Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: in the offing (used idiomatically: yes)
So the ruling by the Supreme Court in Washington could be devastating for the industry . The decision affects only new plants , however — not the 80 or so stations now working or the 57 under construction . And , since no one has ordered a new nuclear plant since 1978 and none are in the offing , the decision is academic , say industry spokesmen . Not so , according to elated opponents of nuclear power . The courts now hold that any of America 's 50 states can snub new nuclear plants for economic or technological reasons unrelated to the safety or cost of the reactor itself .
Idiom: behind bars (used idiomatically: yes)
What was hiding a bit of evidence compared to clubbing somebody to death with a black cab ? No problem . The only lighting in there came from a neon strip behind the bar . There was very little disruption , a couple of chairs turned over and a table with most of its top scored off by shotgun pellets lay on its side . Bill Stubbly had got off lightly — so far .
Idiom: play games (used idiomatically: yes)
' What the devil for ? ' His impatience was growing . ' Stop playing silly games and just accept my offer . The house means nothing to you . I 'm sure you 'd much prefer the money . '
Idiom: doom and gloom (used idiomatically: yes)
If it is achieved , the production costs will be not much more than half the current figure , and the undertaking will be able to compete with most of our opencast coal facilities . It seems an almost impossible target , but the management people believe that they can achieve it . People should stop indulging in doom and gloom and , instead , looks to the future . I am very glad that in my area miners belong to the Union of Democratic Mineworkers under Roy Lynk . Miners in Nottinghamshire and in the surrounding area want to work towards the future .
Idiom: whoop it up (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ Instead he was born into a role that was n't right for him . He would be happier with a partner of equal mental capacity and who shares his interests . ‘ Diana needs someone sparky who likes to whoop it up a bit.’ Even though she has become Princess of Wales , the price Diana will probably pay is that she never gets to wear a crown . Not even the British could stomach the sight of the King and Queen arriving at a Coronation in separate carriages .
Idiom: steal the show (used idiomatically: yes)
For details , call ( 0642 ) 246767 . KIWI speedway aces Mark Thorpe and David Bargh lead Newcastle Diamonds ' challenge in the Knockout Cup at Middlesbrough Bears tonight . And the devastating duo are set to steal the show in the Debmat Diamonds ' full strength line - up . Thorpe and captain Bargh are locked in battle at the top of the Second Division averages which has seen their scores take them well ahead of all the other riders in the Homefire League . Middlesbrough face a real struggle to peg the confident Diamonds , who have dominated the northern section of the Gold Cup and are tipped for the league title .
Idiom: hit the headlines (used idiomatically: yes)
It accepted that monogamy was inherent in Christianity and yet that there were polygamous societies where even the Church could not enforce the rule at once , and that the chief way forward lay in a progressive emancipation of women in those societies , especially in the sphere of education . Those who afterwards blamed Lambeth 1958 for platitudes did not know what they were talking about . The resolution which hit the headlines was that which approved the rightness of contraception . It denounced the idea that gratification is the end of sex , but said that parents have the duty of choosing how many children they have . They partly justified this by an eye upon the too rapid growth of population in some countries .
Idiom: go public (used idiomatically: yes)
The University of Utah team made it clear that they still had a long way to go and would like another year to eighteen months to continue their research before announcing it . Jones responded by reminding everyone that the DOE had been funding his work for nearly three years already , that he had positive results ready to publish , that the DOE funding agent had encouraged him to go ahead and that he was due to speak about them at the Spring Meeting of the American Physical Society in Baltimore during 1–4 May. Fleischmann and Pons knew that they had no hopes of completing their work by May and that they could lose the race if Jones went public so soon . Peterson suggested strongly his hope that Jones would not give the talk . This shocked Jones considerably .
