Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: lend a hand (used idiomatically: yes)
So it is hardly surprising that John Cranko , already a ballet pupil , although of very limited experience , was able to make himself useful when the two Cape Town companies had seasons in Johannesburg towards the end of 1943 . The University of Cape Town Ballet had been there before , in 1941 and 1942 , building up local support to the extent that on their third visit , in September 1943 , all six performances in the Great Hall at Milner Park ( the theatre belonging to Witwatersrand University ) were sold out before the opening night . John hung around the theatre and lent a hand in any way he could . Dulcie Howes first met him backstage at one of the performances , given in aid of a war charity . ‘ I was aware of the presence of a stranger and asked the stage manager to ‘ see him off .
Idiom: give head (used idiomatically: no)
Night temperatures in Scotland on the hill frequently fall to that level particularly in spells of high pressure when it does not snow naturally . There is , of course , no shortage of water flowing off the hillsides . At Aonach Mor there is a small dam which provides all the fresh water for the day lodge facilities and which will give a good head of pressure for the cannon at night . The artificial snow is destined for the beginners area alongside the day lodge where there is a new baby tow this year . At Glenshee , they will be used for patching access runs and tows , especially on the Cairnwell Side .
Idiom: keep your chin up (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ No , thanks , dolly - chops,’ Ian said and rumpled her hair . ‘ But pop a poulet in the pot for me , and I 'll be back for lunch . And keep your chin up . I 'll be here by one , I promise.’ And he raised his own chin at George and went out , slamming the door behind him .
Idiom: strike a chord (used idiomatically: yes)
According to him , Mr Major is irresolute , obsessed with his image , and shifts according to the latest opinion poll . Not so , say other ministers . But the charge will strike a chord with the increasing number of voters who hold Mr Major in such low regard that he ranks bottom of the alltime premiership popularity league . If Mr Major is to avoid the men in grey suits seeking a meeting to discuss his future , he needs to do more to restore his authority than slapping down Mr Lamont . Tough decisions await the Government , not least over public spending .
Idiom: dead and buried (used idiomatically: yes)
Indeed , can legislation , of itself , change attitudes in the way that clearly is intended ? The 1948 Children Act suggests that perhaps it can , though the task for the post - war reformers was a far simpler one . Then there were truly new beginnings , a hated Poor Law , dead and buried ; a single , uncluttered task — to improve the quality of public care ; and a specially recruited ( and largely newly trained ) new band of professionals to take on the exciting role of pioneers . In the 1990s the tasks are far more complex and conflictual and the social workers who must take them on are already part of the system that has to change . Perhaps the best hope for progress lies in the many examples of good practice that already exist and which the Act simply reflects and builds on .
Idiom: lame duck (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ I am still against,’ he said after talking to Mr Major . Although some Euro - sceptics are bound to wilt under the fierce lobbying by ministers , whips and loyal back - benchers , the result was still too close to call last night . Board of Trade President Michael Heseltine warned rebels they would be left with a lame duck administration if they did not ratify Maastricht . ‘ You will have a policy vacuum at the centre of decision - making of incalculable destructiveness,’ he told them . Paddy Ashdown has already committed the Liberal Democrats to vote with the Government .
Idiom: hear things (used idiomatically: yes)
I am the centre of my life , why should n't I be my own most cherished lover ? Avoid the mirror syndrome , the acquisition of friends to make you feel good with yourself . To hear good things about yourself . Only you can prove the certainty of what a fine person you are . It was Jo who first got me to see that I had done my best .
Idiom: in business (used idiomatically: yes)
There 's the chance to get a huge income in this business , a million yen a month is possible !
