Adjective + And + Adjective Collocations

Common Adjective + And + Adjective Collocations in English (with Meanings & Examples)

Hello, dear English learners 👋 Welcome to a new lesson. In English, certain words naturally go together — and one very common pattern is adjective + and + adjective. These fixed pairs are often used to describe people, feelings, situations, and experiences in a more natural and expressive way. In this lesson, you’ll learn a selection of useful adjective pairs such as safe and sound, slow and steady, and through thick and thin. These expressions are frequently used in spoken English, stories, and everyday writing, and they will help your English sound more fluent and idiomatic. Let’s look at some commonly used adjective + and + adjective collocations.

Collocation	Meaning	Example sentence
Big and bold	something that is large in size and stands out confidently.	He wore a big and bold necklace that caught everyone’s attention.
Bright and cheerful	something that is full of light, color, and positivity.	The bright and cheerful café was the perfect place to relax and enjoy a cup of coffee.
Bright and shiny	something that is full of light and has a reflective, polished surface.	He was excited about his bright and shiny new laptop.
Calm and collected	someone who is composed, in control of their emotions, and able to handle situations without becoming stressed.	Despite the chaos around him, he remained calm and collected.
Clean and tidy	something that is free from dirt, clutter, and disorder.	He always looks clean and tidy, with his clothes neatly pressed and his hair combed.
Clear and concise	something that is easy to understand and expressed in a brief, straightforward manner.	He gave a clear and concise explanation of the new policy.
Cool and calm	someone who is composed, relaxed, and able to handle stressful situations.	She gave a cool and calm response to the unexpected question.
Dark and mysterious	something that is enigmatic, intriguing and often associated with a sense of the unknown or hidden depths.	He had a dark and mysterious aura that drew people in.
Deep and meaningful	something that has significant emotional or intellectual depth and importance.	Their friendship is deep and meaningful, based on years of trust and shared experiences.
Fast and furious	something that is rapid, intense and full of energy.	The basketball game was fast and furious, with both teams scoring rapidly.
Fit and healthy	someone who is in good physical condition and free from illness.	Living a fit and healthy lifestyle involves making time for exercise and choosing wholesome foods.
Free and easy	something that is relaxed and informal, without strict rules.	The party had a free and easy vibe, with guests enjoying themselves.
Fresh and clean	something that is newly made or maintained, free from dirt and has a pleasant, invigorating quality.	He put on a fresh and clean shirt for the meeting.
Full and complete	something that is entire, with nothing missing, and thoroughly finished.	The guide provides a full and complete overview of the software’s features.
Good and bad	refers to the positive and negative aspects of something.	There are good and bad consequences to every choice.
Happy and content	someone who is experiencing joy and satisfaction, feeling at peace with their current situation.	She felt happy and content after spending a relaxing day with her family.
Hard and fast	something that is strict, unchangeable, and firmly established.	The project has a hard and fast deadline of next Friday.
High and mighty	someone who is acting arrogantly or with a sense of superiority.	He spoke in a high and mighty tone, dismissing everyone’s opinions.
Hot and bothered	someone who is feeling agitated, flustered or upset, often due to stress or excitement.	The long wait in the hot sun left everyone feeling hot and bothered.
Huge and powerful	something very large in size and with great strength or influence.	The corporation is huge and powerful, with a presence in multiple countries.
Large and spacious	something with plenty of room and a generous size.	The office building is large and spacious, with wide hallways and open-plan workspaces.
Light and airy	something that is bright, well-ventilated, and gives a sense of openness and freshness.	The living room is light and airy, with large windows and high ceilings.
Long and short	something that encompasses both extremes or summarises a situation.	The meeting covered the long and short of the company’s new policies.
Loud and clear	something that is communicated very clearly and unmistakably.	The audience’s applause made it clear they enjoyed the performance.
Neat and tidy	something that is well-organised, clean and free from clutter.	She keeps her bedroom neat and tidy, with all her clothes folded and put away.
