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Important Binomials with Examples
Below is a list of 100 binomial expressions (word pairs typically connected by “and” or occasionally other conjunctions) along with their meanings and example sentences.
Binomials are fixed expressions in English where two words are paired to convey a specific meaning, often idiomatic, like “part and parcel.” The list includes a variety of common, idiomatic, and less frequently used binomials, ensuring diversity while avoiding repetition.
Each entry includes the binomial, its meaning, and a sentence demonstrating its use in context.
- Above and beyond
Meaning: Exceeding expectations or requirements.
Sentence: She went above and beyond by working late to finish the project. - Aches and pains
Meaning: Minor physical discomforts, often associated with aging.
Sentence: Grandma complained about her aches and pains after gardening. - Alive and well
Meaning: Healthy and active, still thriving.
Sentence: Despite rumors, the old bookstore is alive and well. - Back and forth
Meaning: Moving in one direction and then another repeatedly.
Sentence: They argued back and forth over the budget cuts. - Bags and baggage
Meaning: All of one’s belongings, often implying a burden.
Sentence: She arrived with bags and baggage, ready to move in. - Bits and pieces
Meaning: Small, miscellaneous items or fragments.
Sentence: I gathered bits and pieces of fabric for the quilt. - Black and white
Meaning: A clear distinction between right and wrong or simplicity.
Sentence: He sees the issue in black and white, ignoring the gray areas. - Body and soul
Meaning: Completely, with full commitment.
Sentence: She dedicated herself body and soul to the charity. - Bread and butter
Meaning: Main source of income or livelihood.
Sentence: Freelancing is her bread and butter these days. - Bright and early
Meaning: Very early in the morning.
Sentence: We’ll leave bright and early to avoid traffic. - By and large
Meaning: Generally, on the whole.
Sentence: By and large, the event was a success despite minor issues. - Cease and desist
Meaning: To stop an activity immediately.
Sentence: The company received a cease and desist letter for trademark infringement. - Chapter and verse
Meaning: Exact details or precise reference.
Sentence: He quoted chapter and verse from the rulebook to win the argument. - Clean and clear
Meaning: Transparent, straightforward, or unblemished.
Sentence: The instructions were clean and clear, making assembly easy. - Cloak and dagger
Meaning: Involving secrecy or espionage.
Sentence: The meeting felt like a cloak and dagger operation. - Cut and dried
Meaning: Predetermined or straightforward.
Sentence: The solution wasn’t as cut and dried as they hoped. - Day and night
Meaning: Continuously, without stopping.
Sentence: She worked day and night to meet the deadline. - Dollars and cents
Meaning: Financial matters or exact monetary value.
Sentence: Let’s talk dollars and cents to finalize the deal. - Down and out
Meaning: In a state of poverty or despair.
Sentence: After losing his job, he felt down and out. - Fair and square
Meaning: Honestly and justly.
Sentence: She won the game fair and square. - Far and wide
Meaning: Over a large area.
Sentence: They searched far and wide for the lost dog. - Fast and furious
Meaning: Rapid and intense.
Sentence: The debate became fast and furious as tensions rose. - First and foremost
Meaning: Most importantly.
Sentence: First and foremost, safety must be our priority. - Flesh and blood
Meaning: Human nature or close relatives.
Sentence: I can’t abandon my own flesh and blood in their time of need. - Fun and games
Meaning: Lighthearted or playful activity, often used sarcastically.
Sentence: It was all fun and games until someone got hurt. - Give and take
Meaning: Compromise or mutual exchange.
Sentence: A good relationship requires some give and take. - Hale and hearty
Meaning: Healthy and vigorous.
Sentence: At 80, he’s still hale and hearty, hiking daily. - Heart and soul
Meaning: With complete dedication.
Sentence: She poured her heart and soul into her art. - High and low
Meaning: Everywhere, thoroughly.
Sentence: They searched high and low for the missing keys. - Hither and thither
Meaning: In many directions, aimlessly.
Sentence: The kids ran hither and thither in the park. - Huff and puff
Meaning: To make a show of effort or anger.
Sentence: He huffed and puffed but couldn’t move the heavy box. - Hustle and bustle
Meaning: Busy, energetic activity.
Sentence: I love the hustle and bustle of the city market. - Ins and outs
Meaning: Details or intricacies of something.
Sentence: She knows the ins and outs of the software. - Kith and kin
Meaning: Friends and family.
Sentence: He invited all his kith and kin to the reunion. - Law and order
Meaning: A state of societal stability and adherence to rules.
Sentence: The mayor promised to restore law and order. - Life and limb
Meaning: Personal safety or survival.
Sentence: He risked life and limb to save the drowning child. - Lock and key
Meaning: Securely stored or protected.
Sentence: Valuables were kept under lock and key. - Loud and clear
Meaning: Clearly understood.
Sentence: Your instructions came through loud and clear. - Make or break
Meaning: Determine success or failure.
Sentence: This deal could make or break the company. - Mix and match
Meaning: Combine different elements freely.
Sentence: The store lets you mix and match outfits. - Neat and tidy
Meaning: Orderly and clean.
