Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: across the board (used idiomatically: yes)
Young people in care in North Wales are being deterred from making complaints about abuse because of an alleged lack of progress in investigating allegations of widespread physical and sexual abuse in children 's homes in the 1970s and 1980s , it has been claimed . Alison Taylor , the former Gwynedd social worker who says she was sacked for speaking out about the abuses in care , told Community Care last week that she was concerned both at the slow progress of the investigations and the decision of the Crown Prosecution Service not to prosecute certain individuals on grounds of insufficient evidence . ‘ What we have seen across the board is a failure of justice,’ she said . The fact that many of the young people involved had convictions meant their evidence was not being taken seriously , which raised a serious issue about the treatment of young offenders who have been in care . Liverpool solicitor Rex Makin , who is acting for at least seven young people in actions for damages against Gwynedd and Clwyd county councils , said last week there was ‘ no progress’ on the claims .
Idiom: on the house (used idiomatically: yes)
Well as I say dock area , they might live about half a mile away that was all . so they could hear a boat coming in They 'd hear it th th they would n't erm they 'd know through the agent , when the ships were coming they used to make it their business to go and find out you see but today th they even got telephones on the houses now so they can call 'em out . So just go down there as and when they 're needed ? There was , there was no telephones then , I mean t
Idiom: turn heads (used idiomatically: yes)
This time his arms wrapped around her , pulling her to the hard , strong warmth of his body , his hand bringing her face close again . The lips that had soothed now hardened , and when she stiffened in fright his tongue ran along her mouth with shocking intimacy , easing her lips apart and moving inside to tease her tongue and explore the warmth . Maggie gave a low moan , her knees sagging , and he caught her close , turning her head to his shoulder , deepening the kiss and holding her against the length of his body . Heat flooded down to her toes , her hands went limp and she completely forgot where she was . She had no judgement , no memory , only a growing hunger and a quickly mounting pain she had never felt before .
Idiom: to boot (used idiomatically: yes)
There is more greenery further south in the deep forest of Chize ( with the fine Renaissance chateau of Dampierre - sur - Boutonne at its edge ) ; and more marshes to the west around Rochefort and Marennes , where those mussels and oysters are raised . One of the region 's strangest townlets sits on those marshes : Brouage . Somnolent now within its low grey walls and stumpy towers , it was once rich on salt , and powerful to boot . It had a son to be proud of : Samuel Champlain , founder of Quebec , who was born there around 1569 . A century later , it had an adoptive daughter to weep for : 20-year - old Marie Mancini , niece of Louis XIV 's minister Mazarin .
Idiom: do the trick (used idiomatically: yes)
They even broke into the chorus of Gloria , and belted out a rousing Shout . They saved perhaps their most famous hit Livin ' On A Prayer for the encore , followed by an emotional Never Say Goodbye and a pledge from Jon Bon Jovi that they 'd be back . As Bon Jovi jetted out , the faithful made their way home , unanimous that a dose of Bad Medicine had done the trick for them . Support growing for abortions in Ulster : poll SUPPORT is growing for the legalising of abortion in Northern Ireland , a new poll claimed today .
Idiom: on someone's mind (used idiomatically: yes)
But now he was Scot ( un - canny ) many leagues from home . He 'd never hankered after the travelling life . In fact it had always been the last thing on his mind . Him having so many dear friends and everything . But circumstances had pressed , of late , most sorely upon him .
Idiom: anything goes (used idiomatically: no)
She believes the mothers will have a trauma - free delivery by giving birth in a shoreside birthing pool , accompanied by dolphins . But one of Britain 's top consultant obstetricians , Dr Joe Jordan said : ‘ These women would be a lot safer in a hospital . If anything goes wrong , people will ask if Dr Motha should have taken the risk.’ Fears Professor James Drife , of Leeds General Infirmary , said : ‘ I do n't see the point of taking heavily pregnant women all that way.’
