In everyday conversation, two-word phrases are widely used to express various ideas and situations. These phrases often carry a specific meaning that may not be immediately apparent from the individual words alone. Let’s explore some common two-word phrases and their contexts in spoken English.
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Two Word Phrases in English
Here are 15 of the most common two word phrases:
- So-so = OK.
How was the movie?
It was so-so – the plot was interesting, but the pacing was a bit slow.
- On-off = not constant.
Their internet connection is so on-off – it’s frustrating when it cuts out randomly.
- Love-hate = having feelings for someone / something which swing from love to hate.
I have a love-hate relationship with summer – I love the sun but hate the heat.
- Mish-mash = when things are combined together and so appear untidy.
The new restaurant menu is a mish-mash of different cuisines, offering everything from sushi to burgers.
- Riff-raff = quite a ‘snobby’ expression to describe people you think are lower in class than you.
Let’s keep this event exclusive, we don’t want any riff-raff causing trouble.
- Chit-chat = small talk or unimportant conversation.
During the meeting, there was a lot of chit-chat before we got down to business.
- Knick-knack = an ornament.
Her shelves were filled with knick-knacks collected from her travels around the world.
- Ship-shape = everything in its right place.
Before guests arrive, I want the house to be ship-shape with everything in its proper place.
- Zig-zag = diagonally.
The motorcycle navigated the winding road with sharp zig-zag turns.
- Ding-dong = an argument.
After the disagreement, there was quite a ding-dong between the neighbors.
- Higgledy-piggledy = in a mess.
The toys in the playroom were all higgledy-piggledy, scattered everywhere.
- Wishy-washy = weak opinion, argument or person.
Her stance on the issue seemed wishy-washy and indecisive.
- Easy-peasey = something that children often say to emphasise how easy something is.
Learning to ride a bike was easy-peasey for him – he got the hang of it in no time.
- Flip-flops = rubber sandals with a thong that goes between your big and second toe.
I packed my flip-flops for the beach vacation to walk along the sand.
- See-saw = something that goes up and down (like the piece of wood in a playground – a child sits on each end and these ends go up an down).
The prices of the stock market have been see-sawing over the past month.
Conclusion
From describing relationships to expressing opinions, these expressions offer a fun and effective way to enhance your English vocabulary. So, go ahead and start using these phrases – you’ll be surprised at how much they can brighten your conversations!
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