Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: make the cut (used idiomatically: no)
If only that were true . She asked for some answers to specific points . She said that large cuts were made in regional selective assistance in the early 1980s . The RSA scheme expenditure increased during the 1980s from £ 86 million in 1980 - 81 to £ 177 million in 1989 - 90 . The hon . Lady was probably referring to cuts in regional development grants , which reflected a move away from automatic grants which went into loss - making nationalised industries .
Idiom: down in the mouth (used idiomatically: yes)
Why do you always look so sullen , fellow ? Gosh ! Jesus ai n't arf depressed at seeing his children down in the mouth , me deario!’ I kept my eyes on the screen . I never look sullen .
Idiom: go to the wall (used idiomatically: no)
' Jesus Christ , ' he breathed , momentarily forgetting Mary 's presence . ' Sorry Mary , ' he apologised , ' but that 's the biggest salmon I have ever seen . ' He went to the far kitchen wall and took down a large hanging scales . ' You will find it 's just over fifty pounds , ' chirped Mary , as he hung the scales on a large nail hammered into one of the exposed beams . Using both hands , Sid hoisted the fish up towards the scales .
Idiom: beg the question (used idiomatically: yes)
Some schools saw the development of study skills in a similar fashion , perceiving skills as a prerequisite for satisfactory engagement with subject content or learning experiences . Some change is perceived as being effected within the curriculum itself , however conceived , as in the case of the introduction of new subjects to the timetable . However , to distinguish changes perceived in this way from extra - curricular or infrastructural developments begs the question of what constitutes " the curriculum " in the first place . For the teacher who favours the process model , a development like study skills or reading for leisure would hardly be seen as extra to the curriculum , and for some , even the enhancement of the physical environment can not be divorced from those learning experiences in which education consists : that is to say , " the medium is the message " ( McLuhan cited in Postman and Weingarter , 1971 ) . For others , the medium is most certainly not the message , and the curriculum is more narrowly defined as that collection of bodies of knowledge which make up the subjects on the school timetable .
Idiom: to the letter (used idiomatically: yes)
But I am sure your own good sense will tell you that it is hardly practical nor proper for a girl as young as you still are to run a house alone without a companion of any sort . We shall come south as soon as possible and review the situation and you must prepare your mind for returning with us until some suitable person can be found to share Bishopstow with you . ' Alexandra had gone for a long walk before replying to this letter . Indeed , she walked so far and so long that she was too tired to write anything at all upon her return and did not in fact send a reply until the following day . She wrote to her father alone .
Idiom: once and for all (used idiomatically: yes)
Joseph Stepper 's ‘ Wife’ is one of the maddest ragga records ever made , as raw as a dinner that 's still walking around . Buju Banton , one of the top ragga MCs of the age , turns his hand to the cheery if slight subject of the bogle , a dance that 's bigger than Biggles in Jamaica . Cutty Ranks ' ‘ Who Say Me Done’ is Cutty providing once and for all that he 's not just a one - year wonder , with that perfect voice ruling a wild ragga tune laden with samples from a certain 1969 reggae classic . It 's been a reggae smash for weeks on end but no - one in the pop world has noticed yet . I demand that this man gets a major deal now .
Idiom: make a splash (used idiomatically: no)
Wycliffe set out along the road which was no more than a lane following the course of a shallow valley . There were fields on either side with occasional stands of pine trees scattered unpredictably over the landscape . In the hedges bluebells , red campions and white ramsons made patriotic splashes of colour . Not a single vehicle . Molly Pearce , the helpful spinster with her eye on Maurice ; she fitted so exactly that Wycliffe could scarcely believe his luck .
Idiom: one of those days (used idiomatically: yes)
But Ferreira had just been too good . Only one break of serve decided each set , but in reality there was a chasm between them in ability . ‘ It was one of those days when it seemed like I had to climb a mountain . He was really playing great tennis,’ McEnroe conceded , ‘ I did n't realise he moved as well as he did . He puts a lot of pace on the ball , especially with his forehand , and he 's able to back it up with a volley .
