Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: one-horse race (used idiomatically: yes)
MARTIN O'NEILL scored the Nottingham Forest goal to spoil Ossie Ardiles ' debut in English football more than 14 years ago . Tomorrow , on a Buckinghamshire industrial estate , the pair renew hostilities with Ardiles fighting to protect his credibility and O'Neill 's managerial aptitude already drawing comparisons with his mentor , Brian Clough . O'Neill 's Wycombe Wanderers are making such a one - horse race of the Vauxhall Conference that West Bromwich Albion , latest exponents of Ardiles ' beloved ‘ diamond’ formation , will warily arrive at Adams Park . And less than two years after Woking sent Brian Talbot to the Job Centre , Albion 's Cup mettle will be subjected to nationwide scrutiny by Sky cameras . Hot
Idiom: lose face (used idiomatically: yes)
But the balance is a delicate one , for even the golfer , the competitor and the staff member may become ‘ caught up’ and absorbed in the thing itself and enhancement of reputation may at least temporarily be held in abeyance . The implications of this peculiar kind of vested interest , interest in one 's public image , for drama are probably obvious — the participant who wants to be seen as a good actor , for example . For others it may be the opposite problem , that doing drama is ‘ a bit silly’ , a childish game , and that to take part is to ‘ lose face’ . Sometimes the substance of drama seems to lower one 's prestige in the eyes of others — for instance , being in role as a ‘ loser’ . It often happens that young children find it enormously difficult to ‘ surrender power’ .
Idiom: in the hole (used idiomatically: yes)
' Listen , ' said Alexandra . They were listening already . Helen , never taking her eyes off Alexandra , craned sideways so that she could wind a finger round and round in a hole in her black stocking . ' This table , ' said Alexandra , ' Is a log cabin . Those chairs are a forest where a lion lives .
Idiom: sit tight (used idiomatically: yes)
Also suffering was Sir Derek Alun - Jones , chairman of Ferranti International Signal , the troubled electronics company . Trustees representing substantial Ferranti family interests wrote to Sir Derek asking for the board to be replaced or supplemented by new directors . Sir Derek , however , sat tight , believing that he should not be blamed for the £ 215 m fraud perpetrated against the company . The fraud by International Signal and Control , the American defence company which Ferranti bought two years ago , was not revealed in the audit carried out when Ferranti made the acquisition . Ferranti this week received the report it commissioned from accountants Coopers & Lybrand on the alleged fraud .
Idiom: up to no good (used idiomatically: yes)
They ate what was in front of them . While it was hot . ‘ She does n't get out much,’ said Shirley flatly : a statement at once accurate and wonderfully , gloriously misleading : ‘ she does n't get out much ’ , an acceptable phrase , a dull little coin , an everyday coin , suggesting a mild , an ordinary , a commonplace disinclination , for in Northam ‘ getting out’was in many circles regarded as suspect , as improper , as leading to no good ( those making merry in Breasbrough , for example , were undoubtedly up to no good)— a freak tolerated in the young , though with much grumbling , but considered dissolute , wayward , against nature in their elders . ‘ She does n't get out much ’ , a phrase that Shirley had learned to use of her mother to forestall enquiry , impertinence , sympathy : a middle - aged phrase that she heard in her own voice as parody — indeed , she had noticed that when ‘ the family’ gathered together all of them spoke in parodies of clichés , and some of them knew quite well that they were doing it . Dora knew , Cliff knew , Fred knew .
Idiom: left and right (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ On one bank there is the remnant of Stalinism in the form of President Ceausescu , and on the other , at least in terms of ultra - liberal rhetoric , is Mrs Thatcher . Yet at the same time the broad mainstream is flowing by . Of course , there is a left and right side to that stream , but I think it is the left side of the stream which is broadening.’ Mr Kinnock , who met opposition fugures in East Berlin last week over a working breakfast , claims the reform movement in Eastern Europe represents a triumph for European social democracy , not Thatcherism . ‘ This idea that the flame of freedom in the East was ignited in Conservative Central Office is just poppycock .
