Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: in living memory (used idiomatically: yes)
The fault came to Rangers ' attention when they were forced to postpone a Premier Division game with Dundee United at Ibrox in December because of a fractured drainage pipe . The repair bill was £ 22,000 . Despite using expensive state - of - the - art machinery , the pitch staff have been defeated by what they describe as the wettest season in living memory . The handsome ground rent taken for temporarily housing the national side has come with a built - in penalty clause , too , it would seem . Damage was done to the playing surface by the Maltese team who played Scotland last month , and next week the ravages of time , climate and fixture congestion will worsen when Andy Roxburgh 's side play Germany in a friendly .
Idiom: on paper (used idiomatically: yes)
Yes . It 's er it is n't it is n't everyday language , and I 'm not sure that it helps us express what we really want to say . You you could take it a step further and with seeing that on the paper yesterday morning in service , we read the twenty third psalm . Try reading that and explaining the words of that , to somebody who has no knowledge of the Christian faith , I thought was quite a challenge . But some of the hymns we sing as well .
Idiom: in this day and age (used idiomatically: yes)
This florist often delivers across the bridge . The new toll could cost the shop an extra £ 5 a week . He says there should n't be toll bridges in this day and age . The bridge owners claim its falling down and they need to raise more than £ 1 million to build a replacement . But council experts insist repairs will only cost half a million pounds and the toll should stay as it is .
Idiom: from scratch (used idiomatically: yes)
latch on to everything . starting out out . Doing it from scratch . If somebody was used to teaching croquet they would n't tell you everything all at once . And you can gradually build up .
Idiom: into thin air (used idiomatically: yes)
At first , after they had vanquished communism , Russians regarded themselves as victors . But , after a few euphoric years , the West began acting more and more like the Cold ~ War ’s winners . Once the potential “ military threat ” posed by the Soviet ~ Union had vanished into thin ~ air , successive waves of NATO enlargement served neither a military nor an ideological purpose . The West ’s logic for enlargement was geopolitical : to bring the former Soviet republics and socialist states of Central and Eastern ~ Europe into the Western sphere of political and economic influence . At first , NATO ’s new members were declared to have met both democratic and military criteria .
Idiom: out of the box (used idiomatically: yes)
He made her uneasy . ' What have you got there ? ' she asked . He was eating something out of a box . ' Chocolate , ' Volkov answered . ' You would need sweet things , ' Irina said .
Idiom: down the road (used idiomatically: no)
' He could speak no English , not even yes or no , ' she said . He had been depressed and refused to help his wife in the restaurant . A neighbour said he often saw Mr Huang spending hours walking aimlessly up and down the town 's Yarm Road . Car rammed : A policeman was injured last night when burglars rammed a panda car .
Idiom: take someone's word for it (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ No but there are policy matters I shall probably be consulted … ’ ‘ Do you want him to go?’ ‘ The Americans are n't going to be impressed by somebody from Sprague 's Committee who was n't within miles of the Abbey telling them Not to worry old boy the Redcoats have muddled through again ca n't recall the details but just take my word for it … If they want Harry I want him to go . We 've got some fences to mend in Washington.’
Idiom: on the rocks (used idiomatically: no)
The Grand Army would have departed , east in victory , or westward in defeat . Around the fires , the soldiers : sitting on kitbags cleaning their weapons ; smoking ; a few reading or even writing . But most lying in greatcoats on the rock - hard ground , trying to snatch a few hours sleep before reveille . And five hundred yards to the east , across the barren expanse of heath and moor , and the tiny stream they called the Goldbach , the men of the allied army would be doing the same . In the last hour the mist had cleared a little , so that their fires could be seen glowing as individual points of light : ruby studs upon a sable field .
Idiom: make ends meet (used idiomatically: yes)
One of mine was an impersonation of Winston Churchill saying Mary Had A Little Lamb . I was 19 and still studying at RADA when I made my first TV appearance . Father had given up tobacco and alcohol to send me £ 2 15s ( Pounds 2.75 ) a week to make ends meet . The part was in a live 20-minute play from Alexandra Palace about a tart on the walls of Jericho . Barbara Jefford , a fellow student , played the tart and I the guard sent to capture her .
