10 Binomial Expressions with “or”

10 Binomial Expressions with “or”

Hello English learners! Welcome to a new lesson. We will learn how to use 10 binomial expressions with “or”.

Here is the list:

1. Do or die
2. Give or take
3. Heads or tails
4. Life or death
5. Make or break
6. More or less
7. Now or never
8. Rain or shine
9. Sooner or later
10. Trick or treat

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Do or die

Meaning: a situation in which you have to be brave and take a risk in order to achieve something.

• Our football team played very well last night. It was a do-or-die match if you ask me.
• If you wish to survive in this business, you must do or die.

Give or take

Meaning: use it to say that the amount is not exact but approximate.

• The piece of furniture is 200 years old, give or take 10 years.
• It takes half an hour to get there, give or take five minutes.

Binomial Expressions with “or”

Heads or tails

Meaning: use it to ask somebody whether they want heads or tails when you toss a coin.

• If you win this coin toss, we will take you wherever you like. Heads or tails?
• Michael threw the coin in the air and asked: “Heads or tails?”

 

Life-or-death

Meaning: a serious situation in which someone may die.

• Many people in the war-affected area are facing life-or-death situations daily.
• Getting to college isn’t a life-or-death situation, so stop being nervous!

Make or break

Meaning: to be successful or to fail.

• This board’s recognition can make or break your career.
• High expectations can make or break a relationship.

More or less

Meaning: mostly; approximately.

• Houses in the two neighbouring countries were more or less the same.
• David could earn more or less £100 a night in that club.

Now or never

Meaning: you must do something now because there will be no other chance.

• The discount won’t last forever, so are you buying it or not – it’s now or never.
• You have to make up your mind, it’s now or never.

Binomial Expressions with “or”

Rain or shine

Meaning: whatever happens.

• Jane goes cycling every day, rain or shine.
• Rain or shine, Brian is always in his office at 8.

Sooner or later

Meaning: something will happen in the future, although we are not sure when.

• If you don’t have time for your health, you will have to have time for your illness sooner or later.
• Katie was sure the police would catch the thief who stole her bicycle sooner or later.

Trick or treat

Meaning: asked by children on Halloween.

• Trick or treating is a Halloween activity where children go from house to house and ask people for treats – “trick or treat.”
• Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something nice to eat.

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