Idiom: under fire (used idiomatically: yes)
Former England paceman , Mike Hendrick , has defended Nottinghamshire 's decision to sack four of their most senior players . In a speech to the club 's annual general meeting , Hendrick , who took over from John Birch as Notts ' team manager midway through last season , says the county 's decision to dismiss Chris Broad , Eddie Hemmings , Kevin Cooper and Kevin Saxelby was taken in the interests of progress . Officials came under fire at the meeting from disgruntled members who expressed concern about the club 's prospects . But Hendrick insisted : ‘ We are not a rest home . This club has some very talented young players and it would be terrible to frustrate them.’
Idiom: fall into place (used idiomatically: yes)
Because we know more today about the sources of infection and pollution , about quarantine an isolation , hygiene and preventive medicine , we can watch Israel 's obedience actually fulfilling God 's promise to take away their sickness ( Exodus 23:15 ) . An this note by magic , but by the natural working of principles we now , at least in part , can understand . Many of the laws which seem strangest to us fall into place , too , when we look at them in relation to the contemporary religions of Egypt and Canaan . Against this dark backcloth the morality and religion of Israel shines like a star . Only God himself can account for it .
Idiom: wear the trousers (used idiomatically: yes)
Portraying himself as political outsider , Perot had become a beneficiary of the current anti - incumbent mood of the electorate , and had received some impressive opinion poll ratings . Increasingly , however , his policies and personality had been subjected to close scrutiny by both the media and the Republican Party , causing him to complain that the latter was pursuing a smear campaign against him [ see p. 38953 ] . His autocratic style , his disapproval of whole social groups ( such as adulterers and homosexuals ) , and the eccentricity of some of his views —he was known to dislike men with beards and women who wore trousers —all served to dent his early showing in the polls . Perot was also damaged by his own political naïveté , as for example on July 12 when he addressed the annual convention of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People —his first major campaign appearance before a black audience —and offended many in the audience by the insensitivity of his remarks , which included references to " you people " . With Perot 's standing in the polls declining sharply , his campaign co - manager , Edward J. Rollins , resigned on July 15 .
Idiom: go straight (used idiomatically: yes)
The company is already working on MS - DOS 7 , tentatively planned for launch in the middle of 1994 . This will see some of the greatest changes made to DOS yet . Instead of having to go through the hoary old DOS prompt when you boot up , you 'll go straight into Windows . It will be a 32-bit operating system — DOS is presently limited to 16 bits — and will have the networking elements from Windows for Workgroups thrown in . Microsoft recognizes compatibility with previous versions of DOS is crucial , so you 'll be able to run your favourite DOS applications from under Windows .
Idiom: carry the can (used idiomatically: yes)
' We only have a four - gallon tank , ' explained Mr Simon , an independent financial advisor , of Eglinton Avenue , who bought the car in November specially to enter the challenge . Being something of a gas guzzler , averaging only 27mpg , the Morgan had to be topped up more regularly than any other vehicle in the run . But they did carry an extra two - gallon can , and had to resort to it three times . ' The worst time was driving through the night as we approached Nice at 3 am . There were three filling stations side by side which could only be used with French credit cards , ' said Mr Brown , a 48-year - old college lecturer , of Craven Vale .
Idiom: ride high (used idiomatically: yes)
At each stage Mr Kohl has followed his instincts , taken his chances — and won . At each stage the opposition Social Democrats , both in East and West Germany , have hesitated — and lost . But if Mr Kohl is now riding high , East German expectations are riding higher . Not disappointing them will tax even his instincts . To make swifter unity on West German terms more attractive to East Germans , Mr Kohl has all but promised that their savings will be converted , over time , from Monopoly - money Ostmarks into rock - ribbed D - marks at the ridiculously unrealistic rate of 1:1 .
Idiom: walk of life (used idiomatically: yes)
Dialogue is treated as an actual record of what happened , to be carefully distinguished from the observers ' reactions and speculations . Finally , he makes considerable use of ‘ natural experiments’ , the sociological , or in this case literary , device , of studying those natural contrasts which crop up from time to time . Two comparisons are central here , the first being those incongruous occasions , of which the book is full , when characters that he has previously encountered in quite disparate walks of life , happen to meet . A further , equally powerful device , is that of the Second World War . Prior to this , he has introduced a series of characters from a great range of settings .
