- If you wanna learn expressions
that you can use in everyday conversation,
then you need to learn binomial pairs.
which is all about helping you practice
and improve your English skills.
And today, I have a great lesson,
because this is very practical for everyday conversation.
We're going to talk about binomial pairs.
If you're wondering what the heck are binomial pairs,
These are phrases that contain two words
that are connected by a conjunction.
And that conjunction is either and or or. (laughs)
Those are the two conjunctions
that are often used to connect these two words,
and these phrases are called binomial pairs.
You can use them in formal conversations,
if you're giving a presentation,
and you can also use them informally,
if you're just talking to someone on the street.
So, I'm gonna teach you some common expressions.
so that way you can see how they're used in context.
The first expression is bits and pieces,
and this just means an assortment of small things.
For example, maybe you drop a cup on the floor,
and you say wow, it shattered into bits and pieces.
about somebody giving you information.
They don't tell you everything,
they give you a little bit at a time,
they told us the truth in bits and pieces.
- Well, I had a few spare parts I found over the years.
- And I had some bits and pieces at my work.
- This box contains over 217 bits and pieces of information.
- Bits and pieces here and there.
- The next expression, and this is a good one,
I really like this one, wine and dine.
And this binomial pair means to take somebody out
And usually you would entertain them
with fine dining, maybe a fancy restaurant,
and you wine and dine someone.
And perhaps it's a special occasion,
or perhaps you're really trying to impress someone.
- He has spent the last month wining and dining these guys,
- Being wined and dined by a rich guy might be nice.
- How is wining and dining state senators not campaigning?
- Because I have a room full of lawyers.
- Often it's associated with a restaurant,
It does not mean that you have to be drinking wine.
You're celebrating, I don't know, your anniversary,
and you wanna take your wife out and wine and dine her
and treat her to a nice, fancy restaurant.
The next binomial pair, safe and sound,
and this just means that there is nothing to worry about.
You are free from harm or injury,
and often you would use it to describe a situation
and say that you are safe and sound
or everyone is safe and sound.
Perhaps there was a natural disaster,
and you are okay, and you are letting somebody know,
If you wanna study English with us,
THere's nothing to worry about.
You're not gonna get hurt watching our lessons. (laughs)
- I wanna make sure it gets to my daughter safe and sound.
- We're safe and sound and the future never looked brighter.
- All here together safe and sound.
- Then we have sooner or later.
This is a expression that means that something will happen.
It's definitely going to happen.
We just don't know when it's going to happen.
It may happen sooner, it may happen later.
So, if you're describing something, like yeah I'll do that.
Then, you're basically telling someone
when you are going to do this thing.
- Sooner or later that fire that I love about you, Rose,
- Sooner or later, Cersei always gets what she wants.
Sooner or later, love is gonna get ya
Sooner or later, girl you got to give in
you guys are going to be fluent in English.
If you keep watching our lessons,
sooner or later you will achieve English fluency.
If you don't, then maybe I'll take you out.
The next binomial pair, and I really love this one,
because I use it all the time, ups and downs.
So, when you're talking about something having ups
and downs, you're basically saying that there are periods
when things are going really well,
and then there are some periods
where things aren't going so well after all.
that I use this quite often is because I talk a lot
about language learning, especially learning English,
and whenever you're learning a language,
there are always ups and downs.
You have periods when you think you're learning so much,
where you feel like you just forget everything,
and you think your skills are not improving.
And you could say, I have ups and downs.
- It's rehab for his oxy addiction, lotta ups and downs.
- I wouldn't miss the semis, how's that been going?
- Oh you know, strikes and gutters, ups and downs.
- Another great binomial pair is wear and tear.
And this is talking about damage or depreciation
that may occur due to just ordinary use.
So, for example, say that you buy a car.
You buy a car, you use it, and then you want to sell it.
You're gonna have to sell it for a lesser price,
because there is depreciation.
And you go to sell it, and you might tell the person,
there's just a little wear and tear on the car,
no big problems whatsoever, just normal wear and tear.
- During the course of business,
a copier goes through something called normal wear and tear.
- That takes care of the normal wear and tear.
- Well the shift knob is loose, you know about that?
- Have you been picking at it?
- No, you know, it's just wear and tear.
- We can sometimes get image artifacts
related to normal wear and tear.
- The next expression is little by little, little by little,
and it just means a small amount of time.
when we're talking about trying to achieve some goal.
You're not going to do everything all at once.
You have to do things one step at a time,
and you are going to get there little by little.
You guys will improve your English skills little by little.
Even though there are many ups and downs,
keep at it, because sooner or later,
which is another really, really great one is dos and don'ts.
So, what this means is just warnings or advice
about things that you should do or things you should not do.
And often, it's used when maybe you're giving suggestions
to somebody, or you're giving them advice about okay,
be careful of this, don't do this, do this.
You're giving them the dos and don't.
So, perhaps you start a new job,
and another employee might tell you the dos and don'ts,
or maybe you go to a new school,
and another student tells you the dos and don'ts.
When I'm teaching, usually in the first class,
I'll go over the dos and don'ts.
- The dos and don'ts of diaper rash.
- Now, underneath each one of your chairs,
you'll find a pamphlet with a simple list
of animal rights dos and don'ts.
- Well, just a few dos and don'ts.
You don't have to read it though.
- The next one, rock and roll.
So, you have probably heard this before.
You're talking about rock and roll.
There are many different music groups out there
We also use it to say, let's begin, let's do something.
So, if I tell you, let's rock and roll, let's do it,
let's start, let's begin, let's rock and roll.
- Another useful binomial pair, live and learn,
when we want to talk about an experience in life
that usually teaches us a lesson.
We learn something from this experience,
and usually it's something that is not good,
so that we don't repeat it again,
and you might describe that situation and just say,
I learned from this experience,
and I will try not to repeat it, live and learn.
So, for example, say that you buy a car from somebody else,
and you did not do a test drive,
there's just some normal wear and tear,
However, once you buy the car and you leave,
there are many problems and you have to pay
for a lot of repairs, and you'd say
that this is what happened, it's a crappy situation,
- So, how much is this thing gonna cost you now,
like 5, 6000?
Well, live and learn. (audience laughs)
- But I see pity has its rewards, live and learn.
- As long as you're not driving a car
(audience laughs) Live and learn.
- Then we have peace and quiet, which is complete freedom
from noise, stress and anything that's bothering you
in life, and often people would just say, (sighs)
I just wanna rest, I don't wanna hear anything.
I just need some peace and quiet.
For example, if you're listening to rock and roll,
you're probably not getting much peace and quiet.
- I'm enjoying the peace and quiet.
- It's peace and quiet on Sunday.
- Right now he just needs peace and quiet.
- You get all that peace and quiet
- Now that you all of those binomial pairs
that I've taught you in bits and pieces,
If this lesson was easy to understand,
easy to follow, and you know all of those binomial pairs,
and I want you to write the phrase, live and learn.
That just tells me that you understood the lesson,
and you learned something new, live and learn.
I know that usually talks about experiences,
I hope this lesson was a good experience for you,
to write that in the comments, live and learn.
Now, for some quick dos and don'ts.
Please do hit that like button
and share this lesson with others
who are trying to learn English, and the don'ts, don't what?
Well, I don't want you to leave.
Please, go watch another video lesson.