Idiom: on the mend (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ Can I come and sit at the table with you when the eggs and bacon are ready?’ ‘ All right , I 'll come and carry you in,’ said Joe . ‘ Do n't want you limping about too much , not now your ankle 's on the mend.’ ‘ You 're a good bloke really,’ said Dolly . A tall gentleman , a diplomatic courier with a permanently diplomatic expression of kindness , was sitting in a private room in Collins Coffee House in the City .
Idiom: in the long run (used idiomatically: yes)
Nor can we expect rapid GDP growth to save these countries . The PIIGS’ debt burden is so high that robust economic performance is next to impossible . Moreover , whatever economic growth some of these countries might eventually register is contingent on enacting politically unpopular reforms that will work only in the long run – and at the cost of even more short - term pain . To restore growth , these countries must also regain competitiveness by achieving a real depreciation of their currency , thus turning trade deficits into surpluses . But a rising euro – pushed higher by excessively early monetary tightening by the ECB – implies more real appreciation , further undermining competitiveness .
Idiom: bring the house down (used idiomatically: yes)
But she 'd forgotten to tell Father first — he was her manager , you know.’ ‘ Why should I know?’ he muttered ‘ Well,’ she continued , engrossed in her story , ‘ he brought the house down by flying on to the stage like a whirlwind and sweeping Mother off her feet!’ She chuckled . ‘ Everyone cried buckets.’
Idiom: take a bow (used idiomatically: yes)
The problem is , we do n't know how to put it all together . I wish I could see more magazines , to give me ideas and guidance.’ Time for the Clothes Show Magazine 's expert team to step into the limelight and take a bow : award - winning hairdresser , Anthony Mascolo , from Toni & Guy , and fashion assistant Saska Graville , who 'd been chosen to work on Yuri 's new look . ‘ This is great,’ he smiled . ‘ I love clothes — but I hate trailing round the shops.’
Idiom: get the nod (used idiomatically: yes)
He can weigh up non scientific considerations in his decision , such as the effect of staff morale and relations with SLAC , but Bienenstock is hoping for a scientific solution not a political or philosophical one . A panel of 10 scientists drawn form universities and private research laboratories will advise Bienenstock . If the University of California 's proposal gets the nod it will be because of the quality of the science involved , Bienenstock indicated . But he says it has some stiff competition from a consortium of Eastern universities and industry . Infrared telescope is looking good
Idiom: keep someone in the dark (used idiomatically: yes)
This action led directly to the Suez Crisis of that year ( CORE , pp . 141–3 ) . When Britain and France , in close collaboration with Israel , launched a military attack on Egypt , the American government was furious . Washington had been kept completely in the dark over the invasion which , to make matters worse , coincided with the suppression of the Hungarian rising by Soviet tanks . The Western alliance appeared to be in total disarray as the USA supported a United Nations resolution calling for a cease - fire in Egypt , which her allies reluctantly accepted . The damage to the alliance was eventually repaired , but it had been subjected to the most serious strain of the post - war period .
Idiom: twist someone's arm (used idiomatically: yes)
Fees have beautiful faces with hypnotic eyes , though they may be identified by a physical flaw , such as a snake 's tail or bird 's feet . Originally nature spirits , fees would metamorphose into fog or cloud , mountain stones or moss at will . They would also mingle with unwary humans for spite , selling jewellery and magic cloth at the village fete — when the purchaser leant to pick up the item , the fee would twist his arm and fling him to the ground . Feng - Huang A marvellous bird , sometimes called the Chinese Phoenix , which dwelt in ancient China .
Idiom: clutch at straws (used idiomatically: yes)
If there is to be a money famine . ' ' And if there is n't ? ' Chambers was clutching at straws . ' We 'll know that by the new year , ' John said . ' And come back to you , filled with gold and gratitude , ' she promised .
