Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: fly in the face of (used idiomatically: yes)
I can only assume that , as the matter was extensively discussed earlier , they thought that the issue was dead and that there was no point in discussing it , because the arguments had been so effectively canvassed and dismissed that the Government would not contemplate introducing such an offence . The extensive and widely approved report from Lord Justice Woolf said nothing about introducing an offence of prison mutiny . The Government appear to be flying in the face of that report . If the Government have received no recommendations that an offence of prison mutiny is necessary or desirable from anyone involved in the management of prisons , from what other organisations have they had such recommendations ? Have the Government considered the experience in Northern Ireland or Scotland ?
Idiom: from scratch (used idiomatically: yes)
These are designed to make database entry easy . You do n't need to mess around with defining fields in this program — you can customize one of the pre - programmed default forms and print it out . Alternatively , you can use the form designer to create your own form from scratch . This is easy to use — all the boxes and fields are assigned simply by dragging the cursor over the screen — a good idea . Complete Works also scores well in terms of the range of features each application has to offer .
Idiom: pull someone's leg (used idiomatically: yes)
' No . Not a thing . ' Dalziel pulled up his trouser - leg and began scratching his ankle . ' Much left at the end of the month ? ' ' Enough .
Idiom: on the knocker (used idiomatically: no)
Dark flakes of snow tumbled past the candlelit windows of the Countess of Ratho 's townhouse in Charlotte Square . The granite steps and the pillared doorcase were new and unmarked by the city 's dirty air . Jean , elegant in his cloak and three - cornered hat , strode up and put his hand on the cold brass door - knocker … . [ Except that it was n't snowing , because this has to have been November . Because Jean was fleeing from the September Massacres .
Idiom: cut loose (used idiomatically: yes)
Conspiracy remains a crime as well as a tort , but the scope of the crime has been curtailed by statute so that , broadly speaking , the only conspiracies which are now indictable are those to commit a substantive criminal offence , to defraud or to corrupt public morals or outrage public decency . The Act , however , has no effect on civil liability . In fact , even aside from the Act the tort and the crime have cut loose from whatever common origin they had . The tort takes two forms according to whether or not unlawful means are used , though the decision of the House of Lords in Lonrho Ltd . v. Shell Petroleum Co.
Idiom: break the ice (used idiomatically: yes)
Alice was drunk . There were two conflicting thoughts in her mind . One was that it was horrible and she would always regret it if she made love to Tom only because she was drunk , the other that here was the opportunity to get it over , make a start , break the ice . She was drunk , so she did n't care . She wanted to , she quite wanted to , she might as well .
Idiom: spot on (used idiomatically: yes)
AN INVASION of rats has hit Frodsham and pest control experts fear it could be a permanent problem . Householders and shopowners in the town have been put on standby because of the influx of vermin from nearby marshlands . The alert was raised after dozens of the large rodents were spotted on Main Street and by the railway line . Environmental health officers have been called in and are now treating the problem . Frodsham hotelier George Harrison , who runs the Queens Head , is one who has complained to Vale Royal Council about rats on the railway behind his business .
Idiom: tie the knot (used idiomatically: yes)
Maternal ties MOTHER knows best for men when it comes to knotting a tie , according to a survey published today . Most men have maternal teaching to thank for showing them how to tie knots , said the Guild of British Tie Makers . Shocked listeners hear bust - up with woman RADIO DJ AXED AFTER ON - AIR BARNEY
Idiom: face to face (used idiomatically: yes)
Hoping he had decided to make a clean sweep and tell Marc everything , Sarella waited to hear what he had to say . He moved to her side and took her hand , pulling her down on to a sofa facing his brother . She felt as if they were face to face with an inquisitor . On trial . But it was unfair .
Idiom: all along (used idiomatically: no)
‘ You know that the enemy are just a short distance along the road ? ’ ‘ Yes , Sir , ’ I replied . ‘ All right , forget the bloody bodyguards , ’ he snapped , and strode off with the Brigade Major and two other Officers in the direction of the proposed saluting base , which lay about half-way along our route . I took up my place a short distance in front of the Officer in Command of the parade . The RSM brought everyone to attention , ‘ By the right , quick march , ’ barked the Officer and we were off to a jaunty 6–8 time , Blue Bonnets Over the Border , as I got under way .