Old and new	refers to the contrast or combination of something that is from the past and something that is contemporary.	The cityscape is a mix of old and new, with ancient temples standing alongside skyscrapers.
Old and wise	someone who has gained a lot of knowledge, experience, and understanding over a long period of time.	The old and wise wizard provided guidance to the young hero.
Open and honest	someone who is transparent, straightforward and truthful in their communication and actions.	She is known for being open and honest, always speaking her mind.
Plain and simple	something straightforward, easy to understand, and free of complications.	The instructions were given plain and simple, so everyone could follow them easily.
Poor and needy	someone who lacks financial resources and needs assistance.	The disaster left many people poor and needy, relying on aid for survival.
Quick and easy	something that can be done quickly and with little effort.	This pasta recipe is quick and easy, perfect for a busy weeknight dinner.
Rich and famous	someone who is wealthy and well-known or celebrated.	The rich and famous often attend exclusive events and travel to exotic destinations.
Sick and tired	someone is extremely frustrated or fed up with a situation or person.	I’m sick and tired of hearing the same excuses every day.
Short and sweet	something that is brief but pleasant and to the point.	He sent a short and sweet text to confirm the meeting time.
Simple and straightforward	something that is easy to understand and direct, without any complications or unnecessary details.	He gave a simple and straightforward explanation of the process.
Safe and sound	someone or something is free from harm and in good condition.	They reached home safe and sound after the long trip.
Slow and steady	taking a gradual and consistent approach to achieve success or reach a goal.	Learning a new language is best done slow and steady, practicing a little each day.
Small and insignificant	something that is very minor, unimportant, or lacking in impact.	She felt small and insignificant in the large crowd.
Smart and intelligent	someone who has a high level of mental ability, quick thinking, and good judgment.	Making a smart and intelligent choice can lead to better outcomes.
Strong and healthy	someone who is physically robust and in good health.	He is strong and healthy, regularly exercising and eating a balanced diet.
Sweet and sour	something that has both pleasant and tangy or sharp qualities.	Graduating from college was a sweet and sour moment, as she was excited to start her career but sad to leave her friends.
Tall and thin	someone or something that has a considerable height and a slender build.	The tall and thin bamboo plants swayed gently in the breeze.
Thick and thin	enduring through both good and bad times, showing loyalty and steadfastness.	They have been friends through thick and thin, always there for each other no matter what.
Tired and weary	someone is feeling exhausted and worn out, both physically and mentally.	She felt tired and weary after a long day of meetings and deadlines.
True and honest	someone who is genuine, sincere, and truthful in their words and actions.	She is known for being true and honest, never hiding her feelings or intentions.
Warm and cosy	something that is comfortable, inviting, and gives a sense of warmth and snugness.	She wore a warm and cosy sweater to stay comfortable during the winter.
Weak and feeble	someone or something that lacks strength, vitality or robustness.	After the illness, he felt weak and feeble, struggling to perform daily tasks.
Wet and wild	something that is exciting, adventurous, and involves water.	The water park was wet and wild, with exciting slides and wave pools.
Wide and varied	something that encompasses a broad range of different types or categories.	Her interests are wide and varied, including everything from painting to hiking.
Young and energetic	someone who is youthful and full of vitality and enthusiasm.	The festival was young and energetic, with music, dancing, and a lively crowd.

Using adjective pairs is a simple way to make your English more natural, vivid, and confident. Instead of using single adjectives, these combinations allow you to express ideas more clearly and memorably.

Try choosing a few adjective + and + adjective collocations from this list and using them in your own sentences — in speaking, writing, or even short stories. With regular practice, phrases like true and honest or safe and sound will start to feel completely natural.

Small steps, taken slow and steady, lead to real progress 😊

Learn adjective + preposition collocations here

Learn adverb + adjective collocations here

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