Idiom: off the hook (used idiomatically: yes)
In the propaganda warfare of this period which both they and Mary of Guise plunged into with alacrity , Mary certainly had the stronger case . The Lords of the Congregation could rightly assert the duty and responsibility of the nobility to act for the good of the commonweal , and indeed experience of minorities over two centuries had in practice underwritten the theoretical position to an unusual extent . But so long as Mary of Guise 's position was upheld by her daughter , no amount of rhetoric could conceal the fact that in attacking the regent they were attacking the queen , and religious sincerity did not get them off the hook of treason ; thus , for example , when they seized the coining - irons of the mint in Edinburgh in July , it was an intelligent enough political and military act , but their efforts to justify it on the grounds that they were serving their country by stopping the regent 's debasement of the coinage rang all too hollow . And underneath the lofty claims that they were fulfilling the will of God and freeing the kingdom from oppression and tyranny , and the open attacks on the regent 's actions , there were still hints of the desire to come to terms , which reflect their awareness of how shaky the basis of their self - defence was . These hints had their final expression in an astonishing personal letter written by Knox to Mary on 26 October 1559 , claiming that ‘ if it be the office of a very friend to give true and faithful counsel to them whom he sees run to destruction for lack of the same , I could not be proven enemy to your Grace but rather a friend unfeigned’— even if moderation was never Knox 's strong suit and so , unable to keep up the quiet tone of the letter , he felt impelled to throw in a postscript : ‘ God move your heart yet in time to consider that ye fight not against man , but against the eternal God , and against his Son Jesus Christ , the only Prince of the kings of the earth.’
Idiom: sell like hot cakes (used idiomatically: yes)
Bad news for publicans and wine merchants , good news for livers . TUT TUT . Cards depicting Santa in horribly compromising positions are selling like hot cakes . A spokesman from the firm responsible said : ‘ Some of the designs might be a bit near the knuckle , but the bonking snowmen have been so sucessful that we 've commissioned even more variations for next year.’ Mary Whitehouse said they are ‘ contrary to the spirit of Christmas .
Idiom: on the game (used idiomatically: yes)
( 1982 ) would certainly agree that the first two are necessary . The exclusion of sunk costs in the second gives rise to a crucial feature of their analysis — costless exit . As to the others , it really depends rather crucially on the game that one has in mind . Before developing this point though , we should consider the effects of perfect contestability . Clearly , if exit is costless and entry is free , a potential entrant faces only a negligible loss if things go wrong .
Idiom: have a heart (used idiomatically: no)
The October letter to Katkov envisages this world beyond The Possessed 's initial scope in forthright great-sinner terms . Nicholas Stavrogin has arrived during the summer months of 1870s , and has established himself as the one ‘ who might really be called the chief character of the novel ’ . He is ‘ a villain ’ , but ‘ tragic ’ , and Dostoevsky continues in his most pushy vein , anxious that Katkov shall take notice , ‘ I have taken him from my heart ’ . He means the heart of his creative instinct . There is nowhere else to take Stavrogin from , no other link between the middleaged overdriven novelist and his idle young well-connected ‘ chief character ’ .
Idiom: off and on (used idiomatically: yes)
Researchers built the channel so that it is free of dopants , stopping the charges from bumping into impurity atoms along the way . Instead , a layer of doped silicon is placed directly underneath the channel . This dopant layer sets the voltage at which the transistor turns off and on . As a result , the mobility of the charges as they travel through the transistor is twice as good as any similar , submicron p - channel mosfet transistor yet built . A p - channel transistor , relying on hole mobility , is usually slower than an n - channel device .
Idiom: take the plunge (used idiomatically: yes)
You should be armed with a spade when walking a holding , and examine the topsoil in every field for soil structure and life . The presence of earthworms and deep , strong grass roots are very good signs ; shallow , matted roots , a hard ‘ pan’ near the surface , rushes , and surface water indicate a soil in poor structural condition . Having gained a clear first impression , the next step , before taking the plunge , is to learn much more about the soil itself and the history of the farm . A visit to the nearest Divisional Office of the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service ( ADAS ) will reveal whether or not the area is yet covered by the Soil Survey of England and Wales . If it is , soil maps can be obtained from the London Map Centre or Sanfords and possibly a detailed ‘ narrative’ of the various soil types , their qualities , and their shortcomings .
