Skipper 4

to arrive in dribs and drabs

to arrive in small numbers and quantities and at irregular intervals

bright and early

(to wake up/get up/leave) very early in the morning (has a positive connotation)

by and large

generally, in most situations

to b few and far between: not to be very common/to be very difficult to find

Good jobs are few and far between in days of high unemployment.

to grin and bear It: to accept an unpleasant situation without complaining (probably because there is no choice)

A shorter lunch break is new company policy, so we'll just have to grin and bear it.

Ins and out: the details of a complicated situation/problem/ system/proposal

We have yet to discuss all the ins and outs of his proposal.

to make a song and dance about: to compla in too much about sth, in a way that seems unnecessary

I was only 10 minutes late. Why are you making such a song and dance about it?

odds and nds: small unimportant objects

Everything had been packed away in boxes except for a few odds and ends.

once and for all: definitely and finally so that you end all doubt and uncertainty

He set out to prove once and for all at Deakin's alibi was nothing but a tiesue of lies.

one's own flesh and blood

a relative

an out-and-out II: a complete lie (used in reply to sb who has accused you of sth)

That is an out-and-out lie; you've made it all up!

tob Part and parcel of: a basic and fundamental part of (lite/a job/a problem)

Having your private life splashed across the front pages of newspapersand glossymagazines is part and parcel of being a celebrity.

peace and qui: calm and tranquillity

We took a couple of days off and went to the country for a bit of peace and quiet

prld and loY: sth/sb that a person is very proud of and which/who is very important to them

His car/daughter/garden is his pride and joy

prim and proper: very conservative and easily offended (used to describe people)

She's far too prim and proper to have written anything as scandalous as that

pushing and shoving: push ing (used with reference to crowded places)

After a lot of pushing and shoving, I finally made it to the counter where everything had been reduced by 50%.

safe and sound: safe and unharmed (used when sb has not been harmed despite being in a potentially dangerous situation

The two children, who had been missing for three days, were found safe and sound hiding in an abandoned mine shaft

spick and span: very clean

When I get back, I want this place looking spick and span.

touch and go: doubtful (used with reference to important or lifethreatening situations)

It was touch and go whether they would allow us to leave the country.

up-and-comlng: sb who shows a lot of promise and will probably be very successful in the future

up-and-coming artist/tennis player /pianist/writer The government has introduced a scheme Whereby up-and-coming young athletes will receive financial support.

to have up and downs: to have good times and bad times

What family doesn 't have its ups and downs?

wear and tear: damage caused to furniture/clothes/equipment, by daily use

Even allowing for wear and tear, these chair covers should last for at least fifteen years.

well and trUly: completely (often used with lost and beaten)

After walking for three hours, we realised that we were well and truly lost. As we had been well and truly beaten the Saturday before, the manager decided to make wholesale changes to the team

to win fair and square: to win fairly (often used when you have been accused of cheating)

What do you mean I cheated? I won fair and square, and you know it.