Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: twist someone's arm (used idiomatically: yes)
So , really what you 're saying is that if we 're looking at trip wires to stop things happening , there 's a powerful a really powerful case for a pensioner trustee looking for whistle blowers . Yes . There 's also a powerful case for having pensioner trustees there 's far less chance of erm people twisting their arm , although they could have the character . and that 's where independents come in . But , but , but that 's a problem we all face .
Idiom: out of order (used idiomatically: yes)
Mm . and you know and then they said the same thing to her they said come back next weekend and we 'll sort it out . I mean but do n't you think that 's a bit out of order Bonnie got offered a job , so Honey goes and tries and gets it . Glitters is a really gothic shop in Camden with erm all this sort of and leather pvc gear , it 's a really good shop actually , but it 's a bit of a rip off some of the people try and rip you off unless you 're a respectable adult - looking person . I do n't know actually , she has n't really said that she wants it she 's talked about it , but she has n't said whether she wants the job or not .
Idiom: pull the plug (used idiomatically: yes)
Under what circumstances may the doctors switch off the ventilator ? This apparent problem has attracted considerable attention in recent years . The Press has introduced into common speech such expressions as ‘ pulling the plug’ or ‘ switching off the machine’ . l The intent has been not only to describe the activity , but also to surround it with the appropriate drama . An assumption has been made by everyone .
Idiom: foot the bill (used idiomatically: yes)
Mm . And the financial incentives er , to go grant maintained are rapidly decreasing . I do hope we 're not going to extend our current lawyers who we use in this particular issue , erm , whatever this amount of money is , is spent in school and er , to that extent I think we should er be well prepared to foot the bill . Chairman , I think the Chair of Education 's comments were bias . It has nothing to do with the individual grant maintained schools .
Idiom: in the black (used idiomatically: yes)
Stephen Ellis AFTER nearly 20 years of borrowing and spending , Britons seem to be adopting a ‘ save , save , save’ mentality . The average family pays nearly £ 2,000 a year in interest on debts and mortgages , but last year we ran our household budgets in the black for the first time since the mid - Eighties — and managed to tuck away £ 10.6 billion in savings . Savings need to be planned carefully , however , and the first priority is an ‘ emergency’ account , says Amanda Davidson , a partner with independent financial advisers Holden Meehan . ‘ The first step on the savings and investment ladder is a rainy - day account so you have money to meet sudden emergencies,’ she says .
Idiom: over the counter (used idiomatically: yes)
CB Getting rid of lice As with all medicines , over - the - counter treatments for headlice should be used carefully , as they contain quite powerful insecticides . For example lindane , or gamma benzene hexachloride , is an insecticide found in a shampoo called Quellada Application PC — more often prescribed for scabies — and in Lorexane , which , although now withdrawn from the market , may still be held by some chemists . Unlike other insecticides , lindane has a high skin - absorption rate and experts worry that repeated treatments could lead to a build - up of this chemical in the body , with possible toxic side effects like convulsions .
Idiom: in bed with (used idiomatically: yes)
When I knew from nothing about affairs of the heart or the mortgage , I played a short season at the Edinburgh Festival . Aged nineteen , never kissed back and greener than Kermit , I was sipping Crème de Menthe in the basement of a jazz club , when an elderly roué ( as in twenty - two ) from the Oxford Union made a pronouncement which made my spine stiffen . ‘ Love,’ he pronounced , with the world - weary wisdom of a man who wore dark glasses after sundown and owned at least three psychedelic ties , ‘ love is farting in bed with someone who does n't mind.’ I was horrified . Mortified and every other ‘ fied’ including ‘ petri’ .
Idiom: on the back of (used idiomatically: yes)
Commercial banks found it advantageous to accumulate weaker countries ’ bonds to earn a few extra basis points , which caused interest rates to converge across the eurozone . Germany , struggling with the burdens of reunification , undertook structural reforms and became more competitive . Other countries enjoyed housing and consumption booms on the back of cheap credit , making them less competitive . Then came the crash of 2008 . Governments had to bail out their banks .