Idiom: different strokes for different folks (used idiomatically: yes)
Its ma rule of thumb that if a wean 's auld enough tae ask fur titty then he 's too auld tae get but then — Murdo : Different strokes for different folks . Isabel : Not wrong jist —
Idiom: in the hole (used idiomatically: yes)
Yes . No , no , I mean Down in the hole . er we do n't have to po er , you see , it 's to do with school anyway , but they 're giving them a packed lunch so I believe . But where are the new potatoes ?
Idiom: game on (used idiomatically: yes)
Maskell chat STING two changes in the swindon team to play at Portsmouth tomorrow Paul Bodin is back in the number three shirt … and Maskell returns to lead the attack both were rested for the cup game on Tuesday … on current form Swindon are stronger … Pompey have only been beaten once at home this season that was by West Ham …
Idiom: through thick and thin (used idiomatically: yes)
We know , in ICI , which of our competitors ' leaders look on loss of market share as a personal affront and will react accordingly , and we know which will always seek technical excellence regardless of commercial application . We know who likes to ‘ do the deal’ himself and who delegates such matters . We know who , because of his background and upbringing in a particular business , will stick with it through thick and thin despite losses . The leader still has the same weaknesses and strengths as any other man and it is as well to study and know them . Nowhere is this more obvious than when looking at the competitive reactions to the acquisition of other companies .
Idiom: prodigal son (used idiomatically: yes)
If they are placed in secondary roles , or it is assumed that women 's identity is to be found in mothering , then the fact of their presence reinforces a certain understanding of the feminine . The concretion conveys a subtle message to us at a subconscious level . The parable of the prodigal son conveys at a conscious level a message about the need for forgiveness and acceptance . But at another level we come to learn that God is to be compared to a good father ( not a mother ) who divides his property between two sons ( not daughters ) . The concretion is potent .
Idiom: out of the blue (used idiomatically: yes)
The latest development , according to his secretary , was that he was out of the country . ‘ He 's gone to Holland on business for a few days.’ And then , out of the blue , as she was getting ready for bed on the evening before Kirsty was due to go off on holiday , Mrs Aitken tapped on Shiona 's bedroom door . ‘ There 's a call for you , Miss Fergusson . It 's Mr MacKay.’
Idiom: rough and ready (used idiomatically: yes)
Candidates either wrote to the Colonial Office or to an influential relative , or , not infrequently , walked in off the street . Callers from the street were dealt with by a doorkeeper who either encouraged or discouraged them , depending on how they looked , and entered his impressions in an official diary : ‘ not quite a gentleman … — but would do well for Gold Coast’ was a typical entry of 1899 . Selection procedures in general were rough and ready , perhaps because selection was scarcely the mot juste : oversupply of suitable candidates was not a problem for the Colonial Service until the 1930s , when years of misleading propaganda about difficulty of entry , combined with economic depression , had done their work . Though delighting to read in Blackwood 's of the exploits of imperial heroes , the educated British public showed little personal inclination for service in the assorted white men 's graves which made up the tropical dependencies . All this was to change with the advent of Sir Ralph Furse , who from 1919 to 1948 was in sole charge of recruitment for the Colonial Service .