Sentence: Her desk is always neat and tidy. - Null and void
Meaning: Invalid or without legal force.
Sentence: The contract was declared null and void. - Odds and ends
Meaning: Miscellaneous small items.
Sentence: I cleaned out the drawer full of odds and ends. - Old and grey
Meaning: Aged or elderly.
Sentence: They stayed together until they were old and grey. - On and off
Meaning: Intermittently.
Sentence: It’s been raining on and off all day. - Over and out
Meaning: Communication is finished (often in radio talk).
Sentence: Mission complete, over and out. - Part and parcel
Meaning: An essential component of something.
Sentence: Long hours are part and parcel of being a doctor. - Peace and quiet
Meaning: Calm and tranquility.
Sentence: I just want some peace and quiet this weekend. - Pick and choose
Meaning: Select carefully from options.
Sentence: You can’t pick and choose which rules to follow. - Pride and joy
Meaning: Something cherished greatly.
Sentence: Her garden is her pride and joy. - Pros and cons
Meaning: Advantages and disadvantages.
Sentence: We weighed the pros and cons before deciding. - Pure and simple
Meaning: Straightforward, without complication.
Sentence: It’s a case of laziness, pure and simple. - Rags to riches
Meaning: From poverty to wealth.
Sentence: His rags to riches story inspired many. - Rank and file
Meaning: Ordinary members of a group.
Sentence: The rank and file supported the union’s decision. - Safe and sound
Meaning: Unharmed and secure.
Sentence: The kids arrived home safe and sound. - Short and sweet
Meaning: Brief but pleasant or effective.
Sentence: Let’s keep this meeting short and sweet. - Sick and tired
Meaning: Extremely fed up.
Sentence: I’m sick and tired of all the delays. - Sink or swim
Meaning: Succeed or fail by one’s own efforts.
Sentence: It’s a new job; she’ll have to sink or swim. - Skin and bones
Meaning: Extremely thin.
Sentence: After the illness, he was skin and bones. - Spic and span
Meaning: Very clean and neat.
Sentence: The kitchen was spic and span after cleaning. - Take it or leave it
Meaning: Accept the offer as is or reject it.
Sentence: That’s my final price—take it or leave it. - Thick and thin
Meaning: Through good times and bad.
Sentence: She stood by him through thick and thin. - Time and again
Meaning: Repeatedly.
Sentence: He’s failed time and again but keeps trying. - Tried and true
Meaning: Tested and reliable.
Sentence: This recipe is a tried and true favorite. - Up and about
Meaning: Recovered and active again.
Sentence: After surgery, she’s finally up and about. - Wear and tear
Meaning: Damage from regular use.
Sentence: The old car shows signs of wear and tear. - Wine and dine
Meaning: Entertain lavishly with food and drink.
Sentence: They wined and dined their clients at a fancy restaurant. - Young and old
Meaning: People of all ages.
Sentence: The festival attracted young and old alike. - Back to back
Meaning: Consecutively or one after another.
Sentence: They won two championships back to back. - Born and bred
Meaning: Raised in a particular place or manner.
Sentence: She’s a Texan, born and bred. - By hook or by crook
Meaning: By any means necessary.
Sentence: He’ll finish the project by hook or by crook. - Crime and punishment
Meaning: Wrongdoing and its consequences.
Sentence: The novel explores themes of crime and punishment. - Dribs and drabs
Meaning: Small, irregular amounts.
Sentence: Donations came in dribs and drabs. - Fame and fortune
Meaning: Celebrity status and wealth.
Sentence: She chased fame and fortune in Hollywood. - Fish or cut bait
Meaning: Make a decision or take action.
Sentence: Stop stalling—fish or cut bait! - Hand in hand
Meaning: Together or closely associated.
Sentence: They walked hand in hand through the park. - Hit or miss
Meaning: Inconsistent or unpredictable.
Sentence: His performance has been hit or miss lately. - In and out
Meaning: Quickly entering and leaving.
Sentence: I was in and out of the store in ten minutes. - More or less
Meaning: Approximately or to some extent.
Sentence: The repairs will cost $500, more or less. - Now and then
Meaning: Occasionally.
Sentence: We meet for coffee now and then. - Open and shut
Meaning: Clear and straightforward, easily resolved.
Sentence: The case was open and shut with clear evidence. - Rough and tumble
Meaning: Disorderly or aggressive behavior.
Sentence: Politics can be a rough and tumble game. - Rules and regulations
Meaning: Official guidelines or laws.
Sentence: Employees must follow all rules and regulations. - Song and dance
Meaning: An elaborate explanation or fuss, often unnecessary.
Sentence: He gave me a song and dance about being late. - Sooner or later
Meaning: Eventually.
Sentence: You’ll have to face the truth sooner or later. - To and fro
Meaning: Back and forth movement.
Sentence: The pendulum swung to and fro steadily. - Trial and error
Meaning: Learning by experimenting and correcting mistakes.
Sentence: I learned coding through trial and error. - Up and down
Meaning: Fluctuating or moving vertically.
Sentence: Her mood has been up and down all week. - Win or lose
Meaning: Regardless of the outcome.
