Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: fight tooth and nail (used idiomatically: yes)
Our Institute must find a way to defend our interests in the matter of fee income while appearing to be concerned for the public interest as well . The Law Society did this . They fought tooth and nail to protect the solicitors ' monopoly of conveyancing but eventually compromised by not objecting to licensed conveyancers . Likewise , our Institute must lobby to ensure that , if change has to come , then only registered auditors or at least members of the Institute are permitted to sign the compilation report . Like the Law Society it can use the genuine argument that its members are highly qualified and governed by a strict code of ethics which ultimately is to the benefit of clients .
Idiom: hands down (used idiomatically: yes)
It 's on your chart Can I just write this on the wall , then I 'll come back Right , pens down everybody then please , pens down who 's feeling very brave this morning ? Me You could live to regret this , hands down , hands down . Right , you 're feeling very brave would you like to read out for us what your targets are Go on , big voice
Idiom: rare bird (used idiomatically: yes)
Campaign to protect lowland heaths A national lowland heath programme has been launched by English Nature to arrest the spread of trees on to what was once open heath . The programme aims to raise awareness of the importance of lowland heath , which provides a habitat for a unique range of often rare plants and animals , including all six of England 's reptile species and some of the country 's rarest birds , such as the Dartford warbler and nightjar . English Nature is providing £ 150,000 over three years in grants to support heathland management projects . English Nature 15 September
Idiom: wide of the mark (used idiomatically: yes)
But it must be as the result of Labour pressure — and clearly seen as such . CND 's future Unusually for the NSS , your editorial on CND and the Labour Party ( ‘ Discussing strategies’ , 8 May ) , is wide of the mark . The Labour Party is irrelevant to the work of CND in the short to medium term . Other campaign groups have it comparatively easy .
Idiom: rise through the ranks (used idiomatically: yes)
The wireless local network product that NCR Corp exhibited at the Unix Fair in Yokohama last year is now the subject of an agreement between NCR and NEC Corp , which will sell the local network under its own name , as will NCR Japan ; WaveLAN operates in the 2.4GHz frequency band , and a new related product , NCR WavePoint , designed to connect wireless local networks to cabled ones , will also be available from June , priced at about $ 4,000 . IBM JAPAN HAS NEW PRESIDENT IBM Japan Ltd , which restructured in January by creating two subsidiaries , one aimed at small and medium - sized companies and the other offering overall services including consultation and facilities management , has a new president , Kakutaro Kitashiro , who replaces Takeo Shiina , who was also a member of the IBM Corp main board , and is now non - executive chairman of IBM Japan : the new president is 48 years old , a 26-year veteran of IBM Japan , and possesses little of the charisma of the outgoing Shiina ; he rose rapidly through the ranks to a position of potential candidate for president in 1984 . FUJITSU ESTABLISHES MULTIMEDIA DIVISION Following its announcement earlier this year of a version of its FM - Towns multimedia personal computer aimed at the fireside market for connection to the family television , Fujitsu Ltd has established an in - house Multimedia Project Promotion division , drawing in researchers from its Research Laboratory as well as staff from its systems and sales divisions : Fujitsu cites figures from Dataquest forecasting growth in the world 's multimedia market at an average of 31.6 % annually over the next four years and says it is ready to exploit its strengths in multimedia base technologies such as its Subaru computer graphics system and signal processing chips for high definition television , as well as user interfaces based on virtual reality , in the development of multimedia point - of - sale systems , software and automatic teller machines .
Idiom: on the rocks (used idiomatically: yes)
Fife and Drum followed him with their eyes , showing no surprise . ' Christ , ' said Riven at last . He sat down on the bare rock and shook his head . Murtach grinned , showing canines that were still long and wolfish . ' Do you believe in magic now , my friend ? '
Idiom: all hell broke loose (used idiomatically: yes)
I was riveted by the world unsportsmanlike ' . The English unsporting ! All hell will break loose in England , I though . It would be about 2 am in London , I thought . It would be about 2 am in London , still time to catch the stop - presses of the morning papers .
