Time
Time and time again: Often; repeatedly.
Fuss
Fuss and bother: Commotion and controversy.
Cookies
Cookies and Cream: A variety of ice cream, milkshake and other desserts that includes chocolate sandwich cookies, with the most popular version containing hand or pre-crumbled cookies from Nabisco's Oreo brand under a licensing agreement.
In sickness
In sickness and in health: A phrase found in some marriage vows.
Hide
Hide and seek: The name of a children’s game. The title of several thriller films (2005, 2021, 2023).
Hue
Hue and cry: A loud clamor or public outcry. Also, a Scottish pop duo (1983-present) consisting of brothers Pat and Greg Kane.
Dot the i’s
Dot the i’s and cross the t’s: To take care of every detail, even minor ones; to be meticulous or thorough; to finish off something close to complete.
Bacon
Bacon and eggs: A (mostly breakfast) food pairing that became popular in the U.S. during the 1920s as the result of a marketing scheme by Edward Bernays of the Beech-Nut Packing Company, who wanted to increase bacon sales.
Suit
Suit and tie: A description of a men’s outfit or a dress code. Also, the title of a 2013 Justin Timberlake song.
Needle
Needle and thread: A pair of items used for sewing.
Rank
Rank and file: (idiomatic) Members of an organization who are not in leadership positions.
Cup
Cup and saucer: A small drinking vessel frequently used for hot beverages and the small plate or shallow bowl on which it sits.
The Owl
The Owl and the Pussycat: 1. An 1870 nonsense poem by Edward Lear (as “The Owl and the Pussy-Cat”). 2. A 1966 song composed by Igor Stravinsky for soprano and piano and based on Lear’s text. 3. A 1970 American romantic comedy film directed by Herbert Ross and starring Barbra Streisand and George Segal. 4. A 1964 play (on which the film was based) by Bill Manhoff.
Ketchup
Ketchup and mustard: A pair of condiments often used on hamburgers and hot dogs, separately or together.
Research
Research and development: (in industry) Work directed toward the innovation, introduction, and improvement of products and processes.
Null
Null and void: Having no force, binding power, or validity.
Addition
Addition and subtraction: The two most basic mathematical operations.
Far
Far and wide: Over a large area.
Spaghetti
Spaghetti and meatballs: An Italian-American dish consisting of spaghetti, tomato sauce and meatballs.
Venus
Venus and Mars: An allegory for women and men; the title of numerous works of art; the title of a 1975 studio album by Paul McCartney and Wings. A reference to the Roman goddess of beauty and love and the god of war.
Truck
Truck and trailer: (rugby) The situation where the ball carrier leaves a maul and is followed by teammates.
First
First and foremost: Most importantly; more than anything else.
Fire
Fire and forget: (military technology) A kind of missile guidance system which does not require further control after launch, and can hit its target without the launcher being in line of sight of the target.
Chalk
Chalk and talk: (derogatory, informal) the traditional method of teaching, consisting mainly of talking and writing on a chalkboard.
Part
Part and parcel: An integral or essential piece; that which must be done or accepted as part of something else.
Bother
Cream
Cross the t’s
Cry
Development
Eggs
File
Foremost
Forget
In health
Mars
Meatballs
Mustard
Parcel
Saucer
Seek
Subtraction
Talk
The Pussycat
Thread
Tie
Time again
Trailer
Void
Wide
Correct!
Incorrect
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Are the post-quiz explanations useful? Or don’t you bother to look at them?
They take a great deal of time to prepare. If they are not useful or interesting, I would prefer to omit them from future quizzes in the “Pairs” series.