Sentence: Win or lose, I’m proud of my team’s effort. - All or nothing
Meaning: Complete commitment or no effort at all.
Sentence: It’s an all or nothing deal—no compromises. - Here and there
Meaning: In various places.
Sentence: We found clues here and there around the house. - Nook and cranny
Meaning: Every small or hidden place.
Sentence: She cleaned every nook and cranny of the room. - Push and pull
Meaning: Conflicting forces or efforts.
Sentence: Their relationship is a constant push and pull. - Rise and fall
Meaning: Success followed by decline.
Sentence: The empire’s rise and fall is well-documented. - Toss and turn
Meaning: Restless movement, often while trying to sleep.
Sentence: I tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep. - Wait and see
Meaning: Be patient to observe the outcome.
Sentence: Let’s wait and see how the plan unfolds. - Wax and wane
Meaning: Increase and decrease over time.
Sentence: Her enthusiasm for the project waxed and waned. - Weal and woe
Meaning: Prosperity and misfortune.
Sentence: They shared weal and woe throughout their lives. - Wheel and deal
Meaning: Engage in shrewd business negotiations.
Sentence: He loves to wheel and deal in the stock market. - Woe and misery
Meaning: Extreme distress or suffering.
Sentence: The novel depicts the woe and misery of war.
Here are 25 additional binomial expressions, each with its meaning and an example sentence, to complement the previous list. These are distinct from the earlier 100 examples, ensuring variety and avoiding repetition.
- Betwixt and between
Meaning: In an intermediate or undecided state.
Sentence: She felt betwixt and between, unsure whether to stay or leave. - Bow and arrow
Meaning: A traditional weapon pair, often symbolizing precision or hunting.
Sentence: The archer wielded his bow and arrow with expert skill. - Cat and mouse
Meaning: A situation of pursuit or evasion, often playful or strategic.
Sentence: They played a cat and mouse game during the negotiations. - Cause and effect
Meaning: The relationship between an action and its consequence.
Sentence: The teacher explained the cause and effect of climate change. - Checks and balances
Meaning: A system to prevent any one part from gaining too much power.
Sentence: The government’s checks and balances ensure fair governance. - Done and dusted
Meaning: Completely finished or resolved.
Sentence: The project is done and dusted, ready for review. - Drunk and disorderly
Meaning: Behaving disruptively due to intoxication.
Sentence: He was arrested for being drunk and disorderly at the bar. - Far and away
Meaning: By a large margin, undoubtedly.
Sentence: She’s far and away the best candidate for the job. - Fire and brimstone
Meaning: Fierce or passionate preaching, often about punishment.
Sentence: The preacher’s fire and brimstone sermon shook the congregation. - Fits and starts
Meaning: Irregular or intermittent progress.
Sentence: The renovation proceeded in fits and starts due to budget issues. - Flesh and bone
Meaning: The physical human body or essence.
Sentence: He’s just flesh and bone, not invincible. - Give or take
Meaning: Approximately, with some flexibility.
Sentence: The trip will take two hours, give or take. - Hammer and tongs
Meaning: With great energy or intensity.
Sentence: They went at the debate hammer and tongs. - Hearth and home
Meaning: The comforting environment of one’s household.
Sentence: She longed for the warmth of hearth and home. - High and mighty
Meaning: Arrogant or self-important.
Sentence: He acted all high and mighty after his promotion. - Hope and glory
Meaning: Aspirations for greatness or success.
Sentence: The team fought for hope and glory in the championship. - Knife and fork
Meaning: Basic eating utensils, often implying a meal.
Sentence: She set the table with a knife and fork for each guest. - Lost and found
Meaning: A place where misplaced items are recovered.
Sentence: I checked the lost and found for my missing wallet. - Needle and thread
Meaning: Tools for sewing, often symbolizing repair or creation.
Sentence: She used needle and thread to mend the torn dress. - Pen and paper
Meaning: Basic tools for writing or communication.
Sentence: I grabbed a pen and paper to jot down the idea. - Rant and rave
Meaning: To express anger or frustration loudly.
Sentence: He would rant and rave whenever things didn’t go his way. - Salt and pepper
Meaning: Common seasonings or a mix of contrasting elements.
Sentence: The dish needed a dash of salt and pepper for flavor. - Sword and shield
Meaning: Symbols of offense and defense, often in conflict.
Sentence: The knight carried a sword and shield into battle. - Tooth and nail
Meaning: With fierce effort or determination.
Sentence: She fought tooth and nail to secure the contract. - Warp and woof
Meaning: The essential structure or foundation of something (from weaving).
Sentence: Community trust is the warp and woof of their success.
These additional binomials provide further examples of idiomatic and literal word pairs, each with clear meanings and contextual usage. If you’d like more examples or specific types of binomials, let me know!
This list provides a comprehensive set of binomials with their meanings and practical usage in sentences, covering a range of contexts from everyday speech to formal or literary expressions. Let me know if you’d like further details or additional examples!
Also Read: Mastering English Verb Tenses: Fill-in-the-Blank Exercises with Answers
Must-Try English Grammar Quizzes: Master Verb Tenses Instantly!
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