Idiom: steal the show (used idiomatically: yes)
Park , in trouble at 10–2 , recovered through a third wicket stand of 65 between Phil James and Martin Smith , who made 53 . But another slump put paid to their victory chances and an unbroken ninth wicket stand between David Smith ( 27 not out ) and Evans ( 15 not out ) left them on 146–8 . Young Swift stole the show with his medium pacers that had Formby on the rack . Swift ended with fine figures of 5–16 and , aided by Shukla 's spell of 4–49 , the home team crashed to 95 . The total presented few problems to Southport , with Jamie Butler 's unbeaten 70 and Malcolm Swift 's 28 not out guiding them home in 21 overs .
Idiom: tough as old boots (used idiomatically: yes)
And he knew how much I needed him to wind up the case . And he knew I know he knew that too . But he also knew I have a hard bitten , tough as old boots , ice cool and unemotional image to keep up . He knew all this and he knew I knew it . Barry and me had an almost mystical rapport when it came to stuff like this .
Idiom: cross my heart (used idiomatically: yes)
It meant nothing to Meredith . Still , he shook hands with the stranger as though they were old acquaintances . He was glad of the distraction , having earlier received a wire from Hilary who , at the last minute and in spite of cross - my - heart - and - hope - to - die promises , found it impossible , after all , to come down from London for the first night of Peter Pan . Something had cropped up , work - wise , something wildly important . ‘ I recognised you from your photograph in front of the theatre,’ the man said .
Idiom: jack of all trades (used idiomatically: no)
Obviously , in an ideal world you 'd have a different spanner for every nut , but for the time being a couple of adjustable spanners will come in very handy ( you need two because often you will have to grip a nut as well as a bolt ) . Choose one small and one medium spanner , to cope with a wide range of nut and bolt sizes . A pair of pliers : Pliers are a real jack - of - all - trades tool — they 'll grip all sorts of things you may be trying to undo or tighten up , bend things like stiff wire or metal sheet , and crimp wires together if you 're doing any electrical work . Choose a pair of combination pliers with fine and coarse serrated jaws and a wire cutter near the pivot point ; plastic hand grips make them more comfortable to use , and also provide protection against the risk of shock during electrical jobs . A filling knife : Lots of simple repair jobs around the house involve the use of filler of one kind or another — patching cracks in plasterwork , filling holes and defects in wood , replacing old putty in window frames and so on .
Idiom: stake a claim (used idiomatically: yes)
According to director Millard F. Rogers , Jr. , ' We made a list of all our named galleries , figured out what else could be named , and attached a sum to each ' . The sales approach , one adopted by many American museums , worked like a charm . Seduced by the promise of an appellation in perpetuity , donors quickly committed $ 17 million , staking claims to named galleries and lecture halls , named gardens , pools , plazas , and staircases , even to a restaurant entrance and loading dock . ( The parking lot is not spoken for . ) Trustee Bradford Eastman Phillips , retired president of Totes rain gear company and a member of the $ 1 million - plus club , took title to the Great Hall , which is henceforth known as the Phillips Hall .
Idiom: make history (used idiomatically: yes)
This is unfortunate , because Europe is in the process of making history .
Idiom: rank and file (used idiomatically: yes)
An alternative view was expressed that the NRC were under the direct influence of the Home Office , thus undermining any form of independence previously enjoyed by Chief Constables ( Scraton , 1985a ) . The notion of police audiences provides a useful basis on which to explain why this policy was adopted . Taking the influence of occupational audiences first , it is reasonable to assume that rank - and - file preference would be to avoid ‘ another Saltley’ . Senior ACPO members , notably its president Charles McLachlan , the Chief Constable of the Nottinghamshire Constabulary , also prioritised the right to work over the right to picket . Therefore , there was strong pressure on chief constables to adopt a hard - line approach from within their own institution .
Idiom: for the time being (used idiomatically: yes)
No news at all of him , I 'm afraid.’ He stood and stretched . ‘ Anyway , let 's forget it for the time being . I 'm for a walk before turning in . Coming?’
Idiom: in the can (used idiomatically: yes)
Dot did n't have a milk - mug but the teacher lent her one . The dinners came by van in metal tins . The milk came in a can and the teacher shared it out with a ladle . Certain children , whose names were on a list , were called up once a day to be given yellow capsules which had to be swallowed in front of the teacher . Dot was among them .