Idiom: have been around (used idiomatically: yes)
He made the claim in a letter to East Belfast MP Peter Robinson , passed on to the Herald and Post this week . The local MP had initially written to Mr Hanley demanding to know why there was a continuing reduction in the numbers of part - time soldiers . Since July 1991 , statistics show there has been around a per cent drop in part - timers . However , a spokeswoman for the RIR said these figures included some who had transferred to full - time duties . But the province 's former Education Minister said the increased sophistication of the terrorist threat required a higher level of expertise on the part of the army .
Idiom: walk of life (used idiomatically: yes)
How would you both respond to a common allegation that dyslexia is a middle class disease ? I think that 's a very unfair kind of criticism . I 've not had the experience perhaps of teaching so many dyslexic children to be able to comment on this , but certainly when I was making the videotape at Brickwall School and I asked the headmaster about that and he pointed to the fact that they certainly have a very wide intake , a complete social mix , and Professor Miles at Bangor University says that in his experience of dealing with dyslexic children they come from all walks of life , and it 's really quite inaccurate — I suppose there 's a sense in which , if we 've got to use these phrases , that middle class people have always been very concerned about the education of their children and so they may be the parents who will ask questions about their children 's lack of development , but I think it 's only , you know , more significant in middle class terms because of that . Dave , what 's your response ? Yes , I agree absolutely with Reg there .
Idiom: out of the running (used idiomatically: yes)
In the four games after the final , then played in April , Arsenal took seven points , but Everton won the title by two points . Chapman 's consolation was that Arsenal had twice beaten Everton during the season . With James out of the running for the Cup final against Newcastle , Chapman called up George Male for his first Cup tie . Male had joined Arsenal in 1929 . He had been playing centre - half for Clapton , alongside Denis Hill - Wood , son of the then Arsenal chairman , when he got a telegram from Clapton 's secretary Harry Kordell .
Idiom: on the game (used idiomatically: yes)
You can use them to hold flanks , protect artillery and block easy routes to your positions . Often the mere presence of the Helblaster is enough to make the enemy think twice about going somewhere . Volley guns need never fire a shot to have a decisive effect on the game . The other option for the Imperial opponent , and the one I tend to favour , is to target the volley gun and its crew with all the long range fire I can muster . My plan is usually to remove the Helblaster from the battlefield before I advance .
Idiom: on the money (used idiomatically: yes)
I think to jump from one twenty five to , to two pounds is . If we do that we 're only adding twenty five pence more revenue The last play I worked out that w we had one four hundred and thirty seven of those thirty seven would be er freebies to the homes in , in to bring it down to about four hundred and on the ticket money we took in , I would say about a hundred and twenty of those were erm er concessions . How many over the year , roughly ? I would have to guess at the others because I did n't do erm sums on the other ones it was only on the last play but if it 's on the same sort of erm proportions , then I would say somewhere around thirty percent of the audience are concessions .
Idiom: show someone the door (used idiomatically: yes)
If it is true he is on £ 4,000-a - week and is asking for more , Brian Clough is right — as usual— to say ‘ no’ . I would have gone further though . I 'd show him the door , tell him if he can get more than that somewhere else he 's very welcome and use the £ 2million transfer fee on a player who does n't put money first . — What a treasure !
Idiom: slap on the wrist (used idiomatically: yes)
At one point , Hounam asks Murrin : ‘ Is Oyston prepared to pay you over the odds for your services?’ He later adds : ‘ If you are trying to set him up … you should go for a fairly substantial sum.’ Suggesting that Murrin should be ‘ wired up’ when he meets me , Hounam says anything which earns me only a slap on the wrist would n't be enough . ‘ Its got to be the coup de grâce,’ he tells Murrin . Interestingly , during the same conversation , discussion switches to Merseyside , when Hounam makes it quite clear he believes someone in the Conservative government has intervened to prevent an investigation into a serious instance of corruption .
