English Expressions

These words/phrases below are normally used in pairs (most of them are as
idiomatic expressions).

Doubles Meanings
again and again repeatedly, again and even more
beck and call always ready to obey somebody’s order
body and soul with all your energy
by and by before long, soon
by the by by the way
come and go to arrive and leave, to move freely
fair and square honestly and according to the rules
far and away by a very great amount
fits and starts frequently starting and stopping again; not continuously
give and take to be willing or tolerate with other/s
give or take approximately
great and small of all sizes or types
hand and foot never-ending effort
hand in hand i) holding each other’s hand,
ii) in cooperation, jointly.
hard and fast cannot be changed in any circumstances
head and shoulders i) by force, violently
ii) superior to someone or something
head to head deal with somebody in a direct and determined way
head over heels loving somebody very much
heart and soul with a lot of energy and enthusiasm
here and there in various places
high and dry i) in a position out of water (boat,etc)
ii) in a difficult situation – without help and money
high and low everywhere
hue and cry strong public protest about something
hum and haw taking a long time to make decision/before saying
something
in and out going regularly to a place
ins and outs all the details especially the complicated ones
lock and key i) locked up safely somewhere;
ii) in prison
null and void invalid, having no legal force
odds and ends i) small items that are not valuable;
ii) small jobs
on and off intermittently
on and on without stopping; continuously
one and all everyone
one and only eminent beyond or above comparison

1
one by one separately and in order
one or two a few
over and above besides; in addition to something
over and over many times, repeatedly
part and parcel an essential part of something
puff and blow breathe quickly and loudly through your mouth after
physical effort
safe and sound free from danger or injury
spick and span neat and clean
stuff and nonsense senseless talk; something is not true and/or is silly
such and such referring to something without saying exactly what it is
thick and thin good and bad times
this and that various things or activities
time and again repeatedly
up and about/about recovered from an illness
up and doing actively engaged; alert; busy
up and down i) back and forth; backward and forward
ii) from top to bottom or head to toe
ups and downs mixture of good and bad things
ways and means methods and means of accomplishing or paying for
something.
wear and tear damage or deterioration resulting from ordinary use