Idiom: jump on the bandwagon (used idiomatically: yes)
Subject : Cuando est ? ? Just a little point of interest , how many people are on this thing nowadays ? I 've only been on since I read that thing in the square ball , and I suppose loads must have done the same as me and jumped on the bandwagon . Sean From :
Idiom: in the short run (used idiomatically: yes)
But his response was merely to press for a greater supply of British goods to those colonies to reduce their sterling balances . The broader questions of Britain 's role as a capital exporter , and the role ( economic and political ) of the City linked to the status of the pound , are all neglected . Despite its important success in managing the balance of payments in the short run , this must count as a significant failure of policy for a democratic socialist government . E. H. H. GREEN University of Reading The Strange Death of Tory England
Idiom: turn the corner (used idiomatically: yes)
Richards took the new ball — which did not shoot — and Ellison and Thomas played quite contentedly for two hours , putting on 72 for the last wicket , a new England record in the West Indies , taking the total to 315 . This left West Indies to make 93 , and early on the fifth morning they duly got there , having lost three wickets to Emburey and Edmonds , both of whom bowled well throughout . The margin was narrower than before ; were England turning the corner ? At the end of the second day of the Barbados Test , it seemed that perhaps they had . After Gower won the toss and put them in , West Indies had a good first day as Haynes made a patient 84 and Richardson his second successive century ; 269 for 2 at the close reflected the lack of life that Botham and Thomas had been able to extract from the pitch and the catches that had gone .
Idiom: cool your heels (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ Well , it ca n't be very secure , can it ? From what I understood , the men are laid off more often than they are employed . Which means that you have plenty of time to cool your heels … and fish.’ There was no reason , of course , why a strong - bodied man like Rourke Deveraugh should be out of work for more than a day or so . She could think of all manner of jobs that he would be capable of doing … hewing rocks , digging for Siberian salt …
Idiom: behind bars (used idiomatically: yes)
There was no remorse , not one admission and no protestations of innocence . His only reaction at being accused of murder was to spit rice over the sergeant reading the charge . Once behind bars Vernage was desperate to escape . He turned up for a remand hearing at Redbridge court covered in baby oil to make it difficult for warders to grab hold of him . Police even found he had hidden a piece of metal , which they believe he planned to file into a knife , hidden in the sole of his shoe .
Idiom: go with the flow (used idiomatically: yes)
Yeah and she yeah . However , it will pay you to curb your famous temper . The new rules will actually work in your favour , so go with the flow . Oh well I think I have a pretty good yeah , that 's pretty good this morning that . Yes flow along .
Idiom: bring up the rear (used idiomatically: yes)
The two following tenders peeled off to left and right and the three vehicles , sirens whooping , fanned out to cover the entire frontage of the building . They had no sooner skidded to a halt , than the crews had the hoses run out and were training their jets on the leaping flames . The two rigs bringing up the rear , swung round in a complete circle , and reversed to sit side by side some thirty yards from the front door . This was as near as they dared to approach to avoid the risk of fire damage to the vehicles . Leaping from the cabs , Rocky and his fellow trucker ran to the back of their rigs and threw open the rear doors .
Idiom: take root (used idiomatically: yes)
Analogy : Brezhnev , 1968–1982 Problems to be tackled by additional restructuring and ‘ administrative’ reforms ( some on the East German or Czechoslovak pattern ) , greater levels of investment in yet more priority areas , exhortation and other ad hoc remedies ; a blind eye to the ‘ second economy’rather than a policy for it ; consensual pattern of decision - making maintained and élite interests nurtured . Consequence : The odd success as the more sensible reforms of the 1970s take root , but nothing sufficient to arrest the gradual listing of the economy ; continued demoralisation of the workforce , but little threat to stability as élite maintains its cohesion against society ; however , minority factions in élite becoming more forceful in demanding strategy versus drift . Prospects : Possible as a short - term measure , but increasingly implausible for the longer term as the cracks become wider and resources for papering them over become more scarce . Evolutionary Change — the Coalition of Conservatives and De - centralisers
Idiom: out of the question (used idiomatically: yes)
Heart attack victim Jeff , 72 , planned his send off down to the last detail . He consulted with the crematorium to find out that his 15-stone frame would leave 4lbs of ashes . Jeff , who invented ICI 's first heart drug , checked with rocket scientist mates who told him that one huge rocket was out of the question . He decided the best way was to divide his remains into 28 smaller launches . Jeff even carried out trial runs using rockets stuffed with coal dust .
Idiom: go to town (used idiomatically: no)
The newcomer 's face was green . He looked as if he was about to be sick . ' Will you go down to the town , to the nearest phone box and get on to the station ? Just tell them what you 've seen . They 'll do the rest .