Idiom: under the influence (used idiomatically: no)
( Goldmann 1969 : 52 ) The value orientation that meets this standard is , he asserts , one based on Marx 's analysis of the class struggle . However , Goldmann suggests objectivity is only available to the individual ; by effecting a synthesis of elements of truth from the perspectives of different classes and by preserving elements of understanding already expressed by other thinkers but abandoned under the influence of social , economic or political changes , the individual may be able to ‘ arrive in the realm of scientific thought’(Goldmann 1969 : 58 ) . Central to Goldmann 's interest in the sociology of knowledge is the concept of ‘ potential consciousness’ that he derives from Marx . As a sociologist , what he is interested in is the knowledge of a social group and as a Marxist he is interested in the ‘ maximum potential consciousness’ of a group or class — what it could know and still remain a coherent group .
Idiom: one and the same (used idiomatically: yes)
As I said , I got it all wrong about Elsie in one important detail but then we all got it wrong . The error lay in a very simple but quite reasonable assumption which everyone made . We assumed that Elsie 's death explained her disappearance , that the two events were one and the same thing . We never considered that they might be quite separate . It was quite a shock to learn that the Elsie found at the bottom of Loch Craig was not a twenty - six - year - old woman but a woman in her late fifties or early sixties .
Idiom: at the crossroads (used idiomatically: yes)
Only when they came close was it possible to make out the dark shadow of a hand and arm carving each one , the sketchy outline of a black body behind , and above , a ghoulish half - lit face with gaping shadowy craters for mouth and eyes . Kalchu climbed on to the roof of the house , and with the flame he 'd brought from the shrine fire set light to the two piles of jharo . Soon afterwards fires were blazing on every rooftop in the village , and in every shrine all around its outskirts to the north , the south , the east and the west : in the fields , at the crossroads , by the river , in the forest . The whole family was outside now . The twins and Nara were chasing each other round and round , hiding in the shadows , then bursting out on each other , screaming , wild with uncontrolled excitement .
Idiom: green light (used idiomatically: yes)
Now she uses the same techniques to teach other women cancer can be beaten . But it is the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall which is benefitting most from her zest and drive . Yesterday , the European Commission announced a £ 2.5 m grant giving the green light to the restoration of the grade II - listed building . And next year she has set herself the personal goal of raising £ 500,000 . Mary - Jane Hilton
Idiom: on the house (used idiomatically: yes)
I could work overtime to raise the money . 3 If I did n't go I could stay at home and work on the house . 4 If I did n't go , I could have a summer holiday in Greece and still afford a skiing holiday in winter .
Idiom: pick up the pieces (used idiomatically: yes)
But where such mutuality is non - existent ; where through some personal need ( based in earlier life and relationships ) the woman finds her greatest satisfactions in motherhood rather than in marriage ; where male inadequacy sees neglect in anything but total attention ; or where circumstances exist in which addition to the family unduly diminishes the expression of sexual love between two partners : personal and sexual dissonance is likely to arise , which will lead to further marital rifts , which will themselves militate against sexual happiness … and so on in a vicious spiral . Ideally , pre - marital counselling , supplemented before parenthood , would meet problems before they could arise . Counselling is seldom provided in such matters : the social worker is often left to pick up the pieces . Problems which may arise in any family are those which may be seen as related to the Oedipal situation — the sexual attachment which arises between parent and child and which is not always worked through adequately . This can exist , so to speak , in either direction : between spouse and spouse 's parent or between spouse and child .
Idiom: on the square (used idiomatically: yes)
80 % Celebrity Squares Landing on various board squares has the following consequences : Utilities : Allows you to purchase one of three items — Seats ( initial ground capacity of 10,000 can be increased up to 40,000 ) , Security Cameras ( to avoid costly crowd violence ) , or a Coach And Youth Team ( allows players to join your squad from the youth team , also helps with training ) .