Idiom: in the black (used idiomatically: no)
THANKS LARGELY to Doris Day , pop singers like Sandra Dee , Helen Shapiro and Connies Stevens and Francis , were sweetly feminine — nice girls , all looking for that one special guy , in their songs at least . They were hugely successful , squeaky clean purveyors of teen romance in the late ' 50s and early ' 60s , selling the great romantic myth to a generation of women . But the female pop psyche was split ; its dark underbelly exited in the black R&B and jazz singers of the time , for whom commercial success was rare and sexuality was n't such a taboo ; it was OK for them to wear come - hither clothes , drink hard liquor and sing about bad men . By the time the pop charts were dominated by the girl groups of the ' 60s , the split was n't as apparent . Most of them were black ; now black and white girls were singing about their boyfriends .
Idiom: still waters run deep (used idiomatically: no)
apophthegm ( or apothegm ) Also aphorism . A short , pointed or forceful saying ; maxim : Still waters run deep . aposiopesis A sudden lapsing into silence because the speaker is unable or unwilling to complete the sentence : Had you been there - but what good would that have done ?
Idiom: marching orders (used idiomatically: yes)
It was too early to go to bed yet — though she 'd an idea that while this worry was on her mind she would n't be doing a lot of sleeping . She was not feeling in her sunniest humour as she wondered if she was going to have to wait all day tomorrow for her summons , when someone rang her doorbell . On answering it , with a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach , she realised she was n't going to have to wait until tomorrow to receive her marching orders . Though , to start with , her initial feeling was one of total shock as she pulled back her door and saw Naylor Massingham standing there . Indeed , so shaken was she that , without being fully aware of what she was doing , she had invited him in and had led the way into her sitting - room before she had got herself back together again .
Idiom: tell tales (used idiomatically: no)
Was she supposed to then ? Right , lipstick , lipstick , lipstick . lipstick on your collar told a tale on you really . Oops
Idiom: pass muster (used idiomatically: yes)
We had to charge three pence ( old money ) for adults . Children were admitted free , accompanied by parents if possible . As George and I were ‘ the guards’ we saw that all children were supervised and that all passed muster on the way in . Older wardens planned , and even some of them ran , races of all kinds . It was the last but one happy time I had in Fulham .
Idiom: in light of (used idiomatically: yes)
Unprejudiced support for young lesbians and gay men in care on safer sex and sexuality should be the ultimate aim of good practice . But for this to be achieved , workers ' personal feelings — and the myths and stereotypes which surround gay and lesbian sexuality — have to be openly expressed for guidance and training to be targeted effectively . According to a CCETSW report , Sexuality , Young People and Care , the need for SSDs to develop ' positive contexts for training , policy and development ' is essential in the light of HIV and heterosexism — the name given to oppressive attitudes which see heterosexuality as the most valid form of sexual expression . The guide defines the complex area of sexuality , gives detailed information on safer sex , definitions of oppression , and how to approach sex , sexuality and HIV prevention with young people . The guide 's aim to influence practice is reflected in its residential child care focus .
Idiom: get to the bottom of (used idiomatically: yes)
He CALLED twice at the station — only to be sent away with a flea in his ear — and LEFT his name and company address so detectives knew where to find him at all times . Much to his relief he was finally arrested — and appeared in front of the judge who called for him to be brought before the court back in 1990 . Judge Harry Walker , who gave Jim bail yesterday , told him : ‘ I intend to get to the bottom of this.’ Two years ago the judge issued a court warrant when Jim did only 29 hours of a 200-hour community service order after being convicted of theft . His wife rang court officials to say he was ill with food poisoning .
Idiom: slippery slope (used idiomatically: yes)
You are invited to a party and after a couple of drinks you decide a few crisps or nuts will not hurt . Then you go the whole hog , have whatever else is available , then stop for a fish - and - chip take - away on the way home . You do not even need anything as obvious as a party to start you on this slippery slope . If you are feeling a little hungry , or a little unhappy ( perhaps you have not lost as much weight as you thought you should ) , then you are susceptible . Just seeing an advertisement for cake or chocolates in a magazine or on television will be enough to push you into the kitchen and straight into the biscuit tin .