Idiom: in the black (used idiomatically: yes)
A man dressed in black is wearing an elaborate black ~ mask
Idiom: with a will (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ I must do something , or I 'll go mad!’ Grudgingly Penry agreed to a little housework , after which , he said firmly , she must rest . Leonora set to with a will . An hour later every room was spick and span except for the bedroom Penry was using . A large suitcase lay on the bed , still full of the clothes he 'd taken from the other room .
Idiom: sit tight (used idiomatically: yes)
Encouraged by the curiosity in her expression , he drove the argument on . ‘ What 's the alternative ? Will you sit tight in your little kingdom , and watch it crumbling all around you ? The office will be gone soon . You 've already given notice to the work - force , though you have n't paid them their dues .
Idiom: for a song (used idiomatically: yes)
THE day of the indie guitar band dominating local music appears to be on the wane , if recent developments are anything to go by . Not that there 's anything wrong with indie bands — we 've got several very good acts locally — but the traditional pop group is definitely coming back in a big way . One of those bands is the Cloudwatchers , whose latest cassette single provides two good blueprints for the perfect pop song . On Day Like These is a sixties drenched track complete with distortion and waves of psychedelia , while Curious is an acoustic ballad of the highest quality . This demo 's not for sale at the moment but there 's a chance to see the band at the Wheatsheaf , Farnham , on Wednesday night .
Idiom: touch wood (used idiomatically: yes)
I told him about my robbery . ‘ Oh God , that must be dreadful to lose all that work , all that effort . I 've just been lucky so far , touch wood . But you 're just waiting for it to happen.’ I told him how uneasy I had become when I was approached or touched by anyone .
Idiom: go straight (used idiomatically: yes)
When they lose , takings are down by 50 per cent . Groan ‘ Fans just go straight home instead of coming in for a drink . They have been having a moan and a groan recently . But when they win , everything 's rosy.’
Idiom: seen better days (used idiomatically: yes)
As it was a warm day with a bright sun overhead he walked in the shade wherever he could . At a corner he stopped to wait for a break in the traffic . In fact there were only a few cars but quite a number of pack mules , some horse - drawn carts and one or two carozzelle , fine horse - drawn carriages , most of which had seen better days . He found he was still standing there some minutes later , not because the traffic had been particularly heavy — there had been several opportunities to cross — but because he was lost in thought about what he had seen . It was not only the size of the church that had impressed him but the decoration , the overwhelming , almost suffocating richness of the baroque interior .
Idiom: easy as pie (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ Thank goodness we have n't got H.B. any more,’ whispered Enid . ( H.B. was their nickname for Miss Hardbroom . ) ‘ Yes,’ agreed Mildred , ‘ this year should be as easy as pie without her breathing down our necks.’ The first announcement made by Miss Cackle at assembly was the ghastly news that Miss Hardbroom had changed places with Miss Gimlett , and would now be accompanying her old form into their second year . An audible groan rippled through the new Form Two , quelled at once by one of Miss Hardbroom 's piercing glances which always made each pupil feel that they had been noticed personally .
Idiom: break even (used idiomatically: yes)
Mixed plastic , for example , sells for about £ 25 a ton . But separated it can command up to £ 400 a ton . He says it will make enough to break even in the first year . The market for recycled material has recently hit a bad patch with falling prices . But Milton Keynes council insists the plant wo n't require a subsidy from council tax payers , in fact they can help make it a success .
Idiom: go it alone (used idiomatically: yes)
Hey , you guys , you gays who made the break . I mean you out there , not you in here . So you decided to go it alone . You decided to butch it out . What 's it like , without them ?
Idiom: for the time being (used idiomatically: yes)
He attributed no such quality to his disturbed time at Cuddesdon . Nevertheless Cuddesdon was important to him . For later he also believed that the motor accident and its consequences could have destroyed his morale but for the tranquil worship of the little Oxfordshire village which for the time was his base . He did not think much of the lectures . He resented the inadequacy of the library , in which he worked long hours during such time as he was there .
