Page 161 - English Vocabualry In Use 3 (Upper Intermediate)

77 Binomials

A What are binomials?

Binomialsareexpressions(oftenidiomatic)wheretwowordsarejoinedbyaconjunction(usually
‘and’).Theorderofthewordsisnormallyfixed.Forexample:
odds and ends:small,unimportantthings,e.g.Let’sgetthemainthingspacked-
wecandotheoddsandendslater.(NOTendsandodds)
give and take:aspiritofcompromise,e.g.Everyrelationshipneedsabitofgive and
take tobesuccessful.
Youcanoftentellsomethingisabinomialbecauseofthesoundpattern,whichmaybearepetitionof
thesamefirstsoundorarhyme.
Tearsarepartandparcelofgrowingup.[animportantpartof/belongto]
Thebosswasrantingandraving/ˈreɪvɪŋ/atus.[shouting/veryangry]
Theoldcottagehasgonetorackandruin.[isruined/hasdecayed]
He’ssoprimandproperatwork.[ratherformalandfussy]
Thehotelwasabitroughandready.[poorstandardorquality]

Shehastowineanddineimportantclients.[entertain/takeouttorestaurants]
Theystolemywallet.Iwaslefthighanddry,withnomoney.[inaverydifficultsituation]

B Pairs of near synonyms

Atothertimes,theclueisthatthewordsarenearsynonyms.
Youcanpickandchoose-it’suptoyou.[haveawidechoice]
MyEnglishisprogressingin/byleapsandbounds.[bigjumps]
It’snicetohavesomepeaceandquietnowthatthechildrenhavelef.
[apeaceful/calmsituation]
Thedoctorrecommendedsomerestandrecreation/RandR.[relaxation]
First and foremost,youmustworkhard.[first and most importantly]

C Binomials composed of grammar words

Manygrammarwordscombinetoform
binomials. Language help
Therearecaféshereandtherealongthe Your language probably has many binomials.
seafront.[scatteredround/indifferentplaces] Check that the ones which look similar in
We’vehadmeetingsonandoff/offand English have the same word order as your
on.[occasionally] language. These three are very neutral
I’vebeenrunningbackandforth/to binomials and can be used in formal or informal
and froallday.[to and from somewhere] situations. Try translating them.
She’sbetternow,andoutandaboutagain. an old black and white photograph
[goingout] Ladies and gentlemen, your attention, please!
Sheranupanddownthestreet. She ran back and forth.
[inbothdirections]

D Binomials linked by words other than and

You’vegotyoursweateronbacktofront.[thewrongway]

Hewon’thelpher-she’llhavetosinkorswim.[surviveorfail]
Slowly but surely,Irealisedtheboatwassinking.[gradually]
Sooner or later,you’lllearnyourlesson.[sometime in the future]
Shedidn’twanttobejustfriends-ithadtobeallornothing.
Well,I’msorry,that’sallIcanofferyou-takeitorleaveit.
It’saboutthesamedistanceasfromheretoDublin,giveortakeafewmiles.
[perhapsamileortwomore,oramileortwoless]

160 English Vocabulary in Use Upper-intermediate