Pairs #49

a whistling woman and a crowing hen. The beginning of the antiquated proverb “a whistling woman and a crowing hen are neither fit for God nor men,” cautioning that it is not proper for a woman to engage in overtly masculine behavior.

keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Be very aware of your enemies' behavior in order to detect and avoid any malicious actions.

everybody and their brother. Used hyperbolically to express a large number or a majority of people.

(have) one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel. (colloquial) To be very close to dying. (A banana peel is often emblematic of uncertainty or instability, as it is commonly depicted in cartoons and comedies as causing people to slip if stepped on.)

in the here and now. In the present; at this point in time.

here today (and) gone tomorrow. Said of something that is short-lived.

few and far between. Rare or seldom-seen.

give a dog a bad name and hang him. A proverb meaning that it is very difficult to lose or change a bad reputation.

left and right. From or on all sides; from multiple places or sources; with great frequency.

hunt and peck. A method of typing in which one seeks out and presses each letter on the keyboard individually, especially using only one's index fingers to do so.

forty acres and a mule. 1. Something given by the government. 2. A promise or assurance that proves to be false.

make like a tree and leave. (humorous) To depart or leave, especially at once or in a hurry.

elders and betters. The people who are older than one and thus deserve respect.

all hat and no cattle. Impressive talk that belies the ineffectualness of the speaker. Primarily heard in the US.

penny-wise and pound-foolish. So concerned with saving money in any way possible that one fails to allocate money to things that will ultimately force one to spend more (due to lack of quality, proper maintenance, etc.).

a little bit of bread and no cheese. An onomatopoeic phrase used in Britain to describe the song of the Yellowhammer bird. Primarily heard in UK.

done and dusted. Successfully finished. Primarily heard in the UK.

Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles' Father. A mnemonic used in music to remember the names of the flat keys (B, E, A, D, G, C, and F). Reading the phrase in reverse can be used to remember the sharp keys.

all fingers and thumbs. Clumsy or uncoordinated with one's hands. Primarily heard in the UK, Australia.

at sixes and sevens. Frazzled or disorganized.

Come and get it!. An imperative to come to a certain area to eat.

between the jigs and the reels. (primarily Ireland) That which happens among, despite, or because of great confusion, chaos, or disarray; between or because of one thing and another.

loaves and fishes. Tangible benefits or rewards, especially when they serve as one's motivation for action.

through and through. Thoroughly or completely; in every way, manner, or aspect.