Idiom: over the counter (used idiomatically: yes)
The plan adopted was to focus on Medeva 's strengths : vaccines , generic pharmaceuticals and sterile injectables ( mainly products used in hospitals to treat severe pain ) , and to add a range of branded prescription products . The latter could be marketed through the existing sales forces — those promoting vaccines to GPs and hospital sales through those dealing with the sterile injectables . Diagnostics and the small over - the - counter ( OTC ) medicines would have to go . Steve Harris , a director who joined Medeva soon after Taylor , had experience of OTC and explained to Chemistry in Britain the rationale for this decision . To promote OTC products successfully through the high street chains nowadays , you have to have a substantial turnover ( £ 10–15 m or so ) to be able to afford the TV advertising .
Idiom: off the record (used idiomatically: yes)
Hayman paused before answering . With a very deliberate gesture , he switched off the recording system which taped all normal office conversations . ' Off the record ? ' Manville nodded . ' Of course . '
Idiom: in Dutch (used idiomatically: yes)
Sitting on a stone wall she listened to tourists who sprawled on grass where they were asked not to encroach . Two youths chased each other around a pile of rucksacks and their girls were shrill in encouragement . Someone on the far side of the cloisters made a joke in Dutch and another gaggle of European youths burst into laughter . Rain gave up and returned to her car . She had remembered somewhere else from long ago , doubted she could find it but dared .
Idiom: out to lunch (used idiomatically: yes)
It had become too dark to search any more and it was cold . He shivered a little as he set off for home . They had meant to go out to lunch , or Nick had . He said to come upstairs to the flat only to fetch his jacket , and then they would go and eat and talk and maybe sit by the river . It was the first really warm day of summer .
Idiom: open someone's eyes (used idiomatically: yes)
What little hair he had shone with a silver sheen in the lamplight and she could see in the crumpled , brick - red face , the likeness of Stephen . She closed her eyes briefly to say a silent prayer of thanks that , not only had Stephen received the son for whom he had so longed , but that the baby was the image of his father . When she opened her eyes , it was to see Stephen 's mother standing by the bed . For the first time since Tamar had met her , the putty - coloured cheeks were flushed and the hands which she held out for the child were shaking . As Tamar placed him in his grandmother 's arms , tears rolled down the older woman 's cheeks .
Idiom: hold court (used idiomatically: yes)
Many footballers have matched him for decadence but few have lived out their decline quite as publicly as Slim Jim . In the parlance of Scotland 's street — talk , Baxter was ‘ dead gallus’ , everything had to be done with a swagger and a smile . He was a regular at fashionable Glasgow nightclubs like ‘ La Ronde’ in Sauchiehall Street but when the mood took him , which was most nights ending with a ‘ Y’ , he would wander into corner pubs and hold court . If Baxter 's ‘ gallus’ personality was his trademark it was also the seeds of his downfall . The warning signs were written large one famous night in Vienna in December 1964 .
Idiom: out of pocket (used idiomatically: yes)
They all smiled at him . Hamish moved one arm up to indicate they should move down the corridor to where they could see the exciting zinc - silicoborates . He took a pristine white handkerchief out of his pocket and rubbed at the faint hand - print Kenneth had left on the glass partition as he said , ' These passivation glasses are of much use in the semi - conductor industry , and we have high hopes that with the burgeoning of the Scottish computer industry Silicon Glen as it is sometimes jocularly called — we shall shortly be supplying … ' ' And to think , all that could have been mine . ' Kenneth sighed with pretended regret , putting his feet up on the low wall of the terrace and rocking his seat back on its rear legs as he shaded his eyes with one hand .