Idiom: on the rocks (used idiomatically: yes)
It consists of an enrichment of iron and manganese , the proportion of the latter always increasing outwards ( Mabbutt , 1977 ) . It develops best on slightly rough , but not disintegrating surfaces , especially on rocks rich in iron and manganese but is not exclusive to these . Thus it is very well developed on fine - grained basic igneous and metamorphic rocks . Its formation is not completely understood but the fact that it is better developed on loose stones than on rock pavements and that there is frequently a well - developed band extending from an inch or two below the surface to just above the ground surface , suggests deposition from solutions derived from the soil by capillary action . Crusts formed of the most soluble salts are usually found in the lowest part of desert basins .
Idiom: all wet (used idiomatically: yes)
Pocket 's all wet ! Mm ? Pocket 's all wet ! and dry it . The inside 's dry !
Idiom: body blow (used idiomatically: yes)
There was a feeling of helpless impotence which permeated up through the ranks from GI to Supreme Command . Then SALT . Another body - blow , another betrayal . Defence cuts , NATO falling apart at the seams as a near - bankrupt Great Britain trimmed her commitment back below the survival level and the other European allies stopped considering the quality of their defensive and offensive hardware and began worrying about sharing out the contracts amongst the EEC brotherhood instead . It had begun to look as though the Western powers had embraced the premise that no - one kicks a cringing dog .
Idiom: run out of steam (used idiomatically: yes)
It 's been creeping up on me for a while . It was n't just George . I 've run out of steam.’ I looked at my watch . ’ Let 's go to lunch,’I said .
Idiom: play games (used idiomatically: yes)
Tom hurt his left knee during practice , so John had to play the game in his place .
Idiom: on and off (used idiomatically: yes)
The studio was once part of a railway company property and that is where the old railwayman comes in . He probably worked here and certainly his presence is very evident . The strong feeling of a presence is felt , lights go on and off , doors open and shut on their own , the shadow of a man 's head is sometimes seen ; but on recording sessions , many unnerving things can happen , heavy breathing down the musicians ' necks , brushing past people . Footsteps are heard all over the building causing surprise and apprehension and expectancy in those visitors who have heard about the phenomena but have n't experienced it . Strange sounds are heard live over the loud speaker monitors , some times spoiling the recordings .
Idiom: behind the scenes (used idiomatically: yes)
Diro 's elevation was , it appeared , the price Namaliu had to pay for continued PAP support for his Pangu Pati - led coalition . In July Namaliu outmanoeuvred opposition leader Paias Wingti yet again in a vote of no confidence . On this occasion , however , the details of some of the behind - the - scenes fixing were publicized by the opposition and an unprecedented public protest took place as a result . It emerged that large cash payments had been made to four government ministers in return for relinquishing their portfolios . The posts thus freed were then available as inducements to other potential government supporters .
Idiom: call the tune (used idiomatically: yes)
IBM 's market was always the big mainframe computer — but that is a shrinking portion of the computer industry now , and one even the Japanese are beginning to penetrate . Customers are changing too . Mainframes were bought by Data Processing Managers in the olden days ; IBM could call the tunes and set the standards . That is no longer true . When the customers are in the boardroom , IBM still knows how to win , but can not count on fear or brand loyalty — just applications know - how .
Idiom: ring a bell (used idiomatically: yes)
Bob and Tessa sat on the floor , their arms round each other . Morris sprawled in the armchair , dispensing whisky . Mrs. Mounce rang the bell and was invited in . ' Hello , Glenda , ' said Morris when Bob introduced them . She curled up on the floor and leaned against the arm of Morris 's chair .
Idiom: for Africa (used idiomatically: no)
At its fifty - seventh session , the General ~ Assembly will consider the final review of the implementation of the New ~ Agenda , including the New ~ Partnership for Africa ’s Development .
Idiom: in hot water (used idiomatically: yes)
This was when I was a girl and we had a lot of calves to feed and water . On occasion there is n't sufficient water available from the stream or the rainwater tub , and I have to go down to the reservoir , which I call the Mississippi , to rinse the washing . In recent times I have been able to go down to the hostel , where my good friend Richard Megson gives me the opportunity to wash in lovely hot water . But it 's a fair distance to walk there and it is , I suppose , a lot handier to pop down to the reservoir . I can have the washing done and back home again by the time I get to Richard 's place .