Idiom: rule of thumb (used idiomatically: yes)
Despite their hefty involvement with Doctor Who for over two years neither Raymond Cusick nor Barry Newbery designed the TARDIS . That task fell to Polish - born Designer Peter Brachaki . The interior design of the TARDIS proved to be a text - book illustration of Cusick 's rule - of - thumb about seeking impressions as a guide to inspiration . In Coburn 's original script , which became the pilot episode , operation of the ship was clearly the sole preserve of the Doctor . Therefore , reasoned Brachaki , a one - man operated craft would need all its controls close together and within easy reach of its solo pilot .
Idiom: off the hook (used idiomatically: yes)
At once , the phone sounded again . This time it was Tracey . ‘ Looks like you 're off the hook , Loretta,’ he began . ‘ They 've got him.’ ‘ I know,’ said Loretta .
Idiom: pour cold water on (used idiomatically: yes)
Miss Pears is best bar none NIC NORTH LITTLE Sophie Johnson starred as a soap queen yesterday — and poured cold water on the show . Sophie 's angelic looks had won her the 1992 Miss Pears title in the face of 20,000 challengers . But the three - year - old celebrity whose picture will now appear on the soap firm 's cartons kept her excitement under wraps .
Idiom: at the coalface (used idiomatically: yes)
Yes I do n't , I do n't mind worked out , but engineered gives a very Regarding paragraph nine Chairman , no doubt you , you would tell us if there 's been a response on this , because this does seem a useless step forward er , to increase the number of people at the coalface as it were , and self - financing , and no doubt we shall hear in due course about this . The Authority are pushing as much as they can on the scheme and there 's been no response to yesterday . It 's a crazy situation , because when Clarke was the Home Secretary , and he made a , a speech in parliament , we adjourned a meeting of the Authority to listen to him speaking , now we 'd already made applications er , to increase the number complete officers by the , getting rid of the superintendents , and Clarke came out with what we 'd said , yes , do that , but the Home Office are still saying no you ca n't .
Idiom: do the trick (used idiomatically: no)
Even my father was n't too pleased about continually having to clean his porch roof , which our residents had covered in droppings and other nest debris . Eventually he decided to give them their marching orders , and one spring , just before the birds were due to arrive , he nailed wire netting and a large dustbin bag along the eaves to stop them building their nests in the usual place . This did the trick , of course , but the birds simply moved in next door , which did n't make the neighbours too happy . I was sad to see the martins go , even though they had often been very noisy at night and kept me awake . Perhaps they are pests to a lot of people , but we did n't see too many flies around our estate during the hot summer , so they had their uses .
Idiom: change hands (used idiomatically: yes)
And sometimes horses are very possessive of those who look after them , and may actually be upset , and in rare cases quite distressed , if their owner should feed or touch another horse in their presence . Hamar was a highly trained imported showhorse , who spent much of his life in unnatural and stressful conditions . As an aged horse he changed hands a number of times . His last owner found he suffered from many anxiety - induced health problems including cribbing , psychosomatic skin conditions , and chronic colic ; and also behavioural problems including tongue over the bit , reluctance to eat , fear of being in a large yard or paddock , inability to walk , trot , or canter properly , and sheer terror if he thought he had done something wrong ! However , after a year or so he had recovered from all his problems except cribbing and an occasional bout of colic .
Idiom: spot on (used idiomatically: yes)
But I have found that it is often the factor in a player 's style which , with a little bit of work , can yield the most impressive results . For instance , most players will admit to taking to tablature in a very big way ; it 's easy to decipher and you can play something very like the part in question almost immediately . But the one damning aspect of tab is that unless you know the solo , riff or whatever really well , getting the exact timing spot on , without being able to decipher rhythmic notation , is a bridge too far . And no matter how accurate the notes are , if the rhythm is n't happening , yer stuffed ! Rhythm gives your playing focus .
Idiom: know the ropes (used idiomatically: no)
Even in the light breeze a bigger sail would have made towing the Zodiac dangerously uncontrollable . One of the soldiers had come up on to the cabin top . ' You know ropes ? ' Trent asked . The man shrugged .