Pairs #39

R&R. An informal abbreviation of “rest and relaxation.”

tag and rag. (mostly UK) The common people.

sackcloth and ashes. Penitence or remorse for one's misdeeds or poor behavior. The phrase derives from the ancient practice of smearing oneself with ashes and wearing coarse garments of goat or camel's hair, flax, hemp, or cotton to demonstrate repentance.

back up and punt. (US) To consider, devise, or undertake a drastically different course of action in an attempt to resolve an undesirable or untenable situation. In American football, a team on offense will commonly punt the ball on their fourth and final down, after other offensive plays have not been successful.

wake up and die right. (dated) Start focusing on the present and do what you are supposed to be doing. The phrase possibly originated among World War II soldiers.

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

nail ‘em and jail ‘em. The police in general.

“Man plans and God laughs” criticizes the human tendency to make plans even though unforeseen circumstances can ruin them.

From the proverb “a false friend and a shadow stay only while the sun shines.”

From the proverb “If ifs and ans were pots and pans, there'd be no work for tinkers' hands,” with “ans” being an archaic word for “if.”

all hat and no cowboy. (primarily US) Full of talk that is more impressive than than the speaker actually is.

jot and tittle. The very smallest detail(s) or amount(s).

lares and penates. The items that constitute or are a part of one's home. The lares and penates were protective household gods in ancient Rome, and eventually came to signify the home itself.

carrot and stick. Reward and punishment used as persuasive measures.

From the proverb “early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.”

part and parcel. An essential or fundamental part or aspect (of something).

From the saying “oil and water do not mix,” said of two objects, elements, factors, forces, people, etc., that do not or cannot mix together readily.

gall and wormwood. Strong feelings of bitterness and resentment.

all bark and no bite. Full of talk that is more threatening or impressive than the speaker actually is.

chief cook and bottle washer. One who is involved in many aspects of a particular situation.

Part of the proverb “a fool and his money are soon parted.”

keep a dog and bark yourself. To engage someone who is ostensibly responsible for some amount of work, but then do or oversee most or all of that work oneself.

far and away. By a large degree or margin; greatly.

Dame Partington and her mop. Someone staunchly opposed to progress or reform, even when it is inevitable. The phrase is thought to have originated from stories in 19th-century England of a woman who kept trying to get water out of her flooded home during a storm before finally evacuating.