Dreams and Discoveries
Binomials
Learn binomials, word pairs like peace and quiet.
A line from the story: "Well, that was the end of peace and quiet in the house."
Peace and quiet mean almost the same, and they always come in that order. Nobody says "quiet and peace"! Such a pair is called a binomial.
A binomial is two words, usually joined by and or or, used together in a fixed order. Together they give one meaning (or a pair of opposites).
The fixed order is the point: you'd be understood either way, but only one way sounds like English. So learn them whole.
Common binomials:
| Binomial | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| safe and sound | unharmed | After a long journey, we arrived home safe and sound. |
| odds and ends | small leftover things | She sorted the odds and ends in the cupboard. |
| make or break | decides success or failure | This project is a make or break moment for our team. |
| pros and cons | arguments for and against | Weigh the pros and cons before you decide. |
| now or never | the last chance | It's our final chance to perform: now or never! |
| give and take | both sides giving way a little | Every friendship needs some give and take. |
Listen and you'll hear more everywhere: bread and butter, back and forth, rain or shine, sooner or later, wear and tear.
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