Nonreversible word pairs always appear in the same order, e.g., back and forth. It would sound awkward if we read forth and back. For many of us, certain words go together and we will automatically use the correct order. However, nonnative speakers will need to learn nonreversible word pairs.
Common Word Pairs
The following is a list of common word pairs. Collocations are also a good idea to learn if you are a nonnative speaker. These are words commonly used together, e.g., have a headache.
| Adam and Eve | life or death |
| back and forth | lock and key |
| bacon and eggs | lost and found |
| bed and breakfast | man and wife |
| birds and bees | name and address |
| black and white | nice and easy |
| body and soul | null and void |
| bread and butter | peaches and cream |
| bread and water | pen and pencil |
| bricks and mortar | pork and beans |
| bride and groom | pots and pans |
| business and pleasure | prim and proper |
| by and large | profit and/or loss |
| cause and effect | pros and cons |
| cloak and dagger | pure and simple |
| coat and tie | rain or shine |
| coffee and doughnuts | ranting and raving |
| cream and sugar | read and write |
| crime and punishment | right and/or wrong |
| cup and saucer | rise and fall |
| dead or alive | salt and pepper |
| down and out | shirt and tie |
| first and last | shoes and socks |
| fish and chips | short and fat |
| flesh and blood | signed and sealed |
| forgive and forget | slip and slide |
| front and center | soap and water |
| fun and games | sooner or later |
| give and take | stars and stripes |
| ham and eggs | suit and tie |
| hammer and nail | supply and demand |
| hemmed and hawed | sweet and sour |
| high and dry | tall and thin |
| high and low | thick and thin |
| hot and bothered | tossed and turned |
| huffing and puffing | touch and go |
| husband and wife | trial and error |
| in and out | trials and tribulations |
| Jack and Jill | up and/or down |
| knife and fork | wait and see |
| ladies and gentlemen | war and peace |
| law and order | wine and cheese |
If we forgot a word pair, please let us know via our comment form below.
Chalk and Cheese
Rock and Roll
Thanks for taking the time & creating this post!
This is a great website – TY!
also
Sing and Grow
and
Nut and Berries
Meat and Cheese!
Mac & cheese!
Sweet and sour
hot and spicy
down and dirty
This website is VERY GOOD
thank you
To and Fro
Terms and Conditions
Peace and love
Slip and Slide
Song and Dance
Mother and father
May I just say what a comfort to uncover someone that really knows what they’re discussing over the internet.
You actually know how to bring a problem to light and
make it important. More and more people ought to check this
out and understand this side of your story. It’s surprising you aren’t
more popular given that you surely have the gift.
Ice and lemon
Bits and pieces
Thunder and lightning
Sick and tired
Now and again
Safe and sound
Now or never
More or less
All or nothing
Once or twice
laugh and cry, long and short, ladies and gentlemen . . .
Sticks and stones
Time and space
Pain and suffering
Horse and Chariot
Horse and Buggi
Dog and bone
Kettle and teacup
Plate and bowl
Field and Stream
wine and dine
mom and dad
mother and father
spick and span
now and then
Food and Drink, chapter and verse, plain and simple, mix and match, bar and grill
Strawberies & cream
Apples and oranges
Trick or treat
Fortune and fame
Hook or crook
Cash and Carry
Fast and furious
Salt and pepper (hair)
Wild and woolly
On again, off again
Tooth and nail
Spic and span
Hit or miss
Hide and seek
(Game of) Cat and mouse
Tarred and feathered
(To know) Right from wrong
(To struggle) Tooth and nail
Hither and thither
Hither and yon
Horse and carriage
(Raining) Cats and dogs
Blood, sweat and tears (sorry, I know that’s three)
Lock, stock and barrel (sorry, I know that’s three)
Hook, line and sinker (sorry, I know that’s three)
Aches and pains
Pins and needles (a tingling sensation)
Rest and recreation
Heart and soul
Arm and Hammer (the brand)
Beer and skittles
Fear and trembling
High and mighty
Out and about
A wink and a nudge
A wing and a prayer
Rack and ruin
No pain, no gain
(All’s fair in) Love and war
Death and taxes
The Young and The Restless (TV series)
Hearts and minds
Tooth and nails
Chalk and blackboard
Me and you
Sister and brother
Cat and dog
Chair and table
Nice and Easy
Slow and Simple
oil and water
breaking and entering
slow and steady
Right and wrong
Victim and Murder
Needle and thread
Shoes and socks
High and mighty
Love & Marriage
Horse & Carriage
Trials & Tribulations
Thick & Thin
Feast &/or Famine
Truth or Consequences
Sink or Swim
“Young & Old (alike)”
Sooner or Later
Town & Country
Work & Play
Win or Lose
Day and Night
Young and Old
Hit and Run
Here and There
This and That
To and Fro
Time and Money
Milk and Cookies
Quick and Easy
Fire and Ice
Time and Date
Tried and True
Big and Tall
Fast and Furious
Boys and Girls
Toys and Games
When and Where
Go and See
Come and See
Search and Destroy
You and I
Before and After
Does and Don’ts
Hem and Haw
Ride and Die
Cheese and Crackers
Liver and Onions
Fish and Chips
Peanut Butter and Jelly
Now and Then
Thunder and Lightning
Heaven or Hell
Can and Will