1.

first and foremost / most important thing time and time again / very often
2. loud and clear / very clear and easy to understand
3. part and parcel / an essential part
4. sooner or later / it will happen sometime in the future
5. little by little / gradually step by step / to progress gradually
6. good and proper / very well the
7. nitty gritty / the essential part
8. give or take / approximately, possibly a small difference
9. short and sweet / brief and relevant
10. hustle and bustle / busy, active and noisy
11. now or never / do it immediately
12. take it or leave it / it is a non-negotiable offer
13. rise and shine / it’s time to wake up
14. flesh and blood / to be a member of the family
15. sink or swim / you must fail or succeed by your own efforts
16. sick and tired / to be fed up of something or someone
17. mumbo jumbo / nonsense
18. culture vulture / a person who is interested in the arts and cultural events
19. wine and dine / to provide good food, drink and entertainment
20. live and learn / to discover something surprising that adds to your experience of life
21. from rags to riches / to rise from poverty to wealth
22. tried and tested / something that has proven in the past to be effective or reliable time
after time / repeatedly
23. let bygones be bygones / forget past disagreements and reconcile
24. all in all / with all things considered
25. beg steal or borrow / to do whatever is necessary to get what you want
26. Tom, dick or/and Harry / any unspecified person (or persons) Not in any way, shape or
form / definitely not
27. Spick and span / very clean and very tidy
28. By hook or by crook / by any means possible
29. more or less / by and large / generally, for the most part
30. tall, dark and handsome / to refer to a classically good-looking guy
31. safe and sound / to be safe
32. ups and downs / good moments and bad moments
33. pure and simple / no additional explanation for something other than what just said
34. pride and joy / the object of one’s great pleasure
35. now and then / sometimes
36. back and forth / moving first in one direction and then in the opposite one
37. wear and tear / damage resulting from ordinary use
38. down and out / destitute, without money and a place to live
39. tooth and nail / to fight intensively, fiercely for something
40. high and dry / in a difficult situation and unable to do anything about it
41. law and order / a situation where respect for the rules of the country is being obeyed
42. odds and ends / some small matters to attend to – various things of different types,
usually small and not important
43. song and dance / to make an unnecessary fuss about something
44. an arm and a leg / very expensive
45. tit for tat / actions taken in revenge for something unpleasant done to you
46. black and white / a situation where it’s easy to understand which is right and which is
wrong – clearly written
47. done and dusted / to be completely finished
48. far and wide / over a large area
49. pros and cons / advantages and disadvantages no
50. ifs and buts / without any excuses or discussion
51. born and bred / to have been born and grown up in a particular place
52. rough and ready / crude but effective through
53. thick and thin / during good times and bad times