Idiom: kiss of life (used idiomatically: yes)
The youngsters ' section of the Sunday paper and its splendid correspondent the Intelligent Cod just keep the fishy ‘ facts’ coming . The latest concerns Lucky a Koi who leapt from a tank onto the carpet in the absence of his owner Nellie Eves of Brighton . The fish was revived by being placed back in the water , and literally given an underwater lip - to - lip kiss of life … The Guardian reports that acne sufferers are finding a solution of shark bile ( isolutrol ) which greatly reduces grease production in the skin , has excellent effects . Two months of twice daily treatment actually cleared acne in some cases ; stopping the treatment saw the problem return .
Idiom: drop a hint (used idiomatically: yes)
My initial reaction was to write back thanking him for his time etc and making a few followup points , but I ve come round to the idea a personal meeting might be nice : - ) ) I will probably widen the scope a little and speak for the list … so if there are any questions loosely related to the topic of transfers and mid - long term strategy etc … forward them to me so i can compile a list . It might be nice to have a few of us go along , and I will drop a few subtle hints so a meeting with the players or at least a trip round the ground and watching a training session is on the cards : - ) Anyways … Ill be writing soon to test the water — but the trip up wo nt be until at least 15/11 , and before 2/12
Idiom: on the horn (used idiomatically: yes)
See if we can sort that out . Erm s certainly one of the ways is to keep that chap was on that car horn . Oh . I looked through the bedroom and this chap was standing on this Mini , jumping up and down .
Idiom: jobs for the boys (used idiomatically: yes)
Number five ma'am er Madam Speaker examples include the introduction of it new integrated regional offices and the creation of a single regeneration budget from April the first of this year . Er Mr Enright . Grateful to the minister for that reply but would he not agree with me that where local authorities erm local chambers of commerce and trades councils er and his own department of employment , are already working well together with good small initiatives , to put upon them English Estates , TECs , British coal enterprise er is in fact to do precisely what he does not advocate to make a mushrooming of bureaucracy and will he not undertake to evaluate these initiative to see if they really do work or whether they 're just providing jobs for the boys . Er Madam Speaker , I I agree with er the honourable gentleman that it 's extremely important that the various agencies do play a part in working together to ensure effective action with minimum bureaucracy and I know that the honourable gentleman has been anxious to ensure that that happens in his own constituency and his own area where he is dealing with the problems of high unemployment er and the fall out from the closures of pits in his area and if the honourable gentleman has any specific er er measures which he would like us to look at then I 'd be very happy to consider those . Philip Oppenheim .
Idiom: have been around (used idiomatically: yes)
Jack suddenly remembered that he had n't sought out Ho Chan at school ; he had n't even thought about it . He must find him tomorrow and make sure he was all right . At least Derek Shepherd had n't been around today . As he switched on the torchlight on the dashboard and began to study the Glory 's manual , Jack again thought of Tina 's angry reaction to the idea that the Ram and Shepherd names might be linked . Of course it had been a silly question , but why had she been so cross ?
Idiom: bear fruit (used idiomatically: yes)
One man 's breakthrough is often another 's trifling adaptation . Spending is not an infallible guide to results or intentions . Some investment does not bear fruit . Other investment — in patents and licences , for example— may be intended to deny ideas to rivals rather than to search for useful products . Nevertheless , Dr Mowery and Dr Teece have varied sources that make their picture of Japan convincing .
Idiom: jump to conclusions (used idiomatically: yes)
' You 're doing it again , ' he complained . ' Doing what again ? ' ' Jumping to conclusions . ' ' But you said — ' ' I never said Didi was my fiancée .
Idiom: get in on the ground floor (used idiomatically: yes)
The backs of pews were generally panelled which makes them super for panelling a whole room if you can get the quantity , given a bit of designing skill and reworking . Some were even made of pitch pine . Usually , these are sold in bulk to a dealer who can handle large quantities but it is worth trying to do a deal on smaller quantities if you can get in on the ground floor , so to speak . Keep an eye on the local press and as soon as you hear of a church closing , make an approach to the vicar as soon as possible . Also , there are churches whose old fashioned pews have been ditched in favour of an open plan arrangement to go with their swinging guitars and electronic keyboards .
