Secondary 4 Enriched English: Two-Part Expressions and Question Tags

Vocabulary flashcards reviewing two-part expressions connected by AND, OR, THAN, and VS, as well as grammar rules and definitions for question tags.

Two-part expressions

Multi-word expressions that often use alliteration or rhyme to make them easier to remember, and are non-reversible.

aches and pains

Minor physical discomforts that come with age or exertion.

alive and kicking

To be active, healthy, and doing well.

back and forth

Moving from one place to another and back again.

bumps and bruises

Minor physical injuries from impacts.

dine and dash

To run out of a restaurant without paying.

dos and don'ts

Rules or customs regarding what should and should not be done.

flesh and blood

Referring to one's family or the human nature of a person.

for all intents and purposes

When something is essentially true in a practical sense, even if it's not technically accurate.

go on and on

To continue doing, lasting, or talking for a very long time, often in a tedious or annoying way.

heart and soul

With complete commitment and energy.

highs and lows

A succession of good and bad experiences (also known as 'ups and downs').

hit and run

To leave the scene of a motor accident without stopping.

lost and found

A place where lost items are stored in the eventuality that the owner will retrieve it/them.

now and then

Occasionally; from time to time.

odds and ends

Various small, unimportant items.

peace and quiet

Freedom from disturbance, noise, or stress.

pros and cons

The advantages and disadvantages of a decision.

kiss and tell

To reveal details of intimate encounter.

live and learn

To gain knowledge through experience (often after a mistake).

moan and groan

To show displeasure; complain.

safe and sound

Free from danger or injury.

sick and tired

To feel annoyed and/or bored with someone or something.

toss and turn

To move around restlessly in bed.

trial and error

By testing something until you find what works.

wait and see

To be patient to know the outcome of something.

wear and tear

The damage that happens to an object through normal use.

be there or be square

Attend an event or unless you want to be boring, uncool, or out of touch.

believe it or not

Used to introduce a statement that sounds surprising or unlikely, but is actually true.

do or die

A situation where you must take a great risk or make a massive effort to succeed.

fight or flight

To confront a danger or run away.

give or take

Approximately, or plus or minus a small amount or time; used almost exclusively with numbers, measurements, time, money, or weight.

life or death

A situation of extreme importance or danger, where survival is at risk.

make or break

A critical point that will bring decisive success or complete failure.

more or less

Approximately, almost, or to some degree; used for general concepts, ideas, qualities, or broad statements.

now or never

The final opportunity to do something.

put up or shut up

To either take action or stop talking about it.

rain or shine

It will happen regardless of the weather or circumstances.

sink or swim

To fail or succeed based on one's efforts.

sooner or later

Eventually.

take it or leave it

A final offer where no further negotiation is possible.

use it or lose it

The idea that if you do not regularly practice a skill, you will eventually lose the ability to use it.

better late than never

Better to arrive or finish a task late than to never show up or finish at all.

better safe than sorry

Wiser to be cautious and take extra precautions now.

better you than me

Glad you are not the one facing a specific difficult situation (also 'rather you than me').

bite off more than you can chew

Take on a task that is way too big or difficult for you to handle.

easier said than done

A task that is simple to talk about but much more difficult to actually accomplish.

brain vs brawn

A comparison between using intelligence and using physical strength to achieve a goal.

nature vs nurture

The debate over whether heredity or environment is more responsible for human traits.

risk vs reward

The evaluation of whether a potential gain is worth the potential danger or loss.

us vs them

A mindset that creates a divide between one's own group and others.

Question Tag

A short question placed at the end of a statement in order to confirm that the tag question is true or not, or to spark a reply in a conversation.

General Rule for Question Tags

A positive statement takes a negative question tag; a negative statement takes a positive question tag.

Question Tag with Negative Words

When the statement contains a word with a negative meaning (e.g., rarely, hardly), the tag must be positive.

Question Tag for 'I am'

Uses the tag question form 'aren't I?'.

Question Tag for 'Let's'

Uses the tag question form 'shall we?'.

Question Tag for Imperatives

Positive imperatives take 'will/won't…?', while negative imperatives take 'will…?'.