Pairs #48

between hawk and buzzard. Caught between two extremes or two factions.

keep a thing seven years, and you'll (always) find a use for it (proverb). Anything you come to possess will eventually serve a useful purpose if you hold onto it for long enough.

let’s not and say (that) we did. A sarcastic expression indicating that one would really rather not do what has been proposed.

day in and day out. A phrase used to describe something that happens routinely or regularly.

heaven protects children and drunken men (proverb). A phrase used to express amazement that a child or drunk person has escaped injury. Also heard as “… children, sailors and drunkards …” or other variations.

rain cats and dogs. To rain extremely heavily.

best-laid plans of mice and men. From the proverb “The best-laid plans of mice and men oft go astray,” said when something ends poorly or differently than expected, despite preparations for success.

1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration. From the proverb “Genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration,” attributed to US inventor Thomas Edison, and meaning that genius or things considered to have the quality of genius may derive from brilliant ideas or intellect, but they require a huge amount of hard work to be successful.

the Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away. A paraphrasing of Job 1:21 meaning that one’s good fortune can very easily and abruptly be reversed.

cheap and cheerful (slang, chiefly UK). Inexpensive and enjoyable or pleasant.

supply and demand. The availability of things or people as compared to the need to utilize the things or people; the availability of goods compared to the number of willing customers for the goods.

in and of itself. By itself, without considering any other factors.

Give a beggar a horse, and he'll ride it to death (proverb). If a poor person suddenly comes into wealth, they will inevitably use it in unscrupulous or irresponsible ways.

on the straight and narrow. Maintaining a morally upright way of life; only making choices that are considered morally and legally correct.

up and about. Moving around, especially after a period of injury, illness, or inactivity.

make like a banana and split (humorous). To depart or leave, especially at once or in a hurry. (A pun on "to split," a slang term meaning to leave or depart, and a "banana split," an ice cream-based dessert featuring a banana halved lengthwise.)

ask me no questions, (and) I'll tell you no lies. Don't question me on that topic because I will probably lie.

all sizzle and no steak. Disappointing or anticlimactic. Having an exciting, promising, important, or aggrandizing buildup that proves to be unwarranted.

laugh and the (whole) world laughs with you(; weep and you weep alone) (proverb). People like to be around those who are happy (but not those who are sad or morose).

fair and impartial (typically used in legal settings). Just and unbiased.

all gas and gaiters. A favorable or pleasant state. The phrase can also be written as "all is gas and gaiters," which is how it first appeared in Charles Dickens's novel Nicholas Nickleby.

night and day. All the time; continuously.

(you) pay(s) your money and take(s) your choice. You are the one paying, so the decision about something is yours. (Often used to indicate that there is not a clear advantage to one choice over another.)

wet and wild. (slang) Talking nonsense. (vulgar, slang) Sexually promiscuous and hedonistic. (as Wet 'n Wild, Wet'n'Wild, Wet N Wild and other variations) The name (in full or in part) of various US water parks. (as wet n wild®) A brand of budget cosmetics.