4. Pair Phrases

Question 1

to arrive, etc in small numbers/quantities and at irregular intervals

обрывки, мелочи; крохи

We’re receiving food, but it is only arriving in ____ and ____.

Answer 1

dribs and drabs

We ‘re receiving food, but it is only arriving in dribs and drabs.

Question 2

(to wake up/get up/leave) very early in the morning

ни свет ни заря

If we leave ____ and ____ tomorrow morning, we should get there by midday.

Answer 2

bright and early

(has a positive connotation)

If we leave bright and early tomorrow morning, we should get there by midday.

Question 3

generally

в общем и целом; в общем

____ and ____, most people would prefer to have a badly paid job that they liked rather than a well paid job that they disliked.

Answer 3

by and large

By and large, most people would prefer to have a badly paid job that they liked rather than a well paid job that they disliked.

Question 4

not to be very common/to be very difficult to find

быть немногочисленным и редко встречаться

Good jobs are ____ and ____ ____ in days of high unemployment

Answer 4

to be few and far between

Good jobs are few and far between in days of high unemployment

Question 5

to accept an unpleasant situation without complaining (probably because there is no choice)

смириться и терпеть

A shorter lunch break is new company policy, so we’ll just have to ____ and ____ it.

Answer 5

to grin and bear it

A shorter lunch break is new company policy, so we’ll just have to grin and bear it.

Question 6

the details of a complicated situation/problem/system/proposal

все детали чего-либо

We have yet to discuss all the ____ and ____ of his proposal.

Answer 6

ins and outs

We have yet to discuss all the ins and outs of his proposal.

Question 7

to complain too much about sth, in a way that seems unnecessary

слагать песни и танцы о

I was only 10 minutes late. Why are you making such a ____ and ____ about it?

Answer 7

to make a song and dance about

I was only 10 minutes late. Why are you making such a song and dance about it?

Question 8

small unimportant objects

всякая всячина

Everything had been packed away in boxes except for a few ____ and ____.

Answer 8

odds and ends

Everything had been packed away in boxes except for a few odds and ends.

Question 9

definitely and finally so that you end all doubt and uncertainty

раз и навсегда

He set out to prove____ and ____ ____ that Deakln’s alibi was nothing but a tissue of lies.

Answer 9

once and for all

He set out to prove once and for all that Deakln’s alibi was nothing but a tissue of lies.

Question 10

a relative

собственная плоть и кровь

We’re talking about my family here, my own ____ and ____. Of course I trust them.

Answer 10

one’s own flesh and blood

We’re talking about my family here, my own flesh and blood. Of course I trust them.

Question 11

a complete lie
(used in reply to sb who has accused you of sth)

откровенная ложь

That is an ____ lie; you’ve made it all up!

Answer 11

an out-and-out lie

That is an out-and-out lie; you’ve made it all up!

Question 12

a basic and fundamental part of
(life/a job/a problem)

быть неотъемлемой частью

Having your private life splashed across the front pages of newspapers and glossy magazines is ____ and ____ of being a celebrity.

Answer 12

to be part and parcel of

Having your private life splashed across the front pages of newspapers and glossy magazines is part and parcel of being a celebrity.

Question 13

calm and tranquillity

тишина и покой

We took a couple of days off and went to the country for a bit of ____ and ____.

Answer 13

peace and quiet

We took a couple of days off and went to the country for a bit of peace and quiet.

Question 14

sth/sb that a person is very proud of and which/who is very important to them

гордость и отрада

His car/daughter/garden is his ____ and ____.

Answer 14

pride and joy

His car/daughter/garden is his pride and joy.

Question 15

very conservative and easily offended
(used to describe people)

чопорный и правильный

She’s far too ____ and ____ to have written anything as scandalous as that.

Answer 15

prim and proper

She’s far too prim and proper to have written anything as scandalous as that.

Question 16

pushing
(used with reference to crowded places)

толкаться и пихаться

After a lot of ____ and ____, I finally made it to the counter where everything had been reduced by 50%.

Answer 16

pushing and shoving

After a lot of pushing and shoving, I finally made it to the counter where everything had been reduced by 50%.

Question 17

safe and unharmed
(sb hasn’t been harmed despite being in a potentially dangerous situation)

в целости и сохранности

The two children, who had been missing for three days, were found ____ and ____ hiding in an abandoned mine shaft.

Answer 17

safe and sound

The two children, who had been missing for three days, were found safe and sound hiding in an abandoned mine shaft.

Question 18

very clean

очень аккуратный, опрятный, с иголочки

When I get back, I want this place looking ____ and ____.

Answer 18

spick and span

When I get back, I want this place looking spick and span.

Question 19

doubtful, unpredictable
(with reference to important or life-threatening situations)

неопределенный; опасный

It was ____ and ____ whether they would allow us to leave the country.

Answer 19

touch and go

It was touch and go whether they would allow us to leave the country.
—

The expression implies that the situation or outcome is in a state of flux and can change quickly, with a positive or negative outcome being equally possible.

Question 20

sb who shows a lot of promise and will probably be very successful in the future

перспективный; многообещающий

The government has introduced a scheme whereby ____ young athletes will receive financial support.

Answer 20

up-and-coming

The government has introduced a scheme whereby up-and-coming young athletes will receive financial support.

Question 21

to have good times and bad times

иметь взлеты и падения

What family doesn’t have its ____ and ____?

Answer 21

to have ups and downs

What family doesn’t have its ups and downs?

Question 22

damage caused to furniture/clothes/equipment, by daily use

износ и разрушение

Even allowing for ____ and ____, these chair covers should last for at least fifteen years.

Answer 22

wear and tear

Even allowing for wear and tear, these chair covers should last for at least fifteen years.

Question 23

completely
(often used with lost and beaten)

основательно; полностью

• As we had been ____ and ____ beaten the Saturday before, the manager decided to make wholesale changes to the team.
• After walking for three hours, we realised that we were ____ and ____ lost.

Answer 23

well and truly

• As we had been well and truly beaten the Saturday before, the manager decided to make wholesale changes to the team.
• After walking for three hours, we realised that we were well and truly lost.

Question 24

to win fairly
(often used when you have been accused of cheating)

честно и справедливо

What do you mean I cheated? I won ____ and ____, and you know it.

Answer 24

to win fair and square

What do you mean I cheated? I won fair and square, and you know it.