Idiom: in the sticks (used idiomatically: yes)
Everything is a conspiracy to deny that one is actually on a boat . They are nought but floating cafeterias and car parks — floatels . The only visible wood is in the cocktail sticks , decking is metal plating and cups are plastic . The curtains —drapes — in the latest Hebridean ferries are floor to ceiling with tie - backs and the carpets are wall to wall . On really wet stormy days panels of dog - eared hardboard are flung on top of the carpeting at doorways .
Idiom: wipe someone's eye (used idiomatically: yes)
Gloria blinked . ‘ That coat did n't have no luck left in it after all , did it?’ Dot gave her the violet - patterned hanky that used to belong to Henrietta Forbes - Read to wipe her eyes . ‘ What are we going to do?’ said Dot . If they stopped visiting the hospital every day , there would n't be anything left in life except a gaping crater of nothingness and broken bricks .
Idiom: in the short run (used idiomatically: yes)
Last year 's attempts by the BJP to build a Hindu temple on the disputed site of a mosque in Ayodhya sparked off murderous riots across the nation . Indira Gandhi 's assassination was itself an act of revenge by her Sikh bodyguards , after hundreds of Sikhs were killed during the clearing of extremists from their Golden Temple in Amritsar . That is why , in the short run , it matters enormously who was responsible for Mr Gandhi 's assassination . If , as the government 's first reports suggested , the blame lies with disaffected Tamils , so much the better — the Indian masses care little about the problems of Tamil separatism in Sri Lanka . Heaven forbid that Sikhs or Muslims are to blame .
Idiom: on the trot (used idiomatically: yes)
The pitch will be in use from 10 am to 4 pm , which could force one hockey semi - final to be staged as late as 4–30pm , or one or both to go elsewhere . Holywood have already used the Valley synthetic pitch twice during their run to the semi - finals , and may consider going there again , or even to the new pitch at Jordanstown . But there is little likelihood of them giving home advantage to Garvey who have gone 32 games without defeat in the competition and need to win it for a record sixth time on the trot to reach Europe next year . Instonians will be delighted at coming out of the hat first against Leinster kingpins Avoca at home , but now will have to join Holywood in having talks with competition organiser Brian Hanna . Strain eases
Idiom: out of the blue (used idiomatically: yes)
I always fall off while I 'm waiting for you.’ ‘ I liked the coffee tonight,’ he said , not allowing that it was the same instant coffee as ever , and to deserve the goodness she determined to go up to Soho tomorrow for some beautiful fresh espresso beans . Then she swore out of the blue and said , ‘ The truth is , you know , I suddenly hope Stephen does n't come again . Not unless he 's more manageable . He 's upsetting .
Idiom: out of your mind (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ Yes , that 's it,’ he exclaimed , confirming this view . ‘ You wrote an article about Eliot in a feminist magazine I picked up in Blackwell 's . All about how he was a bit of a shit , and you could n't get it out of your mind while you were reading The Waste Land . Very refreshing after listening to two terms of this death - of - the - author stuff.’ Loretta glowed with pleasure .
Idiom: tip the scales (used idiomatically: yes)
And history was made when the light - blues Toby Backhouse , a giant of a man , stepped onto the scales . He weighed in at sixteen stone , eleven pounds , which makes him the heaviest man ever to row in the boat race . Cambridge also have the lightest in their cox , Leigh Vice , she tipped the scales at just seven stone , six . In the past , Oxford have been the heavier but this year , on average , they 're nearly a stone a man lighter . Cambridge reckon the weight will be to their advantage although some experts reckon the light - blues may be too heavy .
Idiom: spring to mind (used idiomatically: no)
By LEWIS JONES SOME actors are consummate chameleons — Ian McKellen , for instance , or Harry Enfield — able in a blink to assume characters quite different from their own . There is a rival school , though , whose followers pursue successful careers by simply pretending to be themselves ( Roger Moore and Stephen Fry spring to mind ) . Most actors in soap operas are of the latter school . There was little difference between the performances JR and Sue Ellen gave on Wogan and those they gave on Dallas .