Idiom: up in the air (used idiomatically: yes)
The wreckage landed in a field belonging to farmer Bruce Arkell . Now he wants aerobatic flying near the village to be stopped . He says we see them going up in the air , they do these tight manoevres . Any failure of the controls , they 're going to drop out of the sky . All sides will be keen to see just what the Board of Inquiry discovers … and anxious to prevent it happening again .
Idiom: take a bath (used idiomatically: yes)
Erm smell 's an interesting one . Smell tends does n't seem to be that relevant . I think I think er these days people take er take baths and showers quite often and you have to be pretty close to somebody before you smell them I guess , I mean I hope you do anyway . Yeah , it 's interesting that . It used to be much more important .
Idiom: dressed to kill (used idiomatically: yes)
Keith is walking around the pool in his white 501s and his white ‘ Young Marlon’ T - shirt . The white sets off the black of his skin , and he knows it . He is dressed to kill with no place to go . He is also manic . He hates waiting .
Idiom: ahead of the game (used idiomatically: yes)
It was once more about five minutes before we set out for the alleyway behind the Love Me Tender massage parlor . And this time I was n't going to show up . You have to know how to keep ahead of this game if you do n't want to wind up in a wooden trenchcoat . ' Better late than never , I guess . ' I really wanted to thank the little guy for saving my life , but I have a hard - bitten image to keep up .
Idiom: on the cards (used idiomatically: no)
At the end of the financial year the employer must ensure that : ( a ) the employee 's national insurance number , surname and forenames are correctly entered on every deduction card ; ( b ) the identifying letter of the contribution table used has been entered on the deduction card and that contribution totals are correct .
Idiom: turn a blind eye (used idiomatically: yes)
In France , bitter political divisions , fear of foreign military entanglement and deference towards Britain forced Blum and the Popular Front government to reverse their initial policy of assisting the Republic and instead embrace non - intervention in the sincere hope of persuading other powers to keep out of Spain too . The maintenance of this posture was ensured by the generally rightward shift of French cabinets between 1936 and 1939 , interrupted only by Blum 's shortlived second government in early 1938 when aid was briefly resumed . For their part , the Conservative - dominated National governments of Baldwin and Chamberlain in Britain , engaged in their policies of appeasement towards the fascist powers , were anxious to prevent the Spanish war from spreading , even at the cost of turning a blind eye to the involvement of Italy , Germany and the Soviet Union . Moreover , within the Conservative Party , while some mavericks — like , albeit belatedly , Churchill — recognized that peace in Europe would be best served by the defeat of fascism in Spain , hostility towards the Spanish ‘ Reds’ and sympathy for Franco predominated : views shared in the business community , many of whose members continued to trade with Nationalist Spain throughout the war . Labour and Liberal devotion to the Republican cause , while strong and passionate , was incapable of deflecting the course of British policy .
Idiom: to boot (used idiomatically: yes)
It no longer occurred to Folly to doubt that Luke was telling the truth — and she knew that she was concentrating on his explanation simply as a shield against the other questions that hovered only a breath away . But somehow she could n't let go . ‘ I still think it 's a bit odd that not only are your staff here all women , but also all stunningly attractive to boot . That hardly sounds like a ‘ necessary qualification’ for telephone sales . Are you sure you do n't recruit them with a casting couch?’
Idiom: on the horn (used idiomatically: no)
In the last four bars the melodic line is carried by the two clarinets in unison , and extra grace - notes which do not appear in the original are given to 2nd flute and 2nd oboe with the object of enhancing the suggestion of the chirping and clucking of chickens . In music of a definitely pictorial kind such as this , every effort must be made in the direction of realism , provided that no violence is done to the musical outline of the original . The ability to play chords on the horn , provided the notes derive from the same harmonic series , has long been known . Some players seem able to do this more easily than others . The late Denis Brain used to say he did it by ‘ playing one note , humming another , and thinking another’ .