Idiom: break cover (used idiomatically: yes)
Or the crashing , hammering beat , Of a frantic heart in wild retreat . Tawny fox , wild - eyed , breaks cover , Across the heath , then up and over , Hedge and ditch ' long banks she slithers ,
Idiom: hold the ring (used idiomatically: yes)
In the wake of the 1848 revolutions St Petersburg appeared to have acquired a larger say in the affairs of central Europe than it had possessed for a generation . In 1850 Nesselrode expressed the view that " Russia 's position and that of her Sovereign has not been as attractive or as powerful since 1814 " . Nicholas had put down the Hungarians , rounded up dissidents , held the ring between Austria and Prussia , re - advertised Russia 's claim to be the strongest power on the European mainland , and given notice that he could keep his regime in place for the foreseeable future . From the point of view of the tsar , Russian skies seemed to be cloudless . THE CRIMEAN WAR AND THE DEATH OF THE TSAR
Idiom: shake a leg (used idiomatically: yes)
It 's so laid back you feel the church spire could yawn and settle in the grass for a snooze , and when a local bids you good - morning , a feels truly sincere . To holiday here you not only get to feel a lot closer to God 's earth , but you also get to feel closer to your fellow man , and there 's not many places that make you feel like that ! Evenings full of wine rich in body , and food that just ca n't be ignored , inevitably drift into conversations that solve the world 's problems , and tomorrow the sun will shine again and it 's time to shake a leg and enjoy another day . If any holiday could be a tonic for both mind and body , a few days in the clean air and clear conscience of Saalbach - Hinterglemm has to be it . HOTEL REITERHOF
Idiom: on the face of it (used idiomatically: yes)
I can assert of the oldest tree in the park ( if there is such a tree ) that it is an oak , but I can also say of the sentence " The oldest tree in the park is an oak " that it means the same , or that it expresses same thought as , say , its French or Chinese translation , irrespective of whether it says anything true . Identity of meanings as topics of discourse If by " meaning " is understood the objective content of linguistic utterances , or what might also be called their " objective thought - content " ( I shall discuss later the " historical " , performative aspects of such utterances ) , then , on the face of it at least , there seems to be nothing odd or improper in making identifying cross - references to meanings . After all , we do make , and claim to understand , references to " the same propositions " , " the same descriptions " , " the same arguments " . We say things such as " I repeat what I said earlier " , or " That is not what I meant " , or " I have heard that argument before " .
Idiom: on paper (used idiomatically: no)
Use Standard English ( except in contexts where non - standard forms are needed for literary purposes , eg in dialogue , in a story or playscript ) . iv Show an increased awareness that a first draft is malleable , eg by changing the form in which the material is cast , eg from a story to a playscript , or by moving text around ( either on paper or on a computer screen ) , or by altering sentence structure or choice of vocabulary . v Comment on examples of appropriate and inappropriate use of language in written texts with respect to , for example , purpose , topic and audience .
Idiom: in the can (used idiomatically: yes)
Tiny bubbles rise up through the darkness and a soothing voice calls the audience into the sight room . The light fades to black , to be replaced suddenly by a crash and a burst of light from above as a giant ring pull seems to tear from the ceiling . The walls come alive with foaming beer and music surrounds them as the audience journeys upward in a can of Guinness . Bursting through the surface , visitors rest before the can tilts forward and pours them into a giant glass held by a giant hand . They reach the surface , tipped by hydraulics beneath the room , to see the can still pouring , and they rest on top of the filled glass .
Idiom: under the table (used idiomatically: yes)
there 's a good boy was that nice , yeah ? Anthy what you doing sat under the table Got a boat in Oh
Idiom: talk out of turn (used idiomatically: yes)
This staffroom 's experience is supported by research findings , published last year by the Scottish Council for Research in Education . Surveying 1,000 teachers in 112 schools and every secondary head in Scotland , they found that extreme incidents of indiscipline , such as physical or verbal abuse of teachers , were rare . Instead , it was minor but repeated acts of indiscipline , such as pupils talking out of turn or hindering the work of the class , which teachers found wearing . Very few of those surveyed wrote positively about parental and home influence , with a high degree of concern that home and school values were out of step . ‘ Pupils’ attitudes to work and common politeness in a group situation are decidedly unhealthy in this school,’said one .