Idiom: out of order (used idiomatically: yes)
There is , however , a clever way in which matters otherwise irrelevant may be lightly introduced . This is by the method of comparison . For instance , if in constitutional law you are directed to write a note on the ‘ kangaroo ’(a method of curtailing discussion in the House of Commons ) , a discussion of the closure and guillotine ( two other methods of curtailing discussion ) would generally be out of order . But a comparison of the kangaroo with the closure and the guillotine would be admissible , and credit would be given for it . Many students begin an answer with a prologue .
Idiom: small print (used idiomatically: yes)
It is believed the TVS proposals involve straight forward bonus payments , the size of which will depend on whether the contractor retains its franchise , lasting 10 years , in 1992 . Mr Gatward refused to say whether it would involve them receiving a percentage of TVS 's future profits but indicated the amount of cash involved was not large enough to require shareholder approval . Other ITV stations will closely scrutinise the small print when further details are released in a few weeks . However , the approaches to its main executives only came out under aggressive press questioning of Mr Gatward after yesterday 's meeting which a handful of shareholders attended . Lasting only seven minutes , the meeting approved without any questions the deal which sees MTM president Mr Price , who received £ 63million for his MTM shares when TVS bought the company , leave without compensation .
Idiom: go to the wall (used idiomatically: yes)
Mid Hants Railway are making an impassioned plea to the public to support the steam attraction over the Easter . ‘ Ultimately , if we can not improve our profitability , the future looks bleak , ’ said the company 's managing director Ian Dean . ‘ It would be extremely sad to see this railway go to the wall , after so many volunteers have put in so much time and money to keep steam travel alive in Hampshire . ’ The cash crisis has been blamed on the recession and a breakdown in negotiations with the county council . Attendances on the Watercress Line 's 1991 Santa Specials flopped .
Idiom: in the driving seat (used idiomatically: no)
The receiver 's job is to safeguard the creditor 's security , and to sell sufficient of the charged assets to pay off the secured debt . Once this has been done the receiver 's job is finished and the remaining assets will revert to their owners or to less fortunate unsecured creditors . So long as the receiver is in the driving seat neither the owners nor the unsecured creditors can do much to remove him . Nor can they do anything about his methods of selling the assets which have been charged . This applies even if he seems to be selling them too quickly or too cheaply .
Idiom: neither here nor there (used idiomatically: yes)
And then I was in bed , with sheets riveted over my body up to my chin . I could see through slitted eyes many people who had the comfort of being three - dimensional , walking and talking words that I knew . The sense was neither here nor there , but oh the words came easy and I breathed again and ate again . White blurs passed around us and coloured pills stuck in my throat but , from time to time , I saw a man in a room on my own and he always asked me how I was feeling . Thank God he did n't know what I was sure of , that I felt everything as if through a mattress .
Idiom: fall short (used idiomatically: yes)
And then Colin Meek added 31 as Caernarfonshire took the final total for their innings to 209–8 . For Anglesey , newcomer Mohsin Chohan appearing against his former team mates pocketed 3–39 and Huw Redvers - Jones 3–61 . The island county offered a stubborn reply but were always chasing a target well out of their reach and finally fell short on 155 all out . Anthony Jones hit 36 and RAF Valley wicket keeper debutante Steve Lewis made a fighting 24 . LEADING LIGHT : Flintshire skipper Gareth Ryan took two wickets
Idiom: break new ground (used idiomatically: yes)
NEW TEACHERS Following the Society 's Examination in March , we are delighted to announce the names of six new teachers . Geographically they come from far and wide , which means that Medau is breaking new ground through their classes . They are : SPRING INTO ACTION
Idiom: on the spur of the moment (used idiomatically: yes)
The time UP is right , he had the opportunity and he had a good motive : with Sir Thomas out of the way , he could get the girl and her money . It must have seemed a heaven - sent opportunity with Mrs Figgis - Hewett shouting about breach of promise — if heaven sent is the word,’ added Rose hastily , ‘ and our Mr Pipkin shouting about his rights.’ ‘ How did Lord Wittisham happen to have atropine with him , if it was done on the spur of the moment?’ Rose frowned . ‘ Perhaps he planned it .
Idiom: twist someone's arm (used idiomatically: yes)
Do you wanna sweet ? Oh go on then ! Twist my arm ! I 'll have a one . Do you want some chocolate ?
