Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: over the top (used idiomatically: no)
‘ Hope I can do the same for you some day.’ He sat on the top of the large expanse of teak desk and stared coldly at the men who had made it to the top of one of the biggest corporations in the world , employing nearly one million people . A bitter smile crossed his face as his eyes ranged over the top men in the giant corporation . He picked up the correspondence and miscellaneous papers in the in - tray and quickly scanned the contents . OECD reports , technical journals , but no reports of future European Planning Committee meetings in Geneva , or Paris , Lisbon , Rome or Madrid , and no minutes of previous Planning meetings with resolutions which called for immediate action .
Idiom: on the rocks (used idiomatically: yes)
The man in a t - shirt dyed grey is sitting on a rock in front of a waterfall
Idiom: all over the place (used idiomatically: no)
And under the present present planning framework it is difficult for us to do . So for all those reasons sir there does seem to me to be erm the case for a policy which would allow this exception to erm attract to North Yorkshire inward investment of this strategically important kind . And as I said earlier on is how the key to this is how to construct such a policy that would protect the interests of the county in a general environmental sense , give local authorities the freedom in their local plans to set their stall out if that is what they want to do and er whilst avoiding provoking a rash of speculative developments erm er all over the place . I believe that a criteria based policy might the best way forward for that . Thank you .
Idiom: wear the trousers (used idiomatically: yes)
SAIDI SAFARI : a prisoner of conscience , he died in custody in Mangochi police station in November 1991 . The police offered no explanation of his death and despite clear requirements of Malawian law , there has been no inquest . In October 1991 , five young women in this predominantly Muslim area of Southern Malawi were arrested for wearing trousers , which is prohibited by the Decency in Dress Act . The women were fined by a magistrate and detained at Mangochi police station until the fine was paid . Saidi Safari , a local Muslim trader , came forward to pay the fines but was himself arrested shortly afterwards — possibly for making critical remarks about the incident .
Idiom: the more the merrier (used idiomatically: yes)
Erm I do n't know that 's , this is not in any official stats books but it 's just my experience with students ' projects that if you get more than , there 's a sort of critical mass of about , about forty respondents and then you 're much more likely to start showing some interesting statistically significant findings for some reason , erm I do n't quite know why but er it 's one of life 's little mysteries but er so that 's usually if there 's a lot of numerical data what I 'd try and advise people to er to get . Oh that 's So you know I mean more than that by all means , you know , er so much the better , you know y the more the merrier but erm certainly you know kind of it 's a good idea to at least try and get that many erm Yeah . so er
Idiom: in the swim (used idiomatically: yes)
They are available in white or brown from nursery outlets and stores nationwide ; phone 071–499 3410 for nearest stocklist . OJ In the swim Many pregnant mums enjoy swimming to keep in shape , but have trouble finding anything stylish to wear in the pool . Just Mums , a mail - order company based in Cornwall , is aiming to fill the gap in the market with a range of swimwear in different styles and colours .
Idiom: read between the lines (used idiomatically: yes)
Because training other people 's feelings is not available as a method of reducing reluctance , the manager in a school has to choose which elements of the process of change will in themselves bring about changes of attitude . Will the partners enjoy exercising new powers ? Will they be confident in reading between the lines ? Will they wish to look upon their school as a robust institution ? Above all , can they run the risk that it will not be able to deliver quality ?
Idiom: beg the question (used idiomatically: yes)
West Indian officials contend they are merely selecting those players available . which translates roughly into … never mind the quality , feel the pace . A standard response , yet one that begs the question , just how do they manage to mine such a rich vein of talent ? Max Boyce once unwittingly touched upon this cricket conundrum when he wrote of a factory under the hills that produced outside - halves for Wales . Earlier still , rumour had it that England selectors needed only to whistle down a mine - shaft for a couple of fast bowlers to arrive in the next cage .
