlife and photography seminars , beginners ' snowshoeing and cross-country skiing . Do n't forget to pack your thermal underwear . Temperatures out on the ice can vary from zero to -40C — but watching the seals will soon warm your heart . DEPARTURES Faraway Traveller ( Old Manor Hse , High St , Mayfield , E Sussex , 0435 873666 ) 6-day B&B Sealwatch packages from Feb 28-Mar 15 from Pounds 1300 , including flights to Halifax , hotels and 2 dinners . More information : Sealwatch '93 , International Fund for Animal Welfare , Tubwell Hse , New Rd , Crowborough , E Sussex ( 0892 663374 ) .
Idiom: larger than life (used idiomatically: yes)
Elsewhere , the close - up , detailed approach which works brilliantly , say , for Imogen Stubbs 's affecting Desdemona ( the pathos of her disoriented , jittery jauntiness intensified by beautiful touches such as the sepia photograph of her estranged father she keeps on the bedside table in Cyprus or the chocolates from Casio that she has secreted in a locked draw , not because she fears sexual misconstruction but because she would like to be thought too grown - up for frivolous sweet - guzzling by Othello ) paradoxically diminishes Iago because it encourages the belief that he can be realistically ' explained ' like a figure in a novel . With Willard White 's massive , resonantly spoken ( if rhythmically uncertain ) Moor , the slight mismatch of scale between the size of performance and the chamber - dimension of the production is all to the good . Othello is larger - than - life and never more so than when determined to die , as White demonstrates in a nobly paced resumption of dignity in the difficult final scene . But , with Iago , Nunn has opted for a congruence of scales . He has decided that the reason Iago proffers for his villainy ( especially the absurd idea that both Casio and Othello have slept with his wife ) are genuine , if deranged convictions , rather than the dispassionately improvised rationalisations of a mind that can not even account to itself for its limitless evil .
Idiom: on the run (used idiomatically: no)
‘ I 've done everything I can possibly think of now , so going on the run is my protest . I will hand myself in as soon as they free Boler or I am required to give evidence at Boler 's appeal . ‘ That 's why I 'm on the run , not for my own benefit . I want to finish my own sentence , but with peace of mind . ‘ I may be a villain , but I am not going to sit by and let an innocent man do a ten - year stretch for something I 've done.’
Idiom: get lost (used idiomatically: yes)
If he had carried the map with him , he would n't have got lost .
Idiom: rock bottom (used idiomatically: yes)
This is the landscape of coal - mining . As for the Black Country , one can hardly begin to describe it . Dickens has an horrific description of it in The Old Curiosity , Shop ( 1841 ) , when it had reached the rock bottom of filth and ugliness , and of human degradation . The early industrialists were not ‘ insensitive to the appeal of the country : the beauty of Cromford and Millers Dale suffered little by the enterprise of Arkwright , and stretches of the Goyt and the Bollin owe something to Oldknow and the Gregs’ . But the later industrialists , the heirs of the steam age , were completely and grotesquely insensitive .
Idiom: keep up appearances (used idiomatically: yes)
And then with shoulders bunched and my eyes on the messed pavement I shuffle off down the drinker , and sit with tankard and tabloid in the comer by the fire . Russia is going to beat Poland up . If I were Russia , that 's what I 'd do , just to keep up appearances I mean , you ca n't let the word start to get about . Seems that Prince Charles had a thing with one of Diana 's sisters , way back , before he fingered Lady Di as the true goer of the family . Another pussy - whipped judge has given some broad a ten - bob fine for murdering the milkman — premenstrual tension , PMT .