Idiom: put paid to (used idiomatically: yes)
The draft was unveiled to a Convention of the AFPFL members of the new Assembly in Jubilee Hall , 20 — 23 May. The first clause proclaimed that Burma would be ‘ an independent sovereign republic’ . This put paid to British hopes that Burma would stay in the Commonwealth as a Dominion owing allegiance to the Crown . Winding up the Convention , Bogyoke claimed that they were framing ‘ a new type of democratic government that best suited the Burmese’ ; it was largely drawn from Yugoslavia . He admitted ‘ time alone would prove whether or not the form chosen was the best’ .
Idiom: make the cut (used idiomatically: yes)
1 large potato per person salt Scrub the potatoes well and make a single cut along the top of each . Roll them in salt and bake for one and a half hours ( or until they ' give ' when pressed ) in a moderately hot oven ( 190 ° , 375 ° F , Gas Mark 5 ) . Make cross - cuts on top of each potato and squeeze to enlarge cuts .
Idiom: have words (used idiomatically: no)
Naturally , Mrs Thrigg might not want to lose half a dozen agreeable jobs . And if they all spied on each other all the time the great thing , the only thing , which would , could , make life tolerable was to pretend that they did n't . It looked as though she 'd have to have a word with Mrs Thrigg . ' That secretary of his , ' said Mrs Baggley with an inconsequence which was only apparent , ' feeds Charles with far too much tittle - tattle . What 's her name ?
Idiom: in the soup (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ What 're we goin' to do?’ asked Dolly . ‘ I 'm not going to do anything , except wait and see how the police get on,’ said Joe , ‘ and I do n't know what you can do except tell the police that you got acquainted with the unfortunate bloke when he came after you for nicking that wallet from Blackbeard . That would put you right in the soup . Ca n't have that , can we , not on top of all your other hard luck . You need taking care of .
Idiom: all along (used idiomatically: yes)
not as much but it sort of come out like that and then you sit your flowers it makes that a shell if you know what I mean ? Oh yeah ! But it it 's flatter coming on there and then you sit your flowers all along on there but Oh that 's sounds nice ! but then I 'd I like it fuller and prettier .
Idiom: see stars (used idiomatically: yes)
His shape was black and frightening . She walked just behind him . There was water on the road , where the stars could be seen reflected . Away from the house the road went through the fields . She followed Clare as a dog follows its owner .
Idiom: hold someone's hand (used idiomatically: no)
The only hint of self - indulgence was an oak , leather - topped desk in the middle of the room . a man of about forty rose as they entered . ' I am Hubert Kebbel , ' he said , holding out his hand . ' Sergeant Bragg and Constable Morton , of the City police detective department , ' Bragg said . ' We would like to ask you a few questions about Andrew Livesey .
Idiom: walk of life (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ Scotland in Europe’ is not so much a project as an accomplished fact . We are there already . What is true of academic life for a teacher of jurisprudence is no doubt equally true in other walks of life for people in business , industry , the civil service , legal practice , farming and indeed fishing . I have a friend fishing in Ardrishaig who has taken to making his own deliveries to Dieppe , thus cutting out the middle man . Quite apart from my academic concerns and duties — consciously removed from them , indeed — I have political interests and commitments focussed also on Europe .
Idiom: have an eye for (used idiomatically: yes)
I can hear a chuckle in some quarters but I feel he never let England down . He was dropped too early — but instead of sulking he has returned with his old fire . Beardsley and David Platt would provide a very mobile midfield that also has an eye for goals . Wright , a player I 've admired since he made a name for himself at Crystal Palace , was strangely ignored for the European championship finals . I say strangely because finishing as the League 's top striker surely warrants a travelling place even if only for experience .
Idiom: in the clear (used idiomatically: no)
I raised my eyes , distracted for a moment by the blonde splendours of Golden Beach , to the more distant peaks of Ipsarion and its neighbour , Profitis Ilias , glowering over our idleness like the Old Testament patriarch whose name it bears . Our first week on the Greek island of Thassos had been idyllic . We had splashed in the clear Aegean Sea with the kids , explored the ancient ruins and thrown plates around the tavernas like regular tourists . However in this second week the mountains were beckoning . ‘ I 'll ask Andy’ , I said .