Idiom: in business (used idiomatically: no)
But were the traders and bankers of the sub - prime saga more greedy , arrogant , and immoral than the Gekkos of the 1980s ? Not really , because greed and amorality in financial markets have been common throughout the ages . Teaching morality and values in business schools will not tame such behavior , but changing the incentives that reward short - term profits and lead bankers and traders to take excessive risks will . The bankers and traders of the latest crisis responded rationally to compensation and bonus schemes that allowed them to assume a lot of leverage and ensured large bonuses , but that were almost guaranteed to bankrupt a large number of financial institutions in the end . To avoid such excesses , it is not enough to rely on better regulation and supervision , for three reasons :
Idiom: sweet nothings (used idiomatically: no)
Trouble was that the professionals had had more than 20 attacks on the system . On the other hand , he had never touched a thermostat in his life . He had the Intelligence and the Security and the Branch all burrowing in their computers for an Englishman called Colt who wiped people for the cause of the Republic of Iraq , and he had sweet nothing to do , unless he went eye to eye with the mysteries of the thermostat . He read three newspapers a day . He watched the network news on television in the evening .
Idiom: ring a bell (used idiomatically: yes)
Emily did n't know why she was being so defensive with this girl from the lower order in her simple garments and with her wild hair . Was it because the girl had something indomitable about her , a presence even ? Emily rang the bell and when Letty bobbed in the doorway , she spoke coldly . ' See this woman out by the tradesman 's entrance . Oh and before you go , Miss Morgan , tell your father I shall no longer be requiring shoes from him , I will purchase my goods elsewhere . '
Idiom: pissed off (used idiomatically: yes)
or Helena no - one 's going to be able to name , na er be able to write it are they ? And when people send her christmas cards everyone 's gon na spell it wrong and she 's gon na be pissed off for the rest of her life . Do her good . Do n't want a Welsh name , Irish gaelic names are the best .
Idiom: on the rocks (used idiomatically: yes)
Simon son of Jonah , you are favoured indeed ! You did not learn that from mortal man ; it was revealed to you by my heavenly Father . And I say this to you : You are Peter the Rock ; and on this rock I will build my church , and the powers of death shall never conquer it . I will give you the keys of the kingdom of Heaven ; what you forbid on earth shall be forbidden in heaven , and what you allow on earth shall be allowed in heaven ( Matt 16:17–19 ) . Simon was given the nickname ' Peter ' , which means ' rock ' .
Idiom: break new ground (used idiomatically: yes)
Gabriel , meanwhile , received his draft papers and begins to take large quantities of drugs to make himself medically unfit , until he verges on insanity . In this state , he attacks the professor 's wife and tries to rape her , while she , in turn , has discovered that her former lover had venereal disease and has also made her pregnant ! Apart from the political overtones and undertones , Nicholson knew he was breaking new ground with one specific sex scene in which he showed full - frontal nudity and a fairly complete filming of the sex act itself , still unheard of in the movies , in spite of the musical Hair . The sexual content would not , Nicholson always believed , guarantee that the film would become a major commercial success ; nonetheless he thought it was a film worth making , one which would make a statement and provide BBS with a good return . When he screened it privately for the director of the Cannes Film Festival , he was delighted with the reaction and was duly invited to exhibit Drive , He Said at the next festival in May 1971 .
Idiom: on top of the world (used idiomatically: yes)
I 'd be sick.’ ‘ Do n't you believe it . Nice bit of rock salmon , bag of chips , lots of vinegar , you 'll feel on top of the world.’ ‘ Ugh.’ It 's strange how fish and chip newspapers , out of date and greasy , are always much more interesting than current ones .