Idiom: go spare (used idiomatically: yes)
we were going yo he 's not in , came in the Tuesday the reason I was off yesterday was cos I was so fucked off with your test , but he did n't say fucked off Yeah . Erm erm and then he was going spare and he says these are the worst I 've ever received in all the years I 've been teaching , right ? And he went the next ones had better be better , right , the next ones were worse totally disastrous .
Idiom: on someone's mind (used idiomatically: no)
That 's why , with three strokes to go , I knew we 'd win.’ All this winter training is to prepare them to win more gold at next August 's World Championships . But the race on their mind at the moment is the Christmas eights at their own rowing club at Molesey . Greg explains : ‘ They were cancelled last Sunday because of the bad conditions . I hope they 're going to be rowed on Boxing Day .
Idiom: rewrite history (used idiomatically: yes)
I think we 've heard this before as well . The only character with any psychological depth is Belbo , the wistfully unhappy writer manque who asks , ' Why write novels ? Rewrite history . ' Umberto Eco himself clearly sympathises . Belbo 's iffy relationship with the evasive Lorenza Pelegrini is is deftly touched in , and his reminiscences of a wartime childhood in Piedmont are the only passages to achieve any distinction or elegance of style , or any vestige of human interest .
Idiom: hold court (used idiomatically: no)
On 5 July Charles himself declared , ' I have bounded the Forests , not according to my right , but according to late customs ' . In the same year an Act was passed declaring that from henceforth the boundaries of all the royal forests should be taken to extend no further than those ' commonly reputed , used or taken in the twentieth year of the reign of James I [ 1622–23 ] . No places were to be taken to be within the forest if no Forest courts had been held , verderers elected or regards made in them since 1565 . Commissioners nominated by the Lords and Commons were to ascertain the proper bounds of the forests by means of local inquiries , the perambulations returned into the Court of Chancery , and all places beyond the certified bounds were to be absolutely free from the Forest law , with the proviso that the owners and occupiers of land left out of the forest were to retain ' such rights of common as anciently or accustomably they had enjoyed ' . Accordingly , a perambulation of the forest of Essex was made on 16 August 1641 , by a jury of twenty - four knights and an esquire , in the presence of fourteen royal commissioners and the officers of the Forest .
Idiom: send someone packing (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ How wrong I was ! You were like ice , and I was the same . I dared not say a word in case you sent me packing for good.’ ‘ Why did it go wrong?’ Sarella murmured sleepily , allowing her lips the luxury of pressing against the muscles of his bronzed shoulder in a banquet of sensation .
Idiom: neck and neck (used idiomatically: yes)
It is an unusual technological challenge to be certain of the market and racing to produce the chemical to meet it . Racing , because we are not alone . Du Pont and others are neck and neck with us . Where Foster and old Mond might not get on so well is in the argument of research - driven v market - driven advance . [ Mond is said to have complained , away back in the 1880s , that his company was n't concentrating on chemistry any more but on making money , a complaint perhaps most easily made by those who have already acquired as much money as they can reasonable need . ]
Idiom: in the saddle (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ That 's how I recall it . Sorry I ca n't do any better.’ ‘ Did it strike you just before the accident that Harriet looked woozy or unsteady in the saddle?’ ‘ Yes , it did , very much so , and quite unlike her normal self I would have thought . Although of course I did n't know her very well or for very long .
Idiom: tan someone's hide (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ Darius,’ she scolds , ‘ what you doing out of bed ? I told you to stay there . I tan your hide.’ ‘ The trouble 's over now.’ He shrugs like he was putting on a jacket .
Idiom: time will tell (used idiomatically: yes)
YWAM do not want to discontinue their current policy of encouraging in every way current initiatives for church planting and feeding people in to help such work . But at the same time , they are to start planting new churches . Time will tell how well these twin goals work together . But we will hear more of this in years to come and it is yet another sign that church planting is on God 's agenda at this time for Britain , for Europe , and for every nation . The Vineyard
Idiom: cut loose (used idiomatically: no)
Reportedly they were ready to plunk down $ 426 m , a figure Kavner pulled from the air at the end of a previous meeting when they offered $ 385 m . This group — and there were some sterling institutions reportedly among the participants — would have trimmed USL down to its core operating system , dumped the loss - making language sector , sold off the $ 5m - a - year Tuxedo line that some insiders consider a crown jewel and cut back on ES / MP which everybody wanted and no one is buying . Along with the products would have gone a lot more of the people than USL cut loose right before it got bought . It will be interesting to see if Novell comes to any of the same business decisions once it takes over . Full analysis — pages 2 , 4 and 5 .