Idiom: with a view to (used idiomatically: yes)
Mental disorder shall not be construed as covering promiscuity , sexual deviancy or dependence on alcohol or drugs . Compulsory admission to hospital is possible under certain circumstances and much of the Act , like its predecessor , is concerned with the rights of the minority of patients who require to be detained in hospital or placed under guardianship . Admission for assessment for twenty - eight days ( section 2 ) is possible where a person is suffering from mental disorder and it is considered that he or she ought to be detained in the interests of his or her own health or safety or with a view to the protection of other persons . Two medical practitioners , one an ‘ approved’ doctor , have to agree and state the grounds for their recommendation . Application for admission may be by the nearest relative or an approved social worker .
Idiom: sit tight (used idiomatically: yes)
' But what shall I do ? ' ' You ca n't do anything yet . Sit tight . I wo n't mention its existence to anyone except Toby . ' I rose to go , reassured her yet again , and headed back to the car .
Idiom: out of your mind (used idiomatically: no)
It 's not about racism in the police force , it 's not about dishonesty amongst police officers . It 's not about violence or brutal police officers and I say that because for the last few years there 's been an awful lot of publicity about the particularly in the Metropolitan area and I ask you you will have read some terrible things about certain police officers . Put those out of your mind . Indeed yesterday you may well seen on on the news , heard on the radios , seen in the papers , forget such attacks . It 's also not about macho , gun , gung ho policeman as has been suggested .
Idiom: work wonders (used idiomatically: yes)
Do your own make - over feel younger , longer we 'll work wonders workshop Revitalise your image with the help of our experts Do you find it hard to be objective about your looks as you grow older ?
Idiom: once in a blue moon (used idiomatically: yes)
His image of being a father was different . He thought , this is n't the way I thought it would be . So now he just comes round once in a blue moon . I did n't think he 'd do that , because we 'd had problems before , because of the black and white thing , There 's a lot of people who will just stop you in the street . He did n't mind that at all , he argued for me .
Idiom: in business (used idiomatically: yes)
These surveys have recorded the adoption of a number of new technologies over time for a consistent set of manufacturing establishments , providing a unique source of data on the history and patterns of technological change in this important sector of industry . The objectives of this research project are to assimilate and synthesise the data from all three surveys to provide an update of the regional and sectoral patterns of new technology diffusion between 1981 and 1993 . The research will involve identifying the current ( ie whether in business or not ) of all the non - respondents to the most recent survey in order to check for bias in the results . The raw data will be cleaned up to remove inconsistencies and ambiguities between the different surveys . Appropriate statistical models will be developed to test the accuracy of forecasts of technology adoption patterns made in the mid-1980s ; to provide an analysis of the geographical patterns of technology diffusion in relation to the performance of the manufacturing establishments ; and to relate the survival patterns of the establishments to their history of technology adoption .
Idiom: on the ground (used idiomatically: yes)
Pelican takes off LONDONERS who can no longer afford expensive restaurant fare are flocking to French-style cafe-bars such as Pelican Group 's Cafe Rouge chain . Customers are thin on the ground at the group 's pricier outlets such as Cafe Pelican and the Leadenhall Wine Bar , but the Cafe Rouge is heaving . And that 's how Pelican managed to boost profits by an astonishing 173% to £357,000 in the six months to end September , despite a more pedestrian 35% rise in turnover to £3.83m . The party continues in the second half , says boss Roger Myers .
Idiom: dog tired (used idiomatically: yes)
( His answer is that the unseen hand belongs not to Adam Smith 's market forces but to Chris Patten , the leftish party chairman . That is hardly an answer that helps Mr Major . ) Part of the truth is that Mr Major is dog - tired , physically drained after his wisdom - tooth infection , the leadership campaign , the Gulf war , the poll - tax furore . For those who wish to see , there are signs of a distinctive Major philosophy — some of it Thatcherite , some of it Labourish . Given enough time , he can pull his party together .
Idiom: pissed off (used idiomatically: yes)
I held its stretcher by the middle bar , hoping the wind would n't catch it like a sail . I was pissed off enough to take a drink off Dracula so I propped up my daub against a café wall in the King 's Road