Practice Exercise 1
Gap Fill: Choose the correct idiom from the word list: Neat and Tidy, Sick and Tired, Sooner or Later, More or Less, Part and Parcel, Live and Learn, Rules and Regulations, Hustle and Bustle, Wear and Tear, Bits and Pieces, Peace and Quiet, Pros and Cons, Ups and Downs, Done and Dusted, Black and White, Now and Then, Wait and See
1) That’s it — everything is done and dusted!
A) now and then
B) done and dusted
C) peace and quiet
2) Let’s solve the problem __________ so we don’t miss anything.
A) now and then
B) more or less
C) step by step
3) I still think about them __________, even after all these years.
A) sooner or later
B) now and then
C) done and dusted
4) Don’t worry, they’ll figure it out __________.
A) step by step
B) sooner or later
C) black and white
5) I forgot to bring an umbrella—__________!
A) pros and cons
B) live and learn
C) wait and see
6) Her room is always __________ — everything is in its place.
A) hustle and bustle
B) neat and tidy
C) wear and tear
7) I opened the drawer and found random __________ inside.
A) rules and regulations
B) bits and pieces
C) pros and cons
8) This isn’t a __________ issue; it’s more complicated.
A) black and white
B) bits and pieces
C) hustle and bustle
9) After a long day, all I want is some __________.
A) peace and quiet
B) hustle and bustle
C) part and parcel
10) We can’t rush it — we’ll just have to __________.
A) wait and see
B) live and learn
C) more or less
11) Every relationship has its __________.
A) ups and downs
B) neat and tidy
C) step by step
12) Please follow the __________ when applying for a visa.
A) hustle and bustle
B) rules and regulations
C) ups and downs
13) We’re __________ finished with the report.
A) more or less
B) bits and pieces
C) all in all
14) I love visiting the countryside to escape the __________ of the city.
A) hustle and bustle
B) black and white
C) sooner or later
15) Dealing with complaints is __________ of customer service.
A) peace and quiet
B) part and parcel
C) ups and downs
16) The chair has some __________, but it’s still usable.
A) wear and tear
B) bits and pieces
C) sick and tired
17) Let’s look at the __________ before we make a decision.
A) ups and downs
B) pros and cons
C) wear and tear
18) __________, I think we made the right decision.
A) All in all
B) Sick and tired
C) Wear and tear
19) I’m __________ of his excuses.
A) sick and tired
B) live and learn
C) now and then
Answers
1) That’s it — everything is Done and Dusted!
2) Let’s solve the problem Step by Step so we don’t miss anything.
3) I still think about them Now and Then, even after all these years.
4) Don’t worry, they’ll figure it out Sooner or Later.
5) I forgot to bring an umbrella — Live and Learn!
6) Her room is always Neat and Tidy — everything is in its place.
7) I opened the drawer and found random Bits and Pieces inside.
8) This isn’t a Black and White issue; it’s more complicated.
9) After a long day, all I want is some Peace and Quiet.
10) We can’t rush it — we’ll just have to Wait and See.
11) Every relationship has its Ups and Downs.
12) Please follow the Rules and Regulations when applying for a visa.
13) We’re More or Less finished with the report.
14) I love visiting the countryside to escape the Hustle and Bustle of the city.
15) Dealing with complaints is Part and Parcel of customer service.
16) The chair has some Wear and Tear, but it’s still usable.
17) Let’s look at the Pros and Cons before we make a decision.
18) All in All, I think we made the right decision.
19) I’m Sick and Tired of his excuses.
Practice Exercise 2- Matching
Matching: Match the binomial pair to the meaning. E.g. 1. Neat and Tidy → d) Very clean and organised
| Binomial Pairs | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1. Neat and Tidy | a. Advantages and disadvantages |
| 2. Sick and Tired | b. Approximately |
| 3. More or Less | c. Busy activity |
| 4. Pros and Cons | d. Very clean and organised |
| 5. Hustle and Bustle | e. Fed up or annoyed |
Answers
1. Neat and Tidy → d) Very clean and organised
2. Sick and Tired → e) Fed up or annoyed
3. More or Less → b) Approximately
4. Pros and Cons → a) Advantages and disadvantages
5. Hustle and Bustle → c) Busy activity
Practice Exercise 3- dialogue
Understand the scenario and respond using the correct binomial pair.
1: You’ve been working for hours, you’re exhausted. Explain how you feel. ➜ I’m sick and tired of this.. I need a break!
2: You didn’t get the job, but you learned something from the process. Explain.
3: You’re telling a friend that something will happen eventually, though you’re not sure when. Express.
4: You describe the atmosphere in a crowded city centre. Explain.
5: You’re discussing a decision, weighing both positive and negative aspects. Explain.
Possible Answers
1: You’ve been working for hours, you’re exhausted. ➜ I’m sick and tired of this.. I need a break!
2: You didn’t get the job, but you learned something from the process. Explain. ➜ I’m gutted I messed up in the interview, but you live and learn!
3: You’re telling a friend that something will happen eventually, though you’re not sure when. Express. ➜ Sooner or later things will fall into place!
4: You describe the atmosphere in a crowded city centre. Explain. ➜ I hate the hustle and bustle on Saturdays in the city centre.
5: You’re discussing a decision, weighing both positive and negative aspects. Explain. ➜ There are pros and cons to living abroad.
Practice Exercise 4 – Quick-Fire Memory
One person says the beginning of the binomial pair → The other person completes it.