Idiom: in bed with (used idiomatically: yes)
and Ooh . he was in bed with her and she and no she pushed her husband and of course he turned over naturally , he were n't , he did n't know and she pushed him again and he tied them up there , took all their jewellery off of them What ? No .
Idiom: spot on (used idiomatically: no)
THE ATMOSPHERE at La Cigale , if not double mega top , is relaxed . The Mondays amble on , Shaun in customary pose , his expensive jacket fully fastened ( contrary to a recent report it is hardly a ‘ mail order blouson’— when will people finally realise that the Mondays do n't wear Joe Bloggs ? ) , hands in pockets . His stage presence lately has been little more than a presence ; he seems happy to stand in the shadows , occupying his usual spot on the drum riser while the spotlight dances on Bez and Bez dances with Rowetta and Rowetta plays with her whip , a caricature bad girl playing with the bad boys . This audience is clearly on user - friendly terms with ‘ Pills ' N ' Thrills And Bellyaches’ , no one here needs convincing that the Mondays are a top rock experience , so there 's a cosy audience / band rapport which adds to the laid - back feel of the evening . Shaun 's lyrics must seem doubly obscure to the French , but they surely recognise character when they see it .
Idiom: by leaps and bounds (used idiomatically: yes)
Al . The triple alliance which I originally sought to conclude after the peace of Frankfurt and about which I had already sounded Vienna and St. Petersburg in September 1870 , was an alliance of the three Emperors with the further idea of bringing into it monarchical Italy . It was designed for the struggle which , as I feared , was before us ; between the two European tendencies which Napoleon I called Republican and Cossack , and which I , according to our present ideas , should designate on the one side as the system of order on a monarchical basis , and on the other as the social republic to the level of which the antimonarchical development is wo nt to sink , either slowly or by leaps and bounds , until the conditions thus created become intolerable , and the disappointed populace are ready for a violent return to monarchical institutions in a Caesarean form . THE TRIPLE ALLIANCE Bismarck , Reflections and Reminiscences ( 1898 )
Idiom: pull strings (used idiomatically: yes)
But the greatest coup of all was engineering publication of her side of the story of her failed marriage . With enormous skill she manipulated friends and assisted long-time royal watcher Andrew Morton to secure her ticket to freedom . No one can be in any doubt now that she was pulling the strings behind the royal side show that has preoccupied Britain for the past six months . But it was Morton 's book Diana : Her True Story that revealed the most damning evidence against Charles . Again and again the book got across Diana 's point of view that behind the hallowed institution of the monarchy exists a family incapable of accepting outsiders .
Idiom: rock bottom (used idiomatically: yes)
Homebuyers breathe life into dead season Liz Dolan HOMEBUYERS are flocking to take advantage of cheap mortgages and rock - bottom property prices , says Harry Hill , boss of estate agents Hambro Countrywide . In a traditionally dead time of the year for the housing market , Hambros has been inundated with buyers . ' December , which should have been awful , was almost hectic in some places , ' Hill says .
Idiom: dead wood (used idiomatically: yes)
The monk , nun or vicar could , for example , be described as a more involved member than the old lady who attends Matins each Sunday ; she , in turn , is more involved than those who go to church only at Christmas and Easter ; and they are probably more committed than the sailor who , when he fills out C of E on a form , is more likely to be making a cultural than a religious statement . Thirdly , even within a particular denomination , the official figures may not be strictly comparable over time . Clergy at one time might , for example , claim as many members as possible , forgetting , perhaps , to remove from the list those who have died or moved to another parish ; a subsequent introduction of ‘ potential giving’ or per capita assessment for a maintenance -of - ministry - fund could result in their rapidly removing any ‘ dead wood’in order to reduce the costly membership figures to an absolute minimum . Cross - tabulations There will also be an interest in breaking down the numbers according to such familiar variables as age , sex and socio - economic status , and there will be a curiosity about whether ( and , if so , how ) religious affiliation or observance correlates with other kinds of behaviour .
Idiom: in your face (used idiomatically: no)
Carl ' fat - faced bastard with glasses ' Puttnam William ' Bob Mortimer lookalike ' Potter Mike ' fishknife - in - your - face ' Dunphy LIVE INSPIRAL CARPETS