Idiom: all along (used idiomatically: yes)
For over thirty years I have been teaching in the public schools of New York City . For over thirty years , along with my fellow teachers , I have been going to educational conferences , and training sessions , and workshops , to hear countless leaders in education talk , as you do , about the dignity of the child , and the importance of individual differences , and of fostering positive self - concepts , and building on the interests of the child , and letting the child learn from curiosity rather than fear . And for thirty years I and my fellow teachers , as we went back to our classrooms , have said to ourselves , ‘ Well , back to reality ’’ , and had gone on doing just what we had been doing all along , which was to try to bribe , scare or shame children into learning what someone else had decided they ought to know . What makes you think you can change all this?’ A few years later , while I was talking at a meeting on educational reform , a local superintendent of schools rose from his seat in the back of the room and , moving to the door , said scornfully , so that many could hear , ‘ Well , back to reality’ .
Idiom: up the river (used idiomatically: yes)
That 's lighter stuff . If you er dredged ballast , did you used to dump the ballast ? Yes that used to but sometimes they used to bring it up the river and they use a lot the ballast we er did dredge for erm , for the first part of Cliff Quay , used it when they built that . You remember Cliff Quay being developed ? I remember it yes .
Idiom: get the boot (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ Mind your own business.’ ‘ Listen , Maurice , about The Hooded Owl … I 've got the boot.’ Yes , I know.’ ‘ Oh , all of a sudden you know .
Idiom: sour grapes (used idiomatically: yes)
Thus American business executives are seen to deserve their rewards because members of society place a high value on their skills and achievements . This is not to say there is no conflict between the haves and have - nots , the highly rewarded and those who receive little reward . Parsons recognizes that in Western industrial society ‘ There will be certain tendencies to arrogance on the part of some winners and to resentment and to a ‘ sour grapes’ attitude on the part of some losers ' . However , he believes that this conflict is kept in check by the common value system which justifies the unequal distribution of rewards . Organization and planning
Idiom: go all the way (used idiomatically: yes)
Crusaders have done well in the opening two cup competitions and that 's good news for Kirk . ‘ The more rounds the lads play the sooner my suspension will be eaten up . I hope they go all the way in both.’ Crusaders know only too well they 're up against a class outfit . ‘ Our chairman saw them beat Marseilles in a pre - season friendly,’ says manager Roy Walker .
Idiom: behind the scenes (used idiomatically: yes)
This was not yet a mass movement , but the basis for a large - scale mobilization of anti - war opinion was at last being laid . From the autumn of 1916 the politics of the war underwent a series of rapid transformations . Tentative behind - the - scenes suggestions by a minority of Cabinet Ministers that the Government should examine the option of peace without victory were brushed aside when , in December , Lloyd George replaced Asquith as Prime Minister , and formed a new Coalition Government explicitly committed to his policy of imposing unconditional surrender on Germany —‘the knock - out blow’ . Within days , the Germans launched a new peace offensive . British pacifists , painfully aware of their own marginality , looked across the Atlantic to the still - neutral United States .
Idiom: man and boy (used idiomatically: yes)
The man and the boy are standing at the bottom of the stairs , which are outdoors
Idiom: tongue in cheek (used idiomatically: yes)
But the most important outcome of the visit was another opera commission , for production in Prague in the autumn of 1181 . On returning to Vienna in February , Mozart immediately asked Da Ponte for a new libretto . The ex - abbe , possibly with tongue - in - cheek considering his own record , suggested the subject of Don Juan , the archetypal libertine , and dropped other projects to begin work immediately . At the beginning of April that year , Wolfgang heard that his father was dangerously ill . He wrote Leopold a philosophical letter which has since become famous , in which he said that over the past few years he had come to regard death as the ' true goal ' of man 's existence , and that he had become so closely acquainted with this ' best and truest friend'that the image of death was no longer terrifying , but rather reassuring and consoling .
Idiom: catch someone's eye (used idiomatically: yes)
I was back in the dealing room looking vacantly into an empty conduit when Patterson emerged from the end office and escorted a guy to the lobby . The visitor was wearing a suit , but you could tell he was n't in the City as it was single - breasted . On his way back to his office , Patterson caught my eye and without breaking his stride , he tapped his wristwatch ( I put odds on a Rolex ) and held up five fingers . I nodded my White Sox cap in his direction and bent down to start screwing back the vent cover . As on Friday , no one seemed to notice me and certainly no one challenged me as I walked through to Patterson 's office whistling cheerfully ( a Tommy Smith riff which I wished I could transfer from his tenor sax to my battered trumpet ) and holding a plan of the air - conditioning system out in front of me .
