Pairs #3

Death and taxes: “Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” — Benjamin Franklin, in a letter to Jean-Baptiste Le Roy, 1789.

Nickel and dime: (US, idiomatic, colloquial) To charge, or be charged, several unexpected small amounts of money, often in the form of fees, taxes, or related expenses to a venture, which when taken as a whole add up to a significant unexpected cost.

Dribs and drabs: A series of negligible amounts.

“The Ant and the Grasshopper”: The title of one of Æsop’s fables.

Ball and chain: 1. A heavy iron ball attached to a prisoner's leg by a chain as a means of restraint. 2. (slang) One's wife, as a symbol of restraint.

Yogi and Boo Boo: Yogi Bear is an anthropomorphic animal character who has appeared in numerous comic books, animated television shows, and films. Boo Boo Bear is his sidekick.

Toss and turn: To be unable to settle into a comfortable sleeping position.

Hale and hearty: (idiomatic) In a state of robust good health.

Whine and complain: Express discontent in an immature manner.

Beavis and Butt-Head: An American adult animated television series (1993-1997, 2011, 2022-present).

Kiss and tell: To betray a confidence by disclosing private information, especially of a sexual nature.

Day and night: All the time; round the clock; unceasingly.

Trials and tribulations: Unpleasant experiences that put one's endurance and strength to the test.

The long and the short: (frequently followed by “of it”) The gist; the essence or substance; the most important or salient features.

Cooper and Truman: FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper and Sheriff Harry S. Truman, investigative partners in “Twin Peaks,” a surreal American mystery serial drama TV series (1990-1991 and 2017).

Wine and roses: “Days of wine and roses” is an excerpt from Ernest Dawson’s 1896 poem “Vitae Summa Brevis” (the sum of life is short). These words were used as the title of a 1962 American drama film, directed by Blake Edwards, and starring Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick. The film’s title song (music: Henry Mancini; lyrics: Johnny Mercer) was sung by Andy Williams, winning him a gold record (and a Grammy for Mancini and Mercer).

For and on behalf of: (law) Acting for; acting as an agent of.

Coffee and doughnuts: A food pairing that became popular in the U.S. after World War II, when doughnut shops were typically the only businesses open after midnight.

Devil and the deep blue sea: A portion of the idiomatic expression “between (or betwixt) the devil and the deep blue sea,” meaning “between undesirable alternatives.”

Ren and Stimpy: The Ren & Stimpy Show, an American animated television series (1991-1996).

Deaf and dumb: (now offensive) Deaf and not able to speak.

Witches and Wizards: A mobile game from Harha Studios (rel. 2018).

Cat and mouse: 1. A relationship in which two parties closely monitor and challenge one another in a suspicious or self-protective manner, often because each party is attempting to gain an advantage over the other. 2. A form of attack in which the attacker toys with the victim by inflicting minor damage or letting the victim have futile hopes of escape before finally finishing the victim off.

Butt and pass: A method of constructing log cabins and homes.