Idiom: join the club (used idiomatically: yes)
But there is self - help . Sister Margaret introduces Ruby , who helps with a credit union . People join the savings club and after 12 weeks ' contributing can get loans at 1 per cent interest . Another woman explains how a food co - operative has been set up , buying in bulk and selling at no profit to members . They were intended to compete with the vans that circulate the scheme .
Idiom: turn heads (used idiomatically: yes)
' Here , child . I serve you Heaven itself . ' The boy took a little of the warm broth , then turned his head slightly . Tuan Ti Fo persevered , following his mouth with the spoon , coaxing a little of the liquid into him each time , until the child 's mouth was opening wide for each new spoonful . At last the bowl was empty .
Idiom: behind someone's back (used idiomatically: yes)
Why the F**k did n't Batts just say NO to Dogleash 's terms . That would have given Silver something to chew on . I ca n't believe Wilko is happy with the board going behind his back like that . Just my $ 0.02 as they say over here . From :
Idiom: to the bone (used idiomatically: yes)
The dolphin 's echolocation system is good enough not only to allow it to find fish but also to select its favourite food . Another effect of water - borne sound is that the dolphin " sees " its prey very differently to the bat . The bat 's air - borne clicks bounce off insects , whereas water - borne sounds pass through the tissues of a fish to the bone and swim bladder . So the sound image that a dolphin receives is more like an X - ray than a normal picture . STUNNING WITH SOUND
Idiom: in hot water (used idiomatically: yes)
Chinese tree fungus These tiny , black , dried leaves are also known as cloud ears ; when soaked , they puff up to look like clouds . Soak in hot water for 20–30 minutes until soft . Rinse well , cutting away any hard portions . These leaves are valued for their crunchy texture and slightly smoky flavour , and are usually sold in plastic bags .
Idiom: pissed off (used idiomatically: yes)
Ooh he 's turning round hey he 's coming , hey he 's flying up behind He ai n't , he 's pissed off , you wo n't catch me I 'll be gone , I mean ee ah what you doing I have n't got no petrol to fucking , drive round the town you cunt So the old dear 's , hooray
Idiom: bark up the wrong tree (used idiomatically: yes)
I had n't thought . Or it might just be nothing . Me barking up yet another wrong tree . ' Frances took his hand . ' I wish you would n't do it , Charles .
Idiom: go without saying (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ Hi , Guy.’ ‘ Clarissa 's a bit worried,’ said Guy , as though worrying was woman 's work . ‘ I 'm not worrying exactly,’ said Clarissa , as though worrying was shameful , ‘ only she went without saying anything , and it 's not like her.’ ‘ That 's true,’ said Constance . ‘ I keep wondering,’ said Clarissa , ‘ whether that woman who was pulled out of the canal could be anything to do with Barbs .
Idiom: child's play (used idiomatically: yes)
It 's the best country in the world to live in.’ Just child 's play MAKING toys is child 's play for Courtaulds employee Ted Richards — and he ensures a perfect finish by using paint from International . Ted , based at Research in Coventry in the UK , is involved in environmental work , studying emerging methods of pollution control and considering how they can be applied to Group businesses . But out of hours he heads for his workshop and turns out wooden toys including trains , kiddie pushalong trolleys and nursery name plates .