Idiom: out and about (used idiomatically: yes)
You busy ? Very busy in work . I 've been out and about today , I 've been to Caernarfen today . You have ? Yeah , by myself .
Idiom: under the influence (used idiomatically: no)
The Fraternity of Salvadorean Women 1957–69 The Fraternity of Salvadorean Women ( FMS ) was formed in 1957 by a group of four women . The organization was set up under the influence of the Salvadorean Communist Party , but accepted members who were not affiliated . It was the only organization of the day concerned for women 's rights . As one working - class member of FMS recalled : " the other women 's organizations only met to play poker , canasta and generally show off " ( Frida , interview with AMES , Mexico , June 1982 ) .
Idiom: lose face (used idiomatically: yes)
It 's a question that vexes many travellers . Paul Theroux , the American traveller , once got a lift from China to Tibet . It should have been a fairly calm journey but the car was driven by a nervous new driver who did not want to lose face . They crashed , but managed to continue . Theroux had a deep gash on his face , neckache , altitude sickness and a damaged wrist .
Idiom: with a view to (used idiomatically: yes)
I should like to address one final point . We must not content ourselves with sealing another hole in the safety net and shutting our eyes to the fact that , where transport safety in Europe is concerned , there is still much more to be done . In this context , I should like to make a request and ask the Commissioner responsible , who is with us here today , to table an appropriate text as soon as possible with a view to continuing to make it safer for traffic to transit tunnels in the future , so that we in Europe do not have to experience any more such disasters on this scale .
Idiom: go to the wall (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ If it 's a wrong way tunnel,’ he said , ‘ we start burning up man hours.’ ‘ The boy is telling the truth,’ Erlich said . ‘ You 'd go to the wall for the boy 's story?’ Don said . ‘ Yes , sir , I would , and before you dismiss that story , I 'd like to take you out there to hear it for yourself.’
Idiom: by the book (used idiomatically: yes)
An officer must know some chemistry and biology , and the local geology and geography . He must , in particular , be familiar with the science of water treatment and purification processes , and well acquainted with manufacturing and agricultural techniques in order to understand local industrial and farming problems . Knowledge of the law relating to control of water pollution , beyond a broad conception of the pollution offences , however , is regarded as unimportant and is claimed by only a small minority of field men , because the job is done ‘ by experience’ and the application of rules - of - thumb — not ‘ by the book’ . As long as they know what kinds of acts or events might be prosecutable , they take the view that the arcane business of the law is best left to senior staff . But the real job ( rather than the ideal version articulated by younger men ) is , as we shall see , much less about the application of science and technology to the measurement and control of pollution than the use of negotiating and bargaining skills to secure compliance .
Idiom: wide of the mark (used idiomatically: yes)
There was little in this performance , with Stephen Kovacevich as soloist , for anyone to recall pleasurably . The exceptional moment when the spirit of Brahms materialised came at the beginning of the andante where Pauline Dowse 's cello solo evoked the inner stillness of the composer — all moonlight , warmth and swaying tree tops . Otherwise , Kovacevich was well wide of the mark and if he respects this work he might contemplate putting it away for a few years before reconsidering its interpretation . Without the distraction of a wayward soloist , Weller came into his own in the glorious fourth symphony of Schumann . This is the peak of German romanticism : less florid than Mendelssohn ; less diversionary than Brahms ; fewer notes than Wagner .