Idiom: first among equals (used idiomatically: yes)
The clerk to the local authority was the principal legal adviser and , therefore , invariably a lawyer . In smaller local authorities a local solicitor sometimes accepted this as a part - time position . The clerk was regarded as ‘ first among equals’ by the other chief officers , but the co - ordination of services was at a minimum and sometimes non - existent . In addition to the ‘ traditional’ approach , Greenwood and Stewart identify two other possible conceptions of the role of the local authority in relation to its environment that have implications for internal management structure . The ‘ federal’ approach recognises the advantages to be gained if the separate local authority services are provided within a framework that allows for economies in the use of resources and recognises departmental interdependencies .
Idiom: more's the pity (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ Just get on . I 'll see you later.’ ‘ Ye can see me now , more 's the pity,’ he grumbled as he pushed his way to the back , treading on a few feet in the process . ‘ No ' at the back!’ Isa screamed over the heads of the struggling mass of men , weans , dogs , and luggage .
Idiom: in this day and age (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ I do n't understand.’ ‘ I 'm sure you do n't . Few people realise just how much depends on a man 's reputation even in this day and age . This deal I 'm involved in is a big one . You 're not talking about a few thousand pounds but millions , millions I shall be borrowing from various banking concerns who are willing to lend that money on the strength of my reputation .
Idiom: out and about (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ But you never even leave the apartment any more!’ ‘ That 's what I 'm saying . If you had a nice job on the railways maybe I could get out and about a bit.’ There was a knock , the door opened and Luciano Bartocci appeared . ‘ May I?’
Idiom: all along (used idiomatically: yes)
His tone alone was sufficient to convey as much when at last he said , slowly and very quietly : ‘ Give the kid his jacket , woman!’ Frankie tensed and lowered his head . He had known all along that it must be his fault . He was very sorry , but at the same time he could not help feeling excited by the prospect of owning a new jacket . He jumped sideways in sudden fright as Sweetheart snatched up a brown paper carrier - bag with looped string handles and flung it across the room .
Idiom: on the face of it (used idiomatically: yes)
Personally , I hope that the next Edition returns to the rather more universally useful format of the first . Macintosh and PC in Harmony The amount of dis - information about the compatibility between PCs and Macintoshes is really quite staggering , on the face of it you would think that they were unable to speak at all . Reality , as is often the case , turns out to be quite a different story with multiple packages being equally well supported on both sides of the hardware fence . So far as the desktop publisher is concerned there are many packages that can share data without any form of translation being required as well as a few that need some gentle tweaking .
Idiom: follow suit (used idiomatically: yes)
Mr Garnett 's system is available as a retrofit for all makes of sprayer . However , at the time of going to press , Berthoud , Chafer and Degania are also offering them as original equipment on their sprayers . Mr Garnett expects other makers to follow suit . Compatible containers One of the great hurdles to previous attempts to design a closed transfer system for chemicals was the sheer variety of different container openings .
Idiom: pecking order (used idiomatically: yes)
Little urchins tugging on our coat tails , miming eating , asking for money like some white - skinned version of a miniature beggar in a Calcutta slum . Women , wholly respectable women , lining the streets selling a bizarre array of consumer purchases from single skirts , to bottles of perfume and packets of sweets . For in the topsy turvy pecking order which is the current Russian economy , the middle class academics , civil servants and doctors have wound up at the bottom of the wages spiral , their savings largely , meaningless . Highly qualified medical men , now earning significantly less than their ambulance drivers , are leaving the much vaunted health care system in droves , looking for jobs ( sometimes two or three ) which offer a passport to at least temporary insolvency . Any society embarked on wholesale transition might expect its progress to be punctuated by intermittent chaos .