Idiom: in a fog (used idiomatically: yes)
Your eyes , and mine , burning by candlelight . ( over the bardo ) The moon , high in the fog . The door is open . You slipped out , and now you gaze up into it —
Idiom: to the bone (used idiomatically: yes)
These are the steps Steven had to take . Surgeons broke both his legs below the knee . Pins were inserted into the breaks and steel bars attached to the bones . Plucky Steven had to have another operation . Each day mum Anne adjusted the bars to stretch the bone to help his legs grow longer .
Idiom: cry foul (used idiomatically: yes)
They reasoned that , if neither main party won a commanding majority , both would have a stake in negotiating rather than fighting . They had not reckoned with the mentality of CPP officials , used to exercising unchallenged authority in a one - party state . Deprived of the crushing victory it was confidently expecting , the party cried foul . Party officials complained of irregularities and called on the UN to rerun the election in at least seven provinces . They backed up these demands with scarcely veiled threats .
Idiom: bear fruit (used idiomatically: yes)
In our multicultural schools the sound of the steel pan may evoke Caribbean ethnicity , tradition and authenticity , yet they originate in the oil drums of the Standard Oil Company rather than the mysterious knowledge of ancient African griots . These theoretical problems are most visible and at their most intractable in the area of fostering and adoption policy . Here , the inflated rhetoric and culturalist orthodoxies of antiracism have borne some peculiar fruit . The critique of the pathological views of black family life that were so prevalent in Social Services during the late seventies and early eighties has led directly to an extraordinary idealization of black family forms . Antiracist orthodoxy now sees them as the only effective repositories of authentic black culture and as a guaranteed means to transmit all the essential skills that black children will need if they are to ' survive ' in a racist society without psychological damage .
Idiom: on the level (used idiomatically: yes)
However , it must be borne in mind that work from the non-diabetic population has suggested that only between 30 and 50 per cent of patients are sodium sensitive ( Kawasaki et al , 1978 ) . Therefore it is unlikely that all patients can be expected to respond favourably to such a diet . It would also appear prudent to encourage increased exercise as preliminary work in non-diabetics shows this may have a beneficial effect on blood-pressure levels in hypertensives ( Roman et al , 1981 ) . Lastly , as part of general health care , it is extremely important to discourage cigarette smoking . Should these general measures fail after a minimum three-month period the drug of first choice is probably a cardioselective β-blocking agent such as atenolol or metoprolol or alternatively a calcium antagonist such as nifedepine .
Idiom: jump to conclusions (used idiomatically: yes)
Snap decisions Not enough clear information or too much pressure Jumping to conclusions Misunderstanding vital information Fear
Idiom: under the sun (used idiomatically: yes)
At about 9 . OO p.m. The Cajun Kings will , under the red sun on the western sky and on top of the hay bales [ outdoors , weather permitting ] , perform some nice down home music . Good food will be served from the spit . As darkness falls the immortal sounds of John Hurley will be heard in the upstairs Bar .
Idiom: dead wood (used idiomatically: no)
And it was several minutes before her quick ears picked up , from somewhere well ahead of her , the snap of a broken branch under a trampling foot . A sharp , dry crack . Dead wood , brought down in the flood water and cast ashore perhaps two days ago . She eased her pace then , knowing he was there in front of her . She had no wish to overtake him , only to maintain her distance , and keep track of his movements if she could .
Idiom: round the bend (used idiomatically: yes)
They were silhouetted for a moment on the brow of the hill against a last pool of light among encroaching black storm - clouds . They walked in a line , the yaks ' bulky bodies braced against the wind , tails streaming out . Then they rounded the bend by the Bāhan shrine and dropped down into the darkness of the valley . They set up camp on the Kālādika , unloading the yaks and lighting a fire as the moon rose low behind the trees . They stayed for two weeks , grazing the yaks .
Idiom: on paper (used idiomatically: no)
But newspapers , and their editors , can face other constraints . The editor of a newspaper owned by a Trust will be ' forced ' to carry on the newspaper 's tradition . Like their counterparts on privately owned newspapers , they will have to take note of the restrictions on space which advertising forces on the paper . As Curran has forcefully shown , advertising also plays a part in shaping a newspaper and so the needs of advertising to some extent determine the nature of the newspaper . Finally , no editor has a limitless source of funding , no editor can ignore the readers and their needs and wants , and no editor can safely depart from established news practices .