Idiom: set eyes on (used idiomatically: yes)
And , of course , I was n't present as a spectator , I was there to sit for Pradier . Whereas Gustave ? I do not want to be harsh , but when I first set eyes on him I knew the type at once : the big , gangling provincial , so eager and relieved to find himself at last in artistic circles . I know how they talk , out in the provinces , with that mixture of fake self - confidence and real fear : ‘ Go to Pradier 's , my boy , you 'll always find some little actress there to be your mistress , and grateful she 'll be too . ’ And the boy in Toulouse or Poitiers or Bordeaux or Rouen , still secretly anxious about the long journey to the capital , feels his head filling up with snobbery and lust .
Idiom: under lock and key (used idiomatically: yes)
We often lunched together after her weekly consultation . Dr Kingdom could have cited that as justification for keeping the material back . All the patients’ files are kept under lock and key in his office , so I only see what I am asked to type.’ ‘ But I do n't understand . What would have been the point of keeping the contents of Heather 's file secret?’
Idiom: tongue in cheek (used idiomatically: yes)
' Before the reign of James the Fifth , a Highland Laird made a trial of his wife for a certain time , and if she did not please him , he was then at liberty to send her away ' — which is exactly what took place when a Macdonald married a Macleod . The Macleods repaid the slight in vicious irony ; the wedding , they said , ' had been solemnized without a bonfire , but that the separation should be better illuminated ' . Johnson reports this and other gory tales , tongue - in - cheek so firmly you can scarcely see his jaw bulge . He seems to have spent his time at Dunvegan listening to the winds and the women , and compares the waves off Dunvegan , even in a tempest , unfavourably with those on the coast of Sussex , and again finds no trees . Dunvegan had a well ; the water , Johnson found upon enquiry , was not brackish but hard ; Rorie More 's drinking - horn held two quarts of liquor , ' which the heir of Macleod was expected to swallow at a draught … before he was permitted to bear arms , or could claim a seat among the men ' .
Idiom: on a roll (used idiomatically: no)
In fact , the only cars now attracting a dealer premium are the NSX and Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 and I do n't expect that will last . It really is a buyer 's market at the moment . It cost me £ 300 for insurance and shipping my MX-5 to Amsterdam on a roll - on ferry out of Brunswick , Georgia . No doubt the Japanese can justify their prices , but as much as I like their sports cars , I would never consider buying any of their cars in the UK . Capt R Rackham Amsterdam Holland
Idiom: writ large (used idiomatically: yes)
Everyone ought to sign!’ He fixed her with a glittering eye . In it judgement was writ large . Nothing now would have induced Meredith to sign his petition , whatever it had been for . She did n't like him .
Idiom: get on someone's nerves (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ While you 're getting my lunch,’ she said , ‘ I 'll think how I 'm going to word my telegram . Oh , and you might take my sister 's card away . It 's getting on my nerves.’ Nurse Rose was glad to escape . She came out of the room , pulling her bag of soiled linen , and because she was n't looking where she was going , almost cannoned into a tall dark girl .
Idiom: talk of the devil (used idiomatically: yes)
Mm just a sec . Here 's comes your dad . Talk of the devil ! I should think . that 's er staying outside .
Idiom: across the board (used idiomatically: yes)
Accordingly , it has submitted a claim ( dated 30 April 1985 ) requesting : 1 . An across - the - board increase of £ 100 per manager 2 . 28 days annual holiday
Idiom: crystal clear (used idiomatically: yes)
The women sit on the other side of the partition , but they can hear every word.’ Well , there 's a mercy . Even if Rainbow has entered the jaws of the enemy , the house rules regarding gender are crystal clear . I will be spared the perils of a close encounter with the current Limnititzker sage . My friend Rosenbloom feels much less sanguine about these pleasant arrangements .
Idiom: hold court (used idiomatically: yes)
He calmed down , mainly because of his lovely wife Juliet Mills.’ Some actors just seem to have a knack for making themselves unpopular . King Yul Brynner reached a stage in his career where he seemed to feel he was holding court over all else about him , whether British or American . During the making of The Magnificent Seven Steve McQueen did n't get on with him at all , and neither did any of the British actors in The Long Duel . On location in Spain in 1966 , he tested the patience of the rest of the cast with his boasting , as Patrick Newell remembered .
