25 Essential “And” Collocations (Binomials)

25 Essential “And” Collocations (Binomials) You Need to Know

English is full of fixed expressions in which two words are joined by ‘and’. These pairs — known as binomials — are often idiomatic, memorable, and extremely common in everyday conversation, business English, and Cambridge exam tasks. Most of them can’t be changed or reordered, so it’s worth learning them as whole chunks. Think of them as ready-made phrases that make you sound far more fluent and natural. 25 Essential “And” Collocations (Binomials)

Below, you’ll find 25 must-know “and” collocations, complete with clear meanings and useful examples.

All and sundry

Meaning: everyone; the whole crowd.

When the company won the award, the CEO thanked all and sundry for their support.

Bits and pieces / Bits and bobs

Meaning: small, assorted items.

I’ve packed most of my suitcase — just a few bits and pieces left to sort.

Bread and butter

Meaning: your main source of income.

I write articles on the side, but teaching remains my bread and butter.

By and large

Meaning: generally; in most situations.

By and large, commuters prefer the train to driving.

Carrot and stick

Meaning: a combination of reward and punishment to motivate someone.

The manager used a carrot and stick approach to keep the team on track.

Dead and buried

Meaning:completely finished; gone forever.

With new technology emerging, DVD players will soon be dead and buried.

Far and wide

Meaning: across many places.

People travelled from far and wide to attend the festival.

Give and take

Meaning: mutual compromise.

A healthy relationship involves a bit of give and take.

Gloom and doom

Meaning: a pessimistic or negative outlook.

Come on, it’s not all gloom and doom — there are good things happening too!

Huff and puff

Meaning:complain or express annoyance; also to breathe heavily.

After a lot of huffing and puffing, he finally agreed to help.

25 Essential “And” Collocations (Binomials)

Hustle and bustle

Meaning: noisy, busy activity.

Despite being shy, she adored the hustle and bustle of city life.

Law and order

Meaning: a peaceful situation where rules are respected.

Strong law and order are essential for any society to function.

Life and death

Meaning:extremely serious; potentially fatal.

The doctors acted quickly — it was a life and death situation.

Out and about

Meaning: going from place to place; active outside the home.

After days of rain, it’s lovely to be out and about again.

Pros and cons

Meaning: advantages and disadvantages.

Before moving abroad, think carefully about the pros and cons.

Pure and simple

Meaning: used for emphasis; nothing more than.

If you skip the deadline, you’ll fail the assignment — pure and simple.

Rise and fall

Meaning: the progression from success to decline.

The documentary explored the rise and fall of the Roman Empire.

25 Essential “And” Collocations (Binomials)

Safe and sound

Meaning: unharmed, especially after a journey or danger.

After the long trip, we were relieved to arrive safe and sound.

Salt and pepper

Meaning: black-and-white mix (often describing hair).

His salt and pepper hair made him look distinguished.

Touch and go

Meaning: uncertain; the result could go either way.

It was touch and go for a while, but the patient pulled through.

Twists and turns

Meaning: sudden changes or complicated developments.

The plot was full of twists and turns — I couldn’t stop reading.

Ups and downs

Meaning: good times and bad times.

Every friendship has its ups and downs.

Wear and tear

Meaning: gradual damage from normal use.

The sofa shows some wear and tear, but it’s still comfortable.

Wine and dine

Meaning: to entertain someone with good food and drink.

The company wined and dined their clients at a fancy restaurant.

Time and again

Meaning: repeatedly.

I’ve told you time and again to back up your files!

Now it’s your turn!

If you know any other binomials with and, feel free to share them in the comments. Let’s learn from one another — pure and simple!

Stay safe and sound! 😊

If you really want to learn English but don’t know how to do it and where to start, don’t hesitate to contact us. Book an online English lesson with one of our certified and experienced English teachers and take a test and consultation! Tap the banner to learn more!