Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: pigs might fly (used idiomatically: yes)
Fuming , Paige tossed her head , realising that to point out his own behaviour might cause her more embarrassment than satisfaction . She took refuge in sarcasm . ‘ And pigs might fly!’ She gibed , and found her attention unwillingly caught by the efficient way he was preparing the ground . Every muscle - flexing movement was effortless .
Idiom: in bed with (used idiomatically: no)
Taff said sleepily as he stood up , then leaned over the side of the trench , his head resting on the grass . Before I could answer his questions he remarked slowly , ‘ You know , Boyo , I had a bloody good dream . I dreamt that I was in Cardiff and in bed with the wife . I was away from this fucking place for a while.’ Looking at his watch , he stood up , ‘ Great what you can do in an hour , Piper .
Idiom: in no uncertain terms (used idiomatically: yes)
Aggie 's husband was five years younger than her and about to retire that year . He had lit and extinguished the lamps of Bermondsey for over thirty years , and now , she confided to her friends in vexation , he was going to be under her feet . Florrie told her in no uncertain terms that she would have to get used to it . ‘ Yer lucky , Aggie . At least ' e 's a good - un .
Idiom: put down roots (used idiomatically: yes)
Two days of warm spring weather opened the flowers of forsythia bushes in the neglected garden behind Merrill 's flat , and she hummed as she cut long stems of the starry yellow blossom . Soon she would get down to work on the garden ; it would be something to do at the weekends . What better way to put down roots , and what more suitable time than in the spring ? After she had arranged the flowers in the brown pottery jug which stood on her office windowsill , she put the rest in the black glass vase in Luke 's room . She was lifting it into its accustomed place on the top of his bookcase when he came in .
Idiom: turn the tables (used idiomatically: yes)
He never troubled me again — in fact , he even used to say good morning to me on the way to school . Like gangs , bullies are not looking for a stand - up fight , but for a victim ; the best way to beat them is to give more trouble than they can handle . If it 's impossible to placate them or reason with them , if they insist on making your life a misery , if you ca n't get help from friends or a higher authority , then you must turn the tables on them — and fast . Make it absolutely clear , as I did , that you are prepared to fight back at any time of the day or night no matter how painful it may be ; and that you will keep on fighting until the day you finally beat them . If words alone are not enough , a good wallop may first be necessary .
Idiom: behind bars (used idiomatically: yes)
There was a moment of silence while Lisa took in this frankly astonishing piece of information . ‘ Why ever not?’ she queried , bewildered . ‘ Surely you 'd feel much safer with me locked behind bars?’ He did not smile at her wry humour . He laid his hands on the chair arms .
Idiom: go straight (used idiomatically: yes)
Indeed , the Spirit did not stay for anything , but went straight on , as to the end just ~ now desired , until besought by Scrooge to tarry for a moment .
Idiom: break new ground (used idiomatically: no)
Interim review now included by auditors Guinness , the international drinks business , has included an audit review from Price Waterhouse in its interim results statement for the six months to 30 June 1992 . Insurance group Guardian Royal Exchange broke new ground by publishing a review by its auditors , also Price Waterhouse , of the interim results for the first half of 1992 ( see ACCOUNTANCY , October , p 17 ) . The wording of the PW report to the Guinness directors is , as might be expected , almost identical with the one presented to the GRE directors . The Guinness interim report , which covers 12 pages , includes group p&l account , group balance sheet and group cash flow statement .
Idiom: kick up your heels (used idiomatically: yes)
He said : ‘ I wo n't say wish you were here since it rains incessantly and I am not a sadist . However , we contrive to have a very pleasant time . But perhaps you too are kicking up your heels elsewhere by now . If so , I hope all goes well . Do you know this lovely spot?’
Idiom: over the top (used idiomatically: yes)
She sat demurely on the edge of one of the room 's more nondescript - looking chairs , knowing that this Josie , whoever she might be , would be her key to success or failure over the next few hours and maybe even the coming days . So far , all that she knew of Josie was that she owned a big handbag . After about five minutes a middle - aged woman appeared in the doorway and , seeing Lucy , stopped and frowned at her over the top of her glasses . ‘ Are you Josie?’ Lucy said .
Idiom: tried and true (used idiomatically: yes)
Solid , rock like , you do n't move easily and you take things slowly but surely . These are good characteristics , but you need to loosen up a little . Look for the more creative solution — the tried and true do n't always bring the best results . Careful , detail - minded , you check everything at least once and probably twice . You may not have noticed , but you cause a lot of conflict .