Idiom: come a cropper (used idiomatically: yes)
Tommy is retiring on health grounds but says : ‘ I 'm not ready for meals - on - wheels myself yet.’ STARMAN MOORE 'S EYEFUL ! TV astronomer Patrick Moore saw stars when he came a cropper on the cricket field . Patrick , 68 , was hit in the eye by a fast ball that flew off the wicket - keeper 's boot as he fielded in the slips . He got a bruising whack in his right eye — the one he uses to peer through his telescope at the stars .
Idiom: pecking order (used idiomatically: yes)
WALES : A P Puddle ( Captain ) , A W Harris , J Sylvester , J Derreck , K Bell , B Metcalfe , A Smith , B J Lloyd , A Ikram , A D Griffiths , W G Edwards . NEIL FOSTER faces an Essex fine for kicking stumps in anger but this weekend he could be punching the air in delight if he receives an England recall for next week 's second Test against Australia at Lord 's . Despite Thursday 's show of petulance at Old Trafford when he kicked over a couple of stumps and a comparative lack of first - class wickets this season , Foster has moved steadily up the fast bowling pecking order . ‘ I 'm aware of my name being mentioned again as an England candidate , which is nice , but we 'll just have to see what happens,’ he said . ‘ All I can say is that I 'm reasonably confident about my cricket again and should I get the chance of a Test I will stand up to it.’
Idiom: on the cards (used idiomatically: no)
Taking it up two out , he proved too strong for Waterloo Boy . Later , Beech Road survived a shocking blunder at the penultimate fence to win the Coombe Hill Novice Chase . There will be a carry forward of £ 285,364 to today 's Tote Jackpot pool operating on the Newmarket card , on which Twist And Turn may prove hardest to beat in the Fielden Stakes . A punter at Pontefract races collected £ 24,843 for a 10p investment while another customer at a Tote betting shop in Paddington picked up £ 12,421 for a 5p outlay . The Ayr executive have announced plans for the Ayr Silver Cup , a consolation race over six furlongs , to be run as a prelude to the Ayr Gold Cup on the same card on Sept 19 .
Idiom: tie the knot (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ Our favourite times are Sunday afternoons , cooking , watching television and going for long walks.’ But marriage is n't something he feels able to commit himself to yet . ‘ Unless there are children there 's no reason to tie the knot,’ he says . ‘ Anyway , I 've never had the money to feel settled before . My future has always been uncertain but family and children need security .
Idiom: on the carpet (used idiomatically: yes)
At the moment , true , he was lying on the carpet and no one who knew the condition he was in could seriously expect him to admit the chief clerk .
Idiom: off the beaten track (used idiomatically: yes)
Incidentally , the Oberhttfen boat station is next to the castle . The excursion as described from Thun via Heiligenschwendi to Merligen above is the most straightforward route for making acquaintance with a most attractive pre - alpine landscape with a very favoured southern exposure . There exists however a very great number of variant routes on the numerous well defined walking paths that make this area a great favourite with Swiss visitors who enjoy walking holidays off the beaten track . For tourists residing in the Oberland a favourite excursion is a visit to the capital of Central Switzerland , Luzern , by way of the dramatic Brunig Pass route . The route is substantially the same whether carried out by road or by the narrow - gauge Brunig railway ; it follows the shore of Lake Brienz before turning north to climb over the Brunig Pass and then descend by steps via the Lungern and Sarnen Lakes to the shores of the Vierwaldstattersee .
Idiom: get the better of (used idiomatically: yes)
That was exactly what it was . She had just a minute or two to collect herself before Nicolo returned . You could n't beard the lion in his den if you let your fears get the best of you . She wrapped her arms around herself and began to pace the room . Concentrate on something outside yourself , she thought .