Idiom: throw the book at (used idiomatically: yes)
Do you remember when there used to always be some on the wall there when you cou we would n't walk down the stairs cos in case they got us . yeah ! And we used to throw books at them . Go away ! And remember that
Idiom: give and take (used idiomatically: no)
‘ When the pressure comes on , players revert to bad habits , ’ Ryan said . The All Blacks would treat such an outmoded approach with the scorn it deserves , although on the other hand they might have been impressed with Bridgend 's contrasting mobility and aggression . The back row were swifter to the loose ball , had a clearer idea of what to do with it when they got there , and their impressive half-backs were given every opportunity — which they eagerly took — to control the game . This was conveniently encapsulated in the first try . Wales , characteristically , delayed the heel at a scrum , putting Robert Jones in trouble when the ball finally emerged .
Idiom: in business (used idiomatically: yes)
The professions have lost many of their better men ; many of those who remain are concentrating on maximising profits and fees to feather nests in the US , Canada or Australia . It has been estimated that about $ 280 m a month has been flowing out of Hong Kong into the city of Vancouver this year . Scandals have proliferated in business and banking , and have tainted the civil service and the judiciary . Retiring public servants now routinely move into jobs where their previous contacts and responsibilities can enrich themselves and their employers . Recruitment is increasingly difficult , particularly to the police force where morale has sunk to a new low .
Idiom: on the nose (used idiomatically: no)
‘ We spent £ 1.75 m on defender Paul Parker and hope this will increase future earnings . We look at investment in players carefully and keep the squad strong . We take it on the nose through earnings.’ One of the other stock - market listed football clubs , Tottenham Hotspur , capitalises the cost of its players ' registrations and , after allowing for estimated residual values , amortises them over the period of the respective players ' contracts . At 31 May 1992 the Tottenham group balance sheet showed cost of players ' registrations at net book value of £ 9.803 m ( v £ 8.697 m ) under intangible assets .
Idiom: fall short (used idiomatically: yes)
The IRA has agreed to Mr Wilson 's request to meet them . Meanwhile , Progressive Democrat leader Des O'Malley today warned that extradition laws for terrorist suspects had to be tightened to endorse the Dublin government 's condemnations of IRA attacks . He said that until ‘ scandalous’ loopholes in the extradition laws were blocked , condemnations of terrorism and expressions of condolence for victims of the violence fell short of being the optimum Irish response . Mr O'Malley added : ‘ The Warrington outrage besmirches the whole Irish people and leaves us all feeling ashamed and somewhat helpless . ‘ It is time the slaughter of the innocents of Warrington really provoked the people of this Republic and particularly the Government into more than the by now ritual condemnation of such awful acts.’
Idiom: over the moon (used idiomatically: yes)
The 30-year - old Mandale Harrier was making his first appearance over the country for a year , but he broke clear on the second of the three laps of a gruelling nine kilometre course and held off a late challenge by Newton Aycliffe 's Kevin Vose to win by an emphatic 13 seconds . Pearson , who is in training for the Gisborough Moors Race later this month , was delighted with his performance in his first NYSD outing since he won the youths title in 1978 . ‘ I am over the moon with that run,’ said the Viking Chase record - holder . ‘ Kevin Vose was 130th in the national and to beat him like that is a dream for me . ‘ I was treating this as a speed session before the Gisborough Moors race and I could n't be more pleased.’
Idiom: gather dust (used idiomatically: yes)
The nearest school to the power station , in the village of Stogursey , was even allocated its own supply of potassium iodate tablets . The sachets of white pills were locked away in the school secretary 's cupboard . The headmaster , Derek Knight , said ‘ I hope they will gather dust’ . However , there is little doubt that this precaution , intended to provide reassurance , was a grim reminder of the ever present danger . 2
Idiom: every last (used idiomatically: yes)
As the door closed , Mrs Stocks wiped the back of her hand over her mouth . ‘ I 'm as dry as dust . What with the onions and the heat , every last drop of moisture 's gone from me . What I could do with a nice pint of porter!’ She looked longingly at the keg , then with a casual twitch of her head added : ‘ I 'll see to that brandy while I 'm waiting,’ and slipped out to the passage and the cellar door .
Idiom: on the money (used idiomatically: no)
I 'll pay this time , if that 's your objection , ' he said . His eyes grew hard and calculating . ' You wo n't mind sweeping about Venice on my money , will you ? ' ' Yes . I would .