Idiom: do the right thing (used idiomatically: no)
All the time she was keeping an ear on Steve in the kitchen . ‘ No , Joe , do n't think that ; I 'm grateful . You did the right thing . Wait a minute , hang on , will you?’ For a moment , she stopped to listen , but a burst of music from the next room reassured her .
Idiom: square the circle (used idiomatically: yes)
That will mean change not only in the East , but also the West of Europe . The current problems of Germany are an object lesson . The constant repetition by European politicians in the past few months that Maastricht will not necessarily mean change may have been tactically expedient , but squaring the circle in which the EC has snared itself requires , on the contrary , upheaval , not just in research policy . OPINION Sob tale of the rich
Idiom: fall from grace (used idiomatically: yes)
In champagne . Rank treachery.’ It did not sound that serious to Edward , given the circumstances of Neville Chamberlain 's fall from grace . It sounded more like a courtesy than a threat , a valediction . Morton had been celebrating , hard .
Idiom: at sea (used idiomatically: yes)
And Tom Selleck as King Ferdinand of Spain ? Give me a break ! It would be kinder if this film were taken away and buried at sea ! SINKING : George Corraface One long chuckle
Idiom: pull out all the stops (used idiomatically: yes)
It superseded the very successful Coalville open days which have raised thousands of pounds for charity over the last nine years . Coalville depot closed its doors last year and work was transferred to Leicester . BR staff and preservationists pulled out all the stops to have everything right on the day even though they were hampered by high winds and heavy rain . The event was well attended with people queuing at 9.00 am despite the atrocious conditions . The Open Day Committee hope to be able to present a substantial cheque to local charities later in the year .
Idiom: in the fast lane (used idiomatically: yes)
Motoring news BURN - UP BREN 'S BAVARIA BOUND SPRINGFIELDS catering supervisor Brenda Cowell is a lady who loves life in the fast lane . For bubbly Brenda , who recently passed her motorcycle test , is now the proud owner of a speedy Suzuki GS 500E. And a passion for two - wheels helps with her other hobby .
Idiom: follow suit (used idiomatically: yes)
In 2006 , Italy ’s Fiat ~ Group and India ’s Tata Motors established a joint venture to make passenger vehicles and engines in India . The following year , they extended their partnership to Latin ~ America , investing $ 80~million in production of a Tata pickup ~ truck at Fiat ’s factory in Cordoba , Argentina . It is to be hoped that many more major European corporations will follow suit .
Idiom: off the hook (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ You 're too good to be true,’ Dana said . ‘ It 's time you learnt to look after yourself , or else you 'll find you 're firmly on an unreachable shelf . If Berenice manages to have a child that will let Garry off the hook.’ ‘ Perhaps it could , but she 's in trouble . If Garry does n't appear soon she could well lose it , and if she does her health could be endangered.’
Idiom: break new ground (used idiomatically: yes)
This is being pragmatically run — many stories need someone for radio and someone for Television . But some do not . The results of this policy are clear each day on Radio and Television : correspondents have more outlets for their wares — we can cover a wider range of stories — and we can spare people to work off rota on stories that will break new fresh ground . All of this comes down to one simple phrase : working more efficiently so we can do more and do it better . This is vital for the sort of journalism we want to deliver .
Idiom: hands down (used idiomatically: no)
Hesitation . ' I 'm afraid I ca n't tell you that . My mother kept the box in a cupboard in her sitting - room along with all manner of other things which had been handed down through her side of the family . I remember her pointing it out to me saying what was in it when we were really looking for something else . ' The colonel pondered .
Idiom: draw a blank (used idiomatically: yes)
Wright , attempting to clear a cross , only succeeded in sending a powerful header from 15 yards past a startled David James in the 68th minute . Fortunately for Liverpool , they were already 2 - 0 up against their part - time Norwegian opponents . Ian Rush , who had drawn a blank in the three previous tour defeats , broke his duck by tapping in a Steve Harkness cross from no more than two yards out just before half - time . And new boy Stewart , bought to add bite and goals from midfield , struck his first for the club in fine style in the 58th minute . The £ 2.2-million signing from Spurs took a Dean Saunders pass and strode clear of the defence before burying a shot from just inside the area .