Idiom: behind the scenes (used idiomatically: yes)
' It upsets me that I still have this ' enfant terrible ' reputation . In any walk of life you make mistakes and learn from them . ' Sources at the Yorkshire club , however , provided an incredible behind - the - scenes insight into Cantona 's deteriorating relationship with Leeds . It seems Cantona believed he would be a permanent fixture in the side this season after his supporting role helped inspire Leeds to the Championship during the last campaign . When this did not materialise , he confronted Wilkinson .
Idiom: over the counter (used idiomatically: no)
And anyway , what was there for a girl like her ? In civvy street she would have found it hard to find a fellow to chat with and so she likely considered the war a godsend . He showed his surprise on his face now as she leaned still further over the counter and whispered , ‘ The sleeping beauty 's at a loose end : she 's off from three.’ She nodded towards the door behind her . For a moment he was taken aback as he realised she was so sorry for him she was arranging a date .
Idiom: by the same token (used idiomatically: yes)
Major 's attachment to free market doctrine has been loosened by the public 's refusal to let short - termism shut Britain 's pits . Both economies have suffered grievously from recession . By the same token , however , they may now be tacking fitfully back to growth while Germany and , to a lesser extent Japan , linger in relative doldrums . Albert would no doubt shrug philosophically , and say that his analysis concedes that the hare will sometimes run ahead of the tortoise . What is certain is that the time for decision in Europe which he saw approaching then is nearer now , the question no less pertinent .
Idiom: on the nose (used idiomatically: yes)
It was lovely . Have you seen my glasses , dear ? ' Mandy reached over gently and settled the glasses on her employer 's nose . ' Can you tell me anything about Matthew Blake ? ' Mandy asked .
Idiom: ring a bell (used idiomatically: yes)
When Svidrigailov and Porfiry , who never meet — bold again — and who have nothing to do with each other , both tell Raskolnikov that a man needs air , my business is to try and suggest how it is that Dostoevsky 's reader finds himself in immediate dual touch with a Petersburg july day and a universal truth . He senses , too , that the actual has more than one side to it . Thus when the girl secretary who was to become Dostoevsky 's wife rang the bell of his flat for the first time , the door was opened by an elderly woman servant with a green shawl thrown over her shoulders . Anna Grigorevna had been reading Crime and Punishment in the magazine Russian Herald , and she thought she recognized the object ' which played such a big part in the Marmeladov family ' . No doubt she did .
Idiom: work wonders (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ Nerves,’ Father Poole stated firmly , ‘ just nerves — and an overwrought imagination . My advice is to see a doctor , Myles . A good tonic can work wonders.’ ‘ I do n't want to die in a state of mortal sin ! I do n't want to die with a man 's death staining my soul !
Idiom: on edge (used idiomatically: yes)
But I wanted one . He saw it in my eyes . " Do n't be frightened , " he said , trying not to sound on the edge of panic himself . " It 'll be all right . " He drew his hand with difficulty out of my rigid grip .
Idiom: fall short (used idiomatically: no)
Towards the mid-1970s Thai boxing was introduced into the United States , where it has become very popular , partly because it resembles another art introduced at that time , called full - contact karate . Full - contact , as it is.generally known , was the brainchild of a few martial artists who were tired of the controlled sparring methods allowed in karate and taekwondo . They decided to don boxing gloves and fight in a square ring , like professional boxers , so that they could employ full - power kicks and punches against one another , instead of having to let their attacks fall just short of a designated target area . Almost overnight this new sport was a huge success . Within two years television gave it air time and a new spectator sport was born .
Idiom: all things being equal (used idiomatically: yes)
Let it be something which is in complete contrast to the way you normally spend your time . One word of warning though : if you are someone whose daily life involves a strong competitive element , you would do well to avoid too much in the way of competitive sport ( squash , tennis and so on ) as your form of exercise as these will only tend to maintain an already high level of stress . Increase your mental ability : Research has shown that , all other things being equal , the person who exercises regularly performs better in tests requiring mental agility . So , in addition to getting fitter , you are likely to find that you are better at making decisions , doing your job , passing exams — or simply completing the crossword . What sort of exercise ?