Idiom: off the mark (used idiomatically: yes)
' I thought we played better against Blackpool and lost but it 's still nice to get three points . ' You could tell there was a bit of tension out there , among the players and the supporters . ' McHale was pleased that his side finally moved off the 38-point mark after a three - week wait to break the 40 points barrier . FREE business health checks are on offer today as Teesside Training and Enterprise Council ( TEC ) throws open its doors to small local companies . The TEC 's business growth centre , at its headquarters in Queen 's Square , Middlesbrough , is hosting an open day for businesses with a problem to solve .
Idiom: up for grabs (used idiomatically: yes)
It plans to cover the final and around 10 other major GP meetings , including those in Oslo , Nice and Brussels . The London Marathon ( see story on page 6 ) , the Boston Marathon , Great North Run and Newcastle Road Race are also on its priority list . The official added : ‘ There 's another 12 months to run on the ITV 's domestic deal and then it 's up for grabs . We can not do anything about domestic events now , but certainly we would be keen to shown them . We will just have to watch and see what happens.’
Idiom: cook the books (used idiomatically: no)
‘ Julie used to say that if anything happened to her she wished Tim would share his life with Elizabeth . ‘ She could never have dreamed that they would both be lost . ’ Christmas Cook Books MANY people spend more time worrying about how they are going to cope with catering for Christmas than they do actually cooking the bird and all the trimmings . But this year a number of books have been produced to help you cope .
Idiom: behind someone's back (used idiomatically: yes)
Owing to the poor discipline and the hostile attitude of his subordinates towards him , however , he was only able to limit the maltreatment ; behind his back many abuses still occurred .
Idiom: hang by a thread (used idiomatically: yes)
' In the Bavarian context it 's not too serious . ' But at a time of rising neo - Nazi sentiment , it is very worrying when Kohl himself rolls out the red carpet for a man like Waldheim . ' International : Cotton republic is hanging on by slim thread By JOHN KAMPFNER THERE is no shortage of blue pencils in Uzbekistan .
Idiom: streets ahead (used idiomatically: yes)
It is also possible to have your dog 's bite and eyes certified by the veterinary surgeon while the dog is sedated . The Victoria Rottweiler Club actually owns its own tattoo machine and members apply for a number from the secretary of the club . This system is streets ahead of the slap - happy way tests are carried out in the UK , where the whole system of hip dysplasia testing is open to abuse . Another service rendered by the Victorian Rottweiler Club is the ‘ litter expected’ notice . Members are able to fill in a form to notify the Club that a litter is due to be whelped .
Idiom: come of age (used idiomatically: yes)
The women 's movement was , then , more deeply rooted in the United States , but within the left male contempt for the ‘ diversion’ that the phenomenon represented was also entrenched . This was to change . In January 1970 in New York women staffers seized control of the city 's leading radical underground paper , Rat - both a continuation of staff revolts as on the Barb the previous summer- and a sign that the new movement was coming of age . But in 1969 women and Oz effectively meant Germaine Greer . And women 's responses to Oz 's sexual attitudes were muted .
Idiom: on the ball (used idiomatically: yes)
But he warned Quins must play better to go all the way . ‘ We have to be a bit more incisive out wide but at least after our poor start to the League season we seem to be getting it together at last.’ From the moment Glenister pounced on the ball in the fifth minute for his first try as the Blackheath scrum were shunted over their own line , the writing was on the wall . Three more tries to Andy Mullins , Simon Dear and Glenister gave the Quins a 24–3 half - time lead . The second half turned into a rout with eight sizzling touchdowns by Andy Harriman , Gavin Thompson , Neil Edwards , Andy Parton , Mark Russell , Paul Challinor , Glenister and skipper Peter Winterbottom as Blackheath crumbled .
