Pairs #23

Forever and ever. 1. (biblical, Christian liturgy) Eternally; timelessly; with no beginning and no end. 2. (as an intensifier) Forever.

Apples and pears. (Cockney rhyming slang) Stairs.

Ball and socket. A joint in which one segment has a rounded end and the next segment has a bowl-shaped end, with the rounded end being fitted into the bowl shape, allowing the first segment to move around an indefinite number of axes which have one common center. Examples include the human shoulder joint and the balljoints of some automotive suspensions.

Cut and dried. Simple, straightforward, clear, or certain.

Time and a half. A rate of pay 50% greater than normal, commonly used for overtime work.

Him and her. Masculine singular and feminine singular object(ive) pronouns.

Hot and cold. (idiomatic) Ambivalent; having conflicting emotions.

Chip and charge. (tennis) A weak groundstroke followed immediately by an advance towards the net.

Tooth and nail. (figurative) Viciously; with all one's strength or power; without holding back.

Prize and booty. From the title On the Law of Prize and Booty, an English translation of Hugo Grotius’ seventeenth century work De Jure Praedae, widely credited as a major foundation of international law.

Sick and tired. (idiomatic) Annoyed or frustrated with something or someone, to the point of losing one's temper or patience.

By and by. 1. After a short time. 2. After an indefinite period.

Round and round. 1. In a repeated circular motion. 2. (figurative) Following the same course repeatedly in vain.

Tick and tie. (accounting, mostly UK) To make sure that every item in a ledger or in an inventory is accounted for and properly connected to other items to which it relates.

Big and bold. Large and visually striking.

Cakes and ale. The simple material pleasures of life.

Slip and fall. A type of accident that triggers premises liability and personal injury claims.

Pros and cons. The positive and negative attributes of arguments.

Suave and debonair. (typically of a man) Having a sophisticated charm.

Cap and ball. An early loading system for handguns where the percussion cap, powder, and bullet were separate components loaded individually into the gun. Typically used in early to mid 1800s.

Any and every. Any without exception; used for emphasis.

Bacon and cabbage. (Ireland) A traditional Irish dish of back bacon simmered with cabbage and other vegetables such as onions, turnips and carrots, served with the bacon sliced and much of the boiled liquid retained with the vegetables.

Blood and ouns. 1. (archaic, dialectal) The blood and wounds of Christ on the cross. 2. (archaic, dialectal, mildly blasphemous) Expression of surprise, contempt, outrage, disgust, frustration.

Bag and band. The suicide technique of combining an overdose with a plastic bag placed over the head and secured with an elastic band.