Idiom: by heart (used idiomatically: yes)
Begin by getting up out of that armchair and , with pencil and paper , find yourself a nice clear desk and a comfortable but upright seat . Perhaps the first thing to realise is that learning is not a linear business . I have known students who feel obliged to know pages 1–65 almost by heart before they dare turn to page 66 . This is silly . If your conscience allows you to say that you really are stuck at some point do n't be afraid to pass on to the next paragraph .
Idiom: left and right (used idiomatically: no)
Historically , clinical evidence has been the greatest source of research into differences between the hemispheres . That is , patients who half suffered brain damage to one of their hemispheres have been used in order to examine the effect of this damage on their linguistic and spatial abilities . More recently , however , interest in the left and right brain is due to work involving split - brain patients . These patients have undergone medical surgery to cut the cortical pathways , most notably the corpus collosum , that normally connect the hemispheres . This gives researchers the ability to study the abilities of each hemisphere of a single brain separately .
Idiom: have words (used idiomatically: no)
the lad 's got Yeah . they never have a good word to say for each other ! No , that was it , you know ! But finally
Idiom: have a heart (used idiomatically: no)
' It is not a good memory , Jacob , ' he said , bleakly . ' The dark had descended on us in a howling storm , as it will when the world ends . Perhaps , if we had only tried to wield the Spear , we would have been saved ; but none had the heart or the courage . This is the great power of the dark , Jacob , that it takes away our steadfastness and trust in ourselves . I was bidden take the Spear and escape .
Idiom: catch the sun (used idiomatically: yes)
In Trieste a number of nations converge — Albanian and Yugoslavian , as well as Italian and Venetian ; here the Scandinavians and the Calvinists and the hard Canadian men of the oil lift the city 's atmosphere out of a local milieu . All things sparkle in bright light : a dowdy creature will gleam in a ballroom . The stone they used to build Aberdeen may be built for endurance rather than seduction , but when it catches the sun it offers a lively spirit as well as a safe haven . Much of the Aberdeen they saw is now no more . The strongest and oldest main parts of the current Granite City suggest Victorian wealth , not - very - old money — long Union Street , and Albyn Place and Albyn Terrace , Queens Gardens , Prince Arthur Street : behind these façades live a class who , a century and more ago , would have populated the novels of an Aberdonian Trollope or Thackeray .
Idiom: go under the hammer (used idiomatically: yes)
The Modern Art Museum of New York paid DM900,000 ( £ 310,300 ; $ 558,600 ) , double the estimate , for the painting , sold from a private collection in the USA . With fast and competitive bidding between private collectors and dealers , Kokoschka 's ‘ Lac d'Annecy’ went to a London bidder for DM620,000 ( £ 213,800 ; $ 384,800 ) . The organisers ' policy of making the estimates attractive to potential buyers was again vindicated with Willi Baumeister 's painting ‘ Four Points’ which realised DM200,000 ( £ 68,000 ; $ 124,100 ) , a 1964 untitled watercolour by Ernst Wilhelm Nay which went under the hammer at DM62,000 ( £ 21.400 ; $ 38,500 ) and an unusually bright picture of the Tiergarten by Liebermann , secured by a private bidder for the princely sum of DM430,000 ( £ 148,300 ; $ 266,900 : estimate DM300,000 ) . A hitherto unknown gouache , ‘ Café’ by Otto Dix went to a London bidder for the exact estimate of DM220,000 ( £ 75,862 ; $ 136,551 ) . Sebastian Schmidt , Sotheby 's Munich expert , supports company policy of auctioning works by Nolde , Nay and Jawlensky in Berlin where they are likely to fetch higher prices .
Idiom: spare someone's blushes (used idiomatically: yes)
QPR are not good enough to finish in the top six , according to Trevor Francis , their player - manager , but they should have won and would surely have done so but for a mind - boggling miss by Andy Sinton when it was 2 - 2 . For the second week in succession , Spurs ' dodgy defence had thrown away a 2 - 0 lead . Lineker spared their blushes this time , but not even the striker acclaimed by Francis as Europe 's best ( Gullit may sue ) can oblige every week if the requirement is two goals for a draw , three for a win . ‘ Of course , some things are still not right,’ Terry Venables , approaching the second anniversary of his appointment , said . Two new players were needed to take Spurs where they wanted to go .