Idiom: lose face (used idiomatically: yes)
Above all , Mr Tsongas stressed the need for his message to be heard . He campaigned for economic growth through direct government help to industry , financial discipline , individual rights and environmental protection . His package appealed primarily to upscale white suburbanites , but it has taken hold with other candidates and could be merged with Mr Clinton 's platform without either side losing face . Mr Tsongas announced his second withdrawal from the race in Boston , where he is a corporate lawyer . He employed the wry , self - deprecation that made him a refreshing presence on the campaign trail .
Idiom: pour oil on troubled waters (used idiomatically: no)
Portia Forbes had better watch out . If she alienates all the women she could do herself a lot of harm . ' Upsets among the women were not uncommon , often needing all the oil of our masculine sagacity to be poured on the troubled waters , but a clash at this level threatened to step up the tempo . The thought of trouble depressed me . I hated violent confrontations .
Idiom: over the moon (used idiomatically: yes)
The 36-year - old removals expert , beaten in a thrilling sprint finish at the end of the ten mile race last year , made no mistake this time , taking the lead after two miles and gradually extending his lead to beat clubmate Bill Kershaw by an emphatic 38 seconds . ‘ It 's fantastic to have won at last,’ said Ingram . ‘ I 've been second five times in the last three years and I 'm over the moon to have got home first at last.’ There was a keen battle for second place between Kershaw and Brunskill , but the Newton Aycliffe runner faded in the later stages , being overtaken by Crook veteran John Dennis . Crook , with five runners in the first six finishers , easily won the team event .
Idiom: crystal clear (used idiomatically: yes)
In some ways , there is much more of a Mediterranean feel about this end of the lake than the everyday Lakes and Mountains resort . There are beaches , for instance , which are a mix of pebble and shingle , and a couple of lakeside lidos . The swimming is safe and very tempting in the lake 's crystal clear waters . If Garda reminds you of some of the better Mediterranean resorts you 've visited , its nightlife will nicely reinforce that view ! The bars and restaurants which line the promenade are sophisticated , and the choice is varied .
Idiom: over the counter (used idiomatically: yes)
MAINS TESTER WARNING I wonder if other readers , like myself , are under the misapprehension that mains test screwdrivers are infallible ? They 're usually purchased over the counter with no instructions , but last week I bought one in a plastic sleeve , on which the following instructions were printed : ‘ This voltage indicator is suitable for testing AC voltage from 100 volts up to a maximum of 500 volts against earth The metal part on top of the indicator must be touched to operate it , and the earthing position of the user largely determines whether it lights up or not . Note : Failure to light up therefore does not indicate with certainly that no voltage is present.’ ( The underlining is mine ! )
Idiom: turn the other cheek (used idiomatically: yes)
Stokely Carmichael of the SNCC , one of the emerging radical leaders , summarized these ideas in a single phrase : " What we want , " he said , is " black power " , and this became the slogan of the more militant black movements from 1966 . Tension between the races was increasing for two main reasons . First , the strain of maintaining Martin Luther King 's advice to " turn the other cheek " was becoming too great to bear in the face of continued attacks and insults . Secondly , the high expectations aroused by civil rights legislation had been disappointed ; the conditions of most blacks continued to show little material improvement . So the civil rights movement began to splinter , and young blacks in particular followed more militant leaders .
Idiom: in the pipeline (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ A number of district officers have been asked to look at a variety of projects across the service,’ he said . ‘ Mr Nichol has a lot of knowledge in the fields of mental health and this is one area we have wanted to look at for a while.’ However , union officials believed more merger proposals were in the pipeline . Mr Phil Lenton , assistant divisional officer for Nupe , said : ‘ We are looking at another reorganisation of the NHS in the Northern region with all the demoralisation and uncertainty that creates . But things are being done by stealth.’