Idiom: odds and ends (used idiomatically: yes)
I feel like I can be contributed towards for I must admit that , I do feel as though I could be pulling my weight a bit , especially when Chris worries about money . Yes . Like , you know , I saw like , what really , I 'd sat there , I mean like you say , I and I admit that I odds and ends that 'll probably take me about an hour in total Mm . you know , I have got to get , I mean we 've got to be ready at four ai n't we , which means we 'll have to be ready before we get there ,
Idiom: sail under false colours (used idiomatically: yes)
He imagines that his own family might have had this ease in the bourgeois world before they left Europe . But for all his misgivings , here he is with one of the most desirable women in France eating truffle shavings and half an hour ago they were lying on a bed together . Still , he feels that the waiters know that he comes from Dearborn and they can see that in his cashmere tweed jacket he is sailing under false colours . He looks at Candice : a tiny globule of goose fat is glistening on her upper lip . He wonders if she has told her husband the docteur — he imagines a cheerful Depardieu in a white coat — of the steps she has been obliged to take in order to get the part .
Idiom: on the take (used idiomatically: yes)
Well , almost . He has had to accept Kazuo Aichi , the new environment minister , who took money from the Recruit company before the famous shares - for - favours scandal broke . Mr Aichi had had to withdraw his candidature for the governorship of Miyagi prefecture when it was revealed that he had been on the take . For harmony 's sake , Mr Aichi 's sins are now deemed to be minor . The ¥ 7.5 m ( $ 55,000 ) that he received was peanuts alongside the sums that Recruit doled out to many of the ruling party 's bigger names .
Idiom: keep your options open (used idiomatically: yes)
Do not carry feelings of rejection from one situation over into the next . If you do you will approach the next interview in the wrong frame of mind and it will make you less effective . Keep your options open If you have not pinned all your hopes on one job you will be less vulnerable if you are turned down . Make a point of always having more than one project on the go .
Idiom: know your onions (used idiomatically: no)
Reject any that are even slightly soft or in any way discoloured . Sage and onions WHEN you know your onions you can avoid the gap between the last of the main crop and the new harvest . Bridge that gap with over - wintering onion sets , ready to eat from May to July . Start now with a net of Unwins First Early Onion sets , plus a collection of broad bean , spinach and spring onion seeds for £ 3.50 , including p&p .
Idiom: as a rule (used idiomatically: yes)
Thomson themselves ( 01 435 8431 ) offer 14 nights half - board at a 4-T hotel ( Thomson 's own classification ) in Palma Nova in Mallorca for two adults and two children at £ 842 , or a self - catering deal in Santa Ponsa at a similar class apartment for £ 508 . To embroider the sampler , we turned to some multiple agencies and asked them for their recommendations of good value on a £ 1,000 booking for four people . Their choices follow : Lunn Poly 's marketing director Peter Rothwell observed that as a rule the staff in their 505 shops base their selling on the answers given by the customer in a questionnaire , to prevent mismatches between customers and the holidays they took , but he nevertheless felt safe in saying that two young couples , a bit adventurous , would do well if they invested in an ILG Drive Europe holiday along the west coast of France to Biarritz , good countryside and a nice old town , accommodation at the Mer et Golf apartments , two weeks in all with ferry and accommodation included for £ 255 each . Pickfords marketing man Andrew Jones drew attention to the company 's discounting policy , operating until the end of February , and put forward three options . Two adults and two children staying 10 nights at the Hotel Cavanna in La Manga in Spain in June would work out , with the discount , at £ 907 .
Idiom: out of order (used idiomatically: yes)
The plane crashed near a crossroads one mile from three villages but the Dalgety seed processing plant , which almost took the impact , is surrounded by fields and isolated houses . Mr Paul Bagni , general manager of Dalgety , said : ‘ I am convinced the pilot was aiming for an old airfield behind our plant but came down just short of it.’ There were suggestions from the American air force that the controls may have been put out of order by the fire which caused the crash and that , even if the pilot had stayed in his cockpit until the collision , he would not have been able to do more . ‘ Only the pilot will be able to tell us what he was thinking in the seconds before he ejected,’ said Mr Richard Colley , spokesman for the Upper Heyford base . The jet crashed in a ball of flame , destroying 15 cars and damaging 10 more but further evidence of the good fortune became clear yesterday with the sight of the aircraft wreckage embedded in mud .