E.g. One person says “Wear”, the other person responds “and Tear!”
- Hustle → Bustle!
- Pros →
- Black →
- Sick →
- Ups →
- Neat →
- Sooner →
- More →
- Part →
- Live →
- Rules →
- Wear →
- Bits →
- Peace →
- Done →
- Now →
- Wait →
Answers
- Hustle → and Bustle
- Pros → and Cons
- Black → and White
- Sick → and Tired
- Ups → and Downs
- Neat → and Tidy
- Sooner → or Later
- More → or Less
- Part → and Parcel
- Live → and Learn
- Rules → and Regulations
- Wear → and Tear
- Bits → and Pieces
- Peace → and Quiet
- Done → and Dusted
- Now → and Then
- Wait → and See
🎧 Practice Exercise 5- Gap Fill Song
Task: Play the audio and complete the song lyrics by filling in the missing binomial pairs from the list below. Use the correct form (e.g., past or present) to make each line grammatically correct.
Wordlist: Neat and Tidy, Sick and Tired, Sooner or Later, More or Less, Part and Parcel, Live and Learn, Rules and Regulations, Hustle and Bustle, Wear and Tear, Bits and Pieces, Peace and Quiet, Pros and Cons, Ups and Downs, Done and Dusted, Black and White, Now and Then, Wait and See
I keep it (1) black and white, yeah, I try my best, but life’s a mess sometimes, and I confess.
I’m (2) __________ of chasing time, but I’ll keep dancing, I’ll be fine.
(3) __________, I lose my way, but I find my strength again each day.
It’s (4) __________, the pain, the doubt — I’ll laugh it off and work it out.
Through the (5) __________, I’ll stay alive, it’s (6) __________ of this ride.
We’ll take it (7) __________, we’ll see, there’s (8) __________ to you and me.
But (9) __________, I’ll be alright, we’ll find our (10) __________ tonight.
Yeah, through the (11) __________, I’ll be okay, just gotta (12) __________, they say.
I’ve learned to (13) __________, it’s true, the (14) __________ bend for you.
I’ve built my life from (15) __________ dreamed, stitched together with hope between.
There’s (16) __________, but that’s okay, I’ve earned these scars along the way.
(17) __________, I’ll get there fast, ‘cause nothing good was meant to last.
Through the (18) __________, I’ll stay alive, it’s (19) __________ of this ride.
We’ll take it (20) __________, we’ll see, there’s (21) __________ to you and me.
But (22) __________, I’ll be alright, we’ll find our (23) __________ tonight.
Yeah, through the (24) __________, I’ll be okay, just gotta (25) __________, they say.
(26) __________ plans fall through, but (27) __________, I’m making do.
There’s beauty found in what we’ve missed — that’s life’s sweet chaos, can’t resist.
It’s (28) __________, then it’s new again, a lesson learned around the bend.
And (29) __________, I stop and see, there’s still a bit of love in me.
Yeah, through the (30) __________, I’ll stay alive,
It’s (31) __________ of this ride.
We’ll take it (32) __________, we’ll see,
There’s (33) __________ to you and me.
But (34) __________, I’ll be alright,
We’ll find our (35) __________ tonight.
Yeah, through the (36) __________, come what may,
I’ll (37) __________, it’s a brand-new day.
Answers
I keep it (1) black and white, yeah, I try my best, but life’s a mess sometimes, and I confess.
I’m (2) sick and tired of chasing time, but I’ll keep dancing, I’ll be fine.
(3) Now and then, I lose my way, but I find my strength again each day.
It’s (4) done and dusted, the pain, the doubt — I’ll laugh it off and work it out.
Through the (5) hustle and bustle, I’ll stay alive, it’s (6) part and parcel of this ride.
We’ll take it (7) step by step, we’ll see, there’s (8) pros and cons to you and me.
But (9) all in all, I’ll be alright, we’ll find our (10) peace and quiet tonight.
Yeah, through the (11) ups and downs, I’ll be okay, just gotta (12) wait and see, they say.
I’ve learned to (13) live and learn, it’s true, the (14) rules and regulations bend for you.
I’ve built my life from (15) bits and pieces dreamed, stitched together with hope between.
There’s (16) wear and tear, but that’s okay, I’ve earned these scars along the way.
(17) Sooner or later, I’ll get there fast, ‘cause nothing good was meant to last.
Through the (18) ups and downs, I’ll stay alive, it’s (19) part and parcel of this ride.
We’ll take it (20) step by step, we’ll see, there’s (21) pros and cons to you and me.
But (22) all in all, I’ll be alright, we’ll find our (23) peace and quiet tonight.
Yeah, through the (24) ups and downs, I’ll be okay, just gotta (25) wait and see, they say.
(26) Neat and tidy plans fall through, but (27) more or less, I’m making do.
There’s beauty found in what we’ve missed — that’s life’s sweet chaos, can’t resist.
It’s (28) done and dusted, then it’s new again, a lesson learned around the bend.
And (29) now and then, I stop and see, there’s still a bit of love in me.
Yeah, through the (30) hustle and bustle, I’ll stay alive,
It’s (31) part and parcel of this ride.
We’ll take it (32) step by step, we’ll see,
There’s (33) pros and cons to you and me.
But (34) all in all, I’ll be alright,
We’ll find our (35) peace and quiet tonight.
Yeah, through the (36) ups and downs, come what may,
I’ll (37) wait and see, it’s a brand-new day.