Idiom: in the driving seat (used idiomatically: yes)
The TV company which is tuning in to telephones . Plus , It 's the pits … Mrs Hill and Brundle sample life in the driving seat . Good evening , ANNE DAWSON
Idiom: over the hill (used idiomatically: yes)
I 've got a race two little ducks went swimming one day over the hills and far away went swimming one day over the hills and far away one little duck went tickle your ear
Idiom: nine times out of ten (used idiomatically: yes)
Rapid resolution of customer complaints is a matter of life and death for the Profitboss . He can not afford to lose one single customer . Ho therefore puts each complaint into intensive care , knowing that nine times out of ten his customers will return even more satisfied . The Profitboss forbids stereo - typed word - processed responses to complaints . He insists on personal attention every time , no matter how trivial the issue .
Idiom: as a rule (used idiomatically: yes)
The current computer industry buzzword for this capability is " user friendliness " . Sadly , very few systems are yet available which really fit the bill . As a rule of thumb , if the training programme for a so called user friendly system is longer than a working week , steer clear of it ! Ideally , you should be able to go to your VDU terminal , pass through the necessary security controls , input information , have the computer check it for you , enquire on particular elements or records of information , produce ad hoc or regular print outs and produce graphical output with simple commands . All of this should be done using simple instructions to the computer which are as close to normal English as possible .
Idiom: steer clear of (used idiomatically: yes)
A third round of financing is n't planned as Liautaud is looking towards initial public offering in around two years ' time . BusinessObjects claims 60 UK customers and 400 worldwide with sites employing BusinessObjects on databases storing as much as 12Gb of information . Work on new graphics , reporting and integration tools aimed at the EIS market is underway , but the firm is steering clear of application development per se for the time being . + 44 628 487722 . EURO REPORT SAYS DESKTOPS WILL PROLIFERATE
Idiom: across the board (used idiomatically: yes)
Yes . Yeah . Or if we take this whole lot up to Malcolm , say that you know these are six quid across the board you know ? Yeah yeah . Well we could sell them to him well we we 'll end up with one hand sets for
Idiom: see eye to eye (used idiomatically: yes)
One danger of treating all crime as sickness is that it makes the criminal a second - class citizen . A judge 's sentence is normally limited by the nature of the offence , but a doctor can detain until he decides a patient is cured . And if an objective moral standard is thrown over , what is to stop the majority in society — or even a minority in power — from putting away in a mental institution those who do not see eye to eye with them until they are " cured " ? It has been done . Support for the family
Idiom: up to speed (used idiomatically: no)
He is said to have one of the fastest services in Britain and his game proved too powerful for Tony Marti who had hurried back from a league match to play him . Tony then joined men 's captain David Havelock in a doubles and the Bourne paid managed to beat the Parun/Knight pairing in a lively and hard-fought match . The tennis equipment specialists , Head , had brought some racquets and accessories along and had also set up a ‘ speed-gun ’ to record service speeds . Duncan Knight , having set the target speed at 110 m.p.h. , was closely followed by Tony Marti at 105 m.p.h. , but Marcus Robinson also clocked up 105 m.p.h. so a ‘ play-off ’ was arranged . Marti made 103 m.p.h. this time and Robinson just failed to beat it at 102 m.p.h. , leaving the large crowd breathless !
Idiom: see stars (used idiomatically: yes)
While less than a mile away , as the moon came out again from behind clouds , it shone through a window into a cage where an old eagle perched and its light fell across her head and one of her wings . It seemed to fill her plumage with its cold light as her body shivered for a moment , her head trembled and her eyes , which had been half closed , slowly opened . She stared out of the window and saw the stars and a bright moon . And near by she heard the howling of the wolves . For a moment that might have lasted hours she seemed to see herself , old and weak , and knew that now she could be free and the burden of life leave her wings for ever .
Idiom: taste blood (used idiomatically: yes)
It wo n't break . There 's a red smear on the window . I can taste blood running down the back of my throat , then my arms are grabbed and everything just spins all colours and then black . My fingers do n't work too well . They all wrapped up in white bandage stuff .