Word pairs
B1 Upper-Intermediate • Vocabulary
Common two-word expressions (binomials) that always appear in a fixed order, used in everyday English.
1. Everyday life & routine
-
bread and butter
– the main work or activity that gives you money to live.
Teaching is my bread and butter; photography is just a hobby. -
back and forth
– repeatedly going in one direction and then the other.
The story moves back and forth between the past and the present. -
hustle and bustle
– a lot of activity, noise and movement in a busy place.
I love the hustle and bustle of the city centre on a Saturday. -
safe and sound
– not hurt and in a good condition after a dangerous situation.
The rescuers brought the hikers back safe and sound. -
pros and cons
– the advantages and disadvantages of something.
We talked about the pros and cons of moving abroad. -
wear and tear
– natural damage from normal, everyday use.
Some wear and tear on the furniture is normal after a year. -
odds and ends
– small, mixed, usually unimportant things.
I made lunch from a few odds and ends in the fridge. -
now and then
– sometimes; occasionally, but not often.
We still meet for coffee now and then. -
fun and games
– enjoyable activities that are not serious or difficult.
For the kids it’s all fun and games, but the parents are exhausted. -
ups and downs
– good periods and bad periods in life, work or relationships.
Every relationship has its ups and downs.
2. Rules, games & serious matters
-
black and white
– very clear and simple, with only one right or wrong option.
For him, the rules are black and white – you follow them or you don’t. -
hide and seek
– a children’s game where one person hides and another tries to find them.
We used to play hide and seek in the garden for hours. -
hit-and-run
– an accident where the driver leaves without stopping.
The police are looking for witnesses to a hit-and-run incident. -
law and order
– a situation where laws are respected and people behave correctly.
The new measures helped restore law and order in the area. -
trial and error
– learning by trying different methods and learning from mistakes.
We improved the design by trial and error. -
a matter of life and death
– a very serious or urgent situation.
Call me if it’s a matter of life and death; otherwise, text me later. -
under lock and key
– locked away safely so that nobody can get out or get in.
The documents are kept under lock and key in the office.
3. People & support
-
wine and dine (someone)
– to take someone out for a nice meal and drinks, often to celebrate or impress them.
He decided to wine and dine his partner for their anniversary. -
through thick and thin
– in good times and bad times; no matter what happens.
They have stayed friends through thick and thin. -
by and large
– in general; when you consider everything together.
By and large, the project was a success.
These word pairs are fixed expressions: the words normally stay in the same order and are very common in spoken and written English.
Exercises:
Word pairs
Choose the correct option to complete each sentence below.
1
Teaching English is her
– it’s how she earns most of her money.
Correct:
Your bread and butter = your main source of money or basic income.
2
We spent an hour walking
along the platform, waiting for the train to arrive.
Correct:
Back and forth = repeatedly in one direction and then the opposite direction.
3
They moved to the countryside to escape the
of the big city.
Correct:
The hustle and bustle = the busy, noisy activity of city life.
4
After the storm, we were relieved to hear that everyone had arrived home
.
Correct:
Safe and sound = without being hurt or damaged, completely okay.
5
Before quitting his job, he wrote down all the
of moving abroad.
Correct:
The pros and cons of something = its advantages and disadvantages.
6
The sofa looks old, but that’s just normal
after ten years of everyday use.
Correct:
Wear and tear = gradual damage that happens over time with normal use.
7
There were just a few
in the drawer – some coins, old keys and a broken pen.
Correct:
Odds and ends = small, unimportant objects that are all different.
8
I don’t eat fast food every day, but
I enjoy a burger and fries.
Correct:
Now and then = sometimes, but not very often.
9
It was all
at the party until someone broke a window.
Correct:
Fun and games = a situation that seems enjoyable and not serious (often used ironically).
10
The question isn’t
– there are many grey areas and no simple answer.
Correct:
If something is black and white, it is clearly right or wrong, with no grey area.
11
The children spent the whole afternoon playing
in the garden.
Correct:
Hide and seek = a children’s game where one person looks for the others.
12
The driver hit a cyclist and drove away without stopping – the police are treating it as a
.
Correct:
A hit-and-run (incident) = an accident where the driver leaves without helping or giving details.
13
The new mayor promised to restore
in the city and reduce street crime.
Correct:
Law and order = a situation where laws are obeyed and people feel safe.
14
I didn’t take any cooking classes; I just learned by
until my recipes finally worked.
Correct:
Trial and error = trying many times, learning from mistakes, and slowly improving.
15
Every relationship has its
– good times and bad times.
Correct:
The ups and downs = the good and bad moments in life or a situation.
16
The company likes to
important clients, taking them to expensive restaurants and shows.
Correct:
To wine and dine someone = to entertain them with good food and drink, usually to impress them.
17
We’ve been friends
– in good times and in very difficult times.
Correct:
If you stay with someone through thick and thin, you support them in all situations, good and bad.
18
The doctor must operate immediately – it’s
for the patient.
Correct:
A matter of life or death = a very serious situation where someone might live or die.
19
All confidential documents are kept
in a safe in the manager’s office.
Correct:
If something is under lock and key, it is locked away safely and protected.
20
There were a few small problems, but
the conference was a great success.
Correct:
By and large = generally; when you look at the whole situation, not the details.
Word pairs
Match the sentences with the word pairs
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