Idiom: at the end of the day (used idiomatically: yes)
So it meant every quarter of an hour you were asking a man to record his numbers , so we boiled it down to termini . Witton , Rushmere , Vauxhall Road , London Road and those sort of places . So that was the journey waybill and that was handed in at the end of the day and from that and a visual check of the tickets that were returned by him to the ticket office , they could tell which tickets were missing and therefore they were sold to him and er there be , there was the odd shortages but in those days if anybody was short in his takings by , I think it was about sixpence in those days , he was the subject of a another warning by letter and if he persisted , well then he was brought in to see the Traffic Superintendent who erm , could suspend him for two or three days , so he lost pay for two or three days . Discipline was very very strict in those days but of course with the war coming on and lots of those men going to the forces , things changed drastically during that time and discipline was somewhat more lax after the war . Every one of those men who went in the forces , who lived to tell the tale , was given their jobs back when they came back , because their jobs were replaced by women during the war , drivers and conductors , they were replaced by women and as the men came back , so the women were paid off , so everybody who came back from the war was given their job back .
Idiom: one of those things (used idiomatically: yes)
Once the test pilot comes out of the chamber , a nasty side effect is that the ageing process becomes speeded up . Having to watch himself on screen as an old man , did it cast up worries about Gibson 's own appearance ? ‘ Nobody wants to get old , but ageing is one of those things that 's going to happen and I 'm just going to let it . A lot of people , particularly on the West Coast of America , get so many facelifts that the dimple on their chin is actually their navel.’ The personal tragedy that befalls Gibson 's character in ‘ Forever Young’ is that he loses his childhood sweetheart in an accident before he has plucked up the courage to propose marriage .
Idiom: pick up the pieces (used idiomatically: no)
After Monsieur Klein 's death he asked Fernand a lot of stupid questions , just because of some village gossip . ' ' But that was because Monsieur Klein was German , and everyone knew Fernand was suspicious of Germans . ' Juliette bent down and began picking up the smashed pieces of china . ' Perhaps you are right , Madame . ' ' Monsieur Gebrec 's death was probably nothing more than a tragic accident , ' Melissa went on , ' but ' — she hesitated for a moment before saying —'there is some talk of suicide . '
Idiom: rank and file (used idiomatically: yes)
QOL ? Yes , well , up to a point … As for the rank - and - file , the conference gives the impression that green belt and suburban preoccupations dominate the concern for the future of the ecosphere , not - in - my - backyard as Nicholas Ridley dubbed the attitude , ever honest and inept . And the green - eyed boy himself ? Identifying the environment as a major priority is one thing , doing something about it another .
Idiom: out to lunch (used idiomatically: yes)
Would it , he was thinking , be like the ending of Forster 's as yet unpublished Maurice , a somewhat tame homo novel of which he was to say , commenting on the male lovers setting up house at the end , ‘ I give it three weeks?’ Well , we had already lasted three months , and I was keeping my fingers crossed for our relationship to continue for ever . Joe invited us out to lunch , which was what I had been hoping for , because we were both more or less on our uppers . He conducted us to a new restaurant , the Hungry Horse , which was pronouncedly ‘ gay’ , with all the young waiters in tight - fitting cotton trousers of small blue - and - white checks . Joe obviously thought it was all very daring and suitable for us both .
Idiom: get to the bottom of (used idiomatically: yes)
Quite probably you will have discovered that you put much more emphasis than we did on the immediate problem of trying to discover whether it was Chrissie or Fred who was telling the truth . This is a very common response , and it 's nothing to worry about as long as you realize that the manager 's emphasis has to be on getting the unit to run efficiently . This might well involve getting to the bottom of disputes and taking disciplinary action if necessary , but never forget your real aim is to keep things running . However , this often involves managers in taking decisions about future policy , and management level case studies commonly invite you to consider whether a change of direction is necessary , and if so , what the operational implications are . Our second introductory case places you in this situation .