Idiom: catch fire (used idiomatically: yes)
He is expected to reappear in court on Friday . Mattress blaze : Firemen were called to an unoccupied house in Patterson Avenue , Middlesbrough , yesterday when a mattress on the first floor caught fire . The blaze also damaged floorboards . BACK UP NORTH :
Idiom: square the circle (used idiomatically: yes)
Okay they had limited objectives . They were correcting the Vienna settlement . That 's in a way how you can perhaps square the circle . You can argue these wars were corrective . Erm And the other factor that that 's introduced as well is that the powers got into the habit of meeting in congresses .
Idiom: in the red (used idiomatically: yes)
A man with a white hat and brown shirt is behind a woman in red and is looking to the right
Idiom: set eyes on (used idiomatically: yes)
Varied winners in a century of competition Danny Wheeler THE first Essex Senior Cup final , in 1884 , saw Colchester beat Braintree 3–1 but the garrison town has never set eyes on Signor Fattorini 's masterpiece since . Many believe the U 's modern day attitude , copied by the county 's other Football League clubs , devalues the competition . The rules stipulate clubs must field the strongest team available , but the FA turns a blind eye as the top teams clearly do not do so .
Idiom: in the pink (used idiomatically: yes)
I 'm sorry , I 'll have to go through the refurbishing budgets with you later . ' Christina stood up . She was wearing a long white cotton skirt , flat shoes , and hand - knit cotton top in pale pink . He thought how fresh she looked . ' See you later , then .
Idiom: come clean (used idiomatically: yes)
( Since many farmers vote Socialist , this idea is less bland than it sounds . ) There could be a property tax . The imagination trembles at some of these ideas — will a profession 's ruling body really come clean about its members ' income?— but no suggestion , on this subject , should be dismissed out of hand . It ought to be possible to tell within the next few weeks whether the measures the government has introduced over the past year are delivering the hoped - for results . There is , in theory , no reason why the state should not collect a great deal more tax than it does .
Idiom: strike a chord (used idiomatically: yes)
You have to collect old papers and find the special places where they swap them in return for new toilet paper . For three rolls of old paper you get one new roll . ' Similar chords of pathos are struck in Kieslowski 's A Short Film About Love , where an adolescent voyeur becomes infatuated with an older woman living across the square . Spying on the woman and her lover from afar with his telescope , he disrupts their encounter by reporting a gas leak in the apartment . But when the gas board make their inspection , they check for the leak with a candle .
Idiom: get off the ground (used idiomatically: yes)
No lasting solutions will be found without decisive action based on a realistic appreciation of present circumstances and of their relationship to the future . Ironically a period of severe economic depression may be advantageous , in one sense at least . High structural unemployment makes alternative thinking about labour intensivity , for example more acceptable ; with less money available , small scale and community based schemes , using local resources and motivated by indigenous imagination stand far more chance of getting off the ground , provided they can obtain the right kind of encouragement and support . Europe does not have a free market economy in agricultural and other primary products . The essence of government intervention has been to limit and distort competition rather than to encourage it , to the detriment of the poorer areas .
Idiom: get the picture (used idiomatically: yes)
Is that from that shop ? Yes . We 've got this picture . We bought another one , but , back again because eh , it was , it was too . Mummy where 's her cream it 's not in her bedroom ?
Idiom: with a vengeance (used idiomatically: yes)
Bad harvests , meanwhile , had once again forced wheat up to famine prices , and the ‘ outbreak of peace’ after the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 was to herald what C. P. Hill has referred to as ‘ one of the grimmest periods in modern British History’ . The population of England and Wales was undergoing a further massive increase — nothing short of a fifty per cent rise in the years from 1801 to 1831 — and the effects of the recent Agricultural and Industrial Revolutions hardly needed a post - war depression to make matters even worse for the poor . Yet a depression there was , with a vengeance , as the labour market was flooded with returning soldiers and sailors and prices fell dramatically . The Government could scarcely have been more out of touch with the people at large , and was still , in any case , terrified that Jacobinism might even then give rise to a revolution at any moment . Keen above all to protect the interests of the country 's farmers , and abandoning the doctrine of laissez faire in a period of crisis , parliament moved with alacrity to pass the Corn Law of 1815 .
Idiom: from A to Z (used idiomatically: yes)
But I mean otherwise it 's got all the , all the good points in there , it 's a pity that councils do n't have these meaningful names But otherwise it 's basically I think it 's , it 's all there , all you 're trying to do at this stage is , is to give , your aim here is to get is to get firstly , first of all , to get it on the diary , on the picture editor 's diary for your picture , and also to get the basic information in so that somebody can write a few cards as an advance to say it is going to happen . So that mostly from A to Z . One last point which I you know you do n't actually need the wasted line and a bit here . Everyone knows the councils only work from eight forty - five
Idiom: on edge (used idiomatically: yes)
She did not want Reynolds troubled again . Urquhart polished his nose in silence for a few seconds . He was irritated , the chief inspector decided , by her obstinacy , and hovered on the edge of asking her again . But his pride did not allow it . He rose pensively , and a little unsteadily , from the table and disappeared out of sight behind the woven rush lampshade , the same tall shadow she recalled from Mills ' flat .
