English Vocabulary for learners
BINOMIALS-1
Fixed expressions with two words
Binomials from: 'aches and pains' to: 'null and void'
Binomials, or binomial expressions, are two words joined by a conjunction or a preposition.
Binomials are frequently used by native speakers of English. The word order of a binomial pair is usually fixed, and to use them in
a different order would sound strange to a native speaker.
Here are some common binomials:
BINOMIAL EXPRESSIONS | MEANING | EXAMPLE |
Aches and pains | Minor pains and a feeling of discomfort, especially in the muscles. | After a hectic outing with the kids I had aches and pains all over! |
Alive and well | In good physical condition | The search party found the stranded hiker alive and well.” |
Back and forth | Going to and from a place. | He's tired of travelling back and forth to London. |
Bits and pieces | Small items or personal belongings. | Here's a cupboard where you can put all your bits and pieces. |
Bit by bit | Gradually; little by little; a small amount at a time. | They renovated the old house bit by bit. |
Black and blue | Sore and bruised | The boy was black and blue after falling off his bike. |
Black and white | Something clear to understand or something in writing | Climate change is not black-and-white issue for me. |
Born and bred | Be born and grow up in a particular place. | I was born and bred in Madrid. |
Bread and butter | Job that is your main source of income. | I’m a writer, but teaching is my bread and butter. |
Bright and early | Early in the morning | My dad goes off bright and early every Saturday morning to play golf. |
By and large | On the whole, generally. | He can be difficult but by and large he's a good kid. |
Cloak and dagger | Refers to stories or situations that involve intrigue, secrecy, espionage or mystery. | My young brother loves cloak-and-dagger spy novels. |
Comings and goings | How people keep arriving at and leaving a place | She observed the comings and goings of guests at the party. |
Cut and dried | Clear and definite or unchangeable. | There is no cut-and-dried solution to the problem. |
Do's and don'ts | A set of basic rules. | There's a list of Dos and Don'ts on the wall for everyone who uses the kitchen. |
Done and dusted | Completely finished. | We've finished the project. It's all done and dusted, so let's go and get a bite to eat! |
Down and out | Without any money or means of support | After losing his job, car and home, he was completely down and out. |
Dribs and drabs | Little by little; in small numbers or amounts | Instead of the crowd expected, people arrived in dribs and drabs. |
Fair and square | In an honest and open manner | Gavin won the competition fair and square - no doubt about it. |
Far and wide | Over a large geographical area. | People came from far and wide to visit the exhibition. |
First and foremost | What is most important. | She went into politics for a while, but first and foremost she was a writer. |
Give and take | Make mutual concessions or find a compromise. | Most relationships require some give and take.” |
Give or take | More or less; plus or minus an amount or number. | I'll be there at 9 a.m. give or take 5 minutes. |
Hard and fast | Fixed and strongly binding | The administration established hard-and-fast rules for every procedure. |
Haves and have-nots | Rich and poor people | Our aim is to reduce the gap between the haves and have-nots in our society. |
Heart and soul | Make a lot of effort to do something. | Paul put his heart and soul into the project. Let's hope it will be a success. |
Hem and haw | Be very evasive; not give a clear answer. | Bobby hemmed and hawed when his parents asked him where had spent the night. |
Here and there | In various different places | We found some mushrooms here and there in the woods. |
High and dry | In a difficult situation without resources or assistance | Those who lose their jobs may be left high and dry. |
High and low | Everywhere | I searched high and low for my keys but couldn’t find them. |
High and mighty | Superior, haughty, full of self-importance | She was too high and mighty to tidy up after herself.” |
Hot and bothered | Agitated, flustered or worried | There's no need to get all hot and bothered. It's just an English test! |
Hue and cry | Loud opposition to something | There will be a great hue and cry when the measures are announced. |
Huff and puff | Breathe loudly, especially after physical exercise. | We were huffing and puffing by the time we reached the top of the tower. |
Hustle and bustle | Noisy activity and surroundings. | John moved to a small village to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. |
Ifs and buts | The reasons why someone doesn't want to do something. | I don't want to listen to any ifs and buts! Just tidy up that mess! |
Ins and outs | The finer details of something. | I heard he was arrested but I don't know the ins and outs of the story. |
Laughter and tears | Joy and sorrow | The family reunion was a blend of laughter and tears. |
Leaps and bounds | Very quickly and greatly. | Silvia's English has improved in leaps and bounds this year. |
Loud and clear | Easy to understand. | The message was loud and clear; everyone understood. |
Make or break | Will lead to either success or failure | This is a make-or-break collection. Our future depends on it. |
Mix and match | Put different things together e.g. clothes, furniture… | In our house we like to mix and match different styles of furniture. |
Neat and tidy | With everything in good order. | I don't know how you manage to keep your desk so neat and tidy. |
Now and again Now and then |
Sometimes but not very often | We don’t eat out often but now and again wo go to a local Italian restaurant.” |
Now or never | At the present moment because you may not get another chance | Go on! Ask him for an autograph. It’s now or never! |
Null and void | Have no legal force or be invalid. | The agreement was declared null and void. |