Idiom: once and for all (used idiomatically: no)
Grainne had known that when it finally came to it , she would be afraid — for I have never known anyone other than Fergus , and with Fergus it was so natural and so sweet — but she had not expected this sudden rush of tenderness . She had gone to his room ready to play the wanton , certainly believing she would have to seduce him into her arms , and there had been an undercurrent of panic at this . But the desire and the longing in his eyes had given her strength , and he had moved to her at once , so that she had known , once and for all , that there could never be anything strained or awkward between them . He had watched her cast aside her thin robe , and he had smiled with such infinite love and such intimacy , that pain had twisted through her from breast to womb . He had thrown aside his own robe then , and had stood for a moment looking down at her , the firelight playing over his body , and Grainne had felt her senses tumble , for surely , oh surely there had never been anything so beautiful and so strong …
Idiom: on the nose (used idiomatically: no)
and my hands were flapping like a cabbage white as I forked out a fiver on the nose of that filly . It cakewalked the field like a hot knife through butter ,
Idiom: in no uncertain terms (used idiomatically: yes)
I 've spent hours talking to friends , writers and non - writers about it . For the first 25 years of my life I was convinced that everybody was either writing or wanted to write a novel . Finally a woman I worked with told me in no uncertain terms that she had no such desire , which threw me utterly . I 'd assumed she was writing in secret , as I was — pursuing a universal dirty habit that demanded solitude and a quiet place — when instead she was watching TV or out at the pub with friends : being social . Writing is n't usually a social activity , except when you 're working on exercises together in a writers ' group — and even then you 'll find that you do most of your writing alone , in whatever space and time you can carve out for yourself .
Idiom: carry the day (used idiomatically: yes)
It is therefore perhaps unsurprising that the problem over the loss of providing powers in Bedfordshire did not appear to be a major one in the context of such close co - operation and joint endeavour to promote the growth of rural adult education at that time . However , within the Cambridge Board 's committee there was some initial resistance to the extension of its activity into Chapter III work to pioneer courses in rural areas of a lower academic standard than under its Chapter II powers . But the argument which carried the day in favour of providing more elementary studies was that courses of the Chapter III type in rural areas would prove to be attractive and would lead to more demanding studies and higher standards in subsequent years . An indication of the Board 's hesitancy and internal division can be gauged from the decision , in February 1930 , being agreed only after a vote was taken and that only three of the eight listed recommendations in Hickson 's confidential memorandum were approved . As part of the decision - making involved the assumption of responsibility by the Board for the Bedfordshire scheme , it is not surprising that the two WEA members of the Board and Frank Salter , the District Treasurer , who was a University nominated member , cast their votes in favour of the rural areas scheme .
Idiom: ten a penny (used idiomatically: yes)
For he was no landed gentleman like the Larks and the Covington - Pyms who 'd go to any lengths to pass on their noble names . Names , indeed . Dallams were ten a penny in the backstreets of Frizingley . Always had been . It made no difference to him .
Idiom: round the bend (used idiomatically: yes)
The eagles vanished from sight and we walked on . ' Watch out for adders basking in the sun , ' warned John , ' this track is known as ' adders'path ' . ' The bubbling notes of a female cuckoo rang out as , rounding a bend and finding ourselves with the sea again in view , we settled to picnic . Above us , on a ledge , the conspicuous white breast feathers of a male peregrine caught John 's eye . He pointed it out to us .
Idiom: six of the best (used idiomatically: no)
It was a day of mixed fortunes for husband and wife Price and Beth McConaghy . Price powered home on the first count with 465 first preference votes , but Beth mustered only 11 . THE Alliance Party scored six of the best when it added two more councillors to its group of four on Ards Council . A delighted Jim McBriar , who leads the Alliance group on the council , said : ‘ I 'm sure one of the reasons for our success is our willingness to talk.’ The largest party , the UUP , also gained one extra seat , but the DUP dropped one .
Idiom: under fire (used idiomatically: yes)
It was last to start and at this rate , will probably be last to finish . A verdict of unlawful killing has been recorded at an inquest into the death of a tourist shot dead by terrorists while on holiday in Egypt . Nurse Sharon Hill died when the party of tourists she was with came under fire in an area where terrorists were known to be active . The coroner said it 's up to travel companies to warn customers of any possible dangers . Ken Goodwin reports .