Idiom: make light of (used idiomatically: yes)
Scorn has been poured upon the excessive mourning practised by Victorians , to which even their children and servants were subjected ; but it should be recalled that the badge of mourning was like the tartan of a Highland clan : it symbolised solidarity . The family was at one in its grief , and grief shared was suffering alleviated . Abortive attempts in our time to shuffle off the whole experience and make light of its impact have only begun comparatively recently to attract the attention of psycho - analysts . Mourning can have a therapeutic function that we ignore at our peril . There is no doubt that family ties were knotted with great intensity ; indeed , well before the end of the century there was criticism of this intensity , directed chiefly against the dominant paterfamilias .
Idiom: take someone to the cleaners (used idiomatically: yes)
Top scorer , Craig Maskell banged the kick in for his 13th of the season . But that was it . Instead of taking Barnsley to the cleaners , it was Swindon who went in the washtub and were all but scrubbed out . One man saved them ; one man won them the game . That was keeper , Nicky Hammond .
Idiom: under the microscope (used idiomatically: yes)
Research , public inquiries and practice The issue of child abuse , or child protection as it is often now described ( Parton and Parton , 1989 ) , perhaps more than any other area of child care policy and practice has brought the activities of a variety of health and welfare professionals into considerable public , political and media focus in recent years . During the last 20 years well over 30 public inquiries have put the practice and decision making of social workers in particular under the microscope ( DHSS , 1982 ; Hallett , 1989 ) . In many respects the issue has provided the main vehicle for articulating a series of debates about how the state , via its social workers , responds to the needs of children more generally and intervenes in the private sphere of the family in particular(Parton , 1985 ; Frost , 1989 ) . In the late 1980s it has seemed that social workers and their agencies have been caught in a political crossfire between being criticized on the one hand for allowing some children to suffer unnecessarily , sometimes to the point of death , at the hands of their parent(s ) or guardian(s ) , and on the other hand of intervening unwarrantably into other families and removing their children inappropriately .
Idiom: catch a cold (used idiomatically: yes)
Although he returned to the School staff after the war , he was later compelled to spend some time in a sanatorium . He then came home , but was not allowed back to School for another year . He caught a bad cold and , thinking that the disease had returned , took his life . The news of his tragic death stunned everyone . He had been Form Master of 3A , and they wept at the announcement in Assembly next morning .
Idiom: on the wagon (used idiomatically: yes)
He was really nice when we met him , he lives a life of total pleasure . When he first came in I offered him a drink out of courtesy and I think he thought I was taking the Mick out of his drinking in the past . He said ‘ No thanks , I 'm on the wagon now lads’.’ Of course , George Best and The Wedding Present have precious little in common . Early on , Solowka and Gregory did their own bit of AWOLing but it was usually because of a Littlewoods Cup replay , not to escort a bevy of simpering temptresses in nylon flairs .
Idiom: keep the peace (used idiomatically: yes)
So that , when young gentlemen were on the rampage , the past — instead of being used as a stick with which to beat the deteriorated present — became the justification for taking a lenient view . The sequel , in which the young bloods of Derby and Oaks night received their rebuff , was that they were distracted from their other responsibilities by a four - day jury hearing which found them guilty of riotous proceedings , but not of riotous intent . Then , for four of the culprits there were whopping fines of £ 50 — which were paid immediately — plus even heftier sureties to keep the peace . The Times had no quarrel with this . These were people of means who could afford to foot the bill : no appeal to the fear of physical pain was needed here .
Idiom: go all the way (used idiomatically: no)
But she 's keen to point out that at her school you 'll learn to ride like a real cowboy and NOT like John Wayne . Western Riding is becoming more and more popular with horse lovers of all ages . But thanks to Sheila , now you do n't have to go all the way to Dodge City to win your spurs . And finally , a heartbroken goose is pining for her best friend , who 's disappeared from an animal santuary . In the wild , the pair would be natural enemies .
Idiom: turn something on its head (used idiomatically: yes)
Mr Takizaki believes in payment in cash , not kind . Most of Japan 's manufacturers distribute their products through separate wholesale companies . Keyence turns this convention on its head : not only does it subcontract manufacturing , but it has an in - house sales team that accounts for fully half its workforce . This is partly because Keyence 's complex technology requires expert attention . Direct contact with customers also brings benefits of its own .
Idiom: all things being equal (used idiomatically: yes)
Clear Mike Atherton , meanwhile , has been told he will be resuming his opening partnership with Graham Gooch — as long as his form warrants it . ‘ They 've told me the plan is that I should be opening , all things being equal,’ he explained . ‘ I am glad that has been made clear . ‘ I do n't mind where I go , but I prefer opening , and the main thing is that you know where you are.’
Idiom: high and low (used idiomatically: yes)
It was impressive during the day dispensing flares out both sides of the UH-1 . One can only imagine what it looks like at night . A Castle Air Force - based B-52 , a Travis - based C-141 , and a Beale TR-1 spyplane each made high and low speed passes over the field . Destefani won the Unlimited Gold in 1987 , had disappointing years in 1988 and 1989 , finished third in 1990 and a close second in 1991 . Is this the start of a winning streak for Destefani and his in - line powered Strega ?
Idiom: have been around (used idiomatically: no)
The latter attributed his removal to the ongoing disagreement within the government coalition about legislation to allow former owners to repossess or receive compensation for lands and property confiscated under communist rule [ see p. 37790 ] . Effective from Jan. 7 , the government devalued the forint by 15 per cent against convertible currencies ( US$ 1.00=F71.406 as at Jan. 7 , 1991 ) . The move was designed to boost exports to Western markets in order to combat inflation , which had been around 34 per cent in 1990 and was projected at up to 40 per cent in 1991 . MIDDLE EAST — ARAB WORLD PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS
Idiom: in the short run (used idiomatically: yes)
It follows that in the neo - classical model , firms will be willing to supply the full employment level of real income ( Y f ) at each price level — thus , the AS curve is vertical at Y f . This is illustrated in Fig . 12 which also shows an upward - sloping short - run AS curve . In the short - run , firms will temporarily reduce output if the price level falls and will temporarily produce in excess of the full employment level of output if prices are high enough to make this profitable . Comparing the Keynesian and neo - classical theories The intersection of the AD and AS curves shown in Fig . 13 illustrates a long - run equilibrium position in the neo - classical model .
Idiom: high and dry (used idiomatically: yes)
The Cheshire 12-year - old who tried to commit suicide told psychologists after said after the incident that she was still a chatline addict . ‘ Despite all the distress I would still go on,’ she said . And for the thousands of chatline users who will be left high and dry when their service shuts down in April , Dr Derek Milne predicts a further search for support . ‘ These people will find another ear,’ he says . ‘ As the old saying goes , help is where you find it.’
Idiom: economical with the truth (used idiomatically: yes)
He does not appear , however , to have grasped the management nettle or to have found a way of dealing with its stings . Criticism in this space during an inexorable slide this season has always been delivered with a heavy heart . But it has always produced two results : support from other fans who think Newcastle are n't half lucky and complete silence from the club which many fans also accuse of poor public relations except on one occasion when the assistant manager was economical with the truth . It is a sad matter , but delayed action will make it much sadder still . Hedge record :
Idiom: behind the scenes (used idiomatically: yes)
Voice over Keeping a quick - changing all action - show like Barnum up to the mark needs not only a completely dedicated cast of performers . It also needs a hardworking support team behind the scenes . And crucial to every step of the show , is the wardrobe . With 30 people in the cast and 19 in the orchestra ; that means a lot of work .
Idiom: in the long run (used idiomatically: yes)
Government and health ~ care alone accounted for almost 40 % of the net increment in employment in the entire economy from 1990 to 2008 . Fiscal weakness , a resetting of real - estate values , and lower consumption all point to the potential for long - term structural unemployment . One response is to assert that market outcomes always make everyone better off in the long run . But that is not supported by theory or experience . In the US , for example , while many goods and services are less expensive than they would be if the country were walled off from the global economy , we can not assume that these cost savings necessarily compensate for diminished employment opportunities .
Idiom: over the top (used idiomatically: yes)
BILLY HARDY retained the British bantamweight title against Brian Holmes in Sunderland last night , knocking out the Scottish challenger with an explosive assault in the first round . The pair had met two years ago when Hardy scored a convincing 10-round win in a non - title bout . But this time Hardy went straight on to the attack , putting Holmes on the canvas with a right over the top for an initial count of seven . Seconds later , Hardy landed a stunning left to stagger Holmes again for another count before he finished off his third defence of his crown after two minutes 40 seconds of the round , with a barrage of punches that left referee Larry O'Connell delivering the full count . Lennox Lewis , the British heavyweight , stormed to another thrilling victory when he knocked out Bradford 's Steve Garber in one minute 30 seconds of the first round in Hull last night to record his fourth successive victory .