英语讲义【114】三合一名词组及形容词组

　　在《三合一惯用语》中，介绍了几种三合一的常见短语。这里集中谈三合一名词组及形容词组，希望大家有更进一步的认识。

　　● odds and ends：各种不值钱的小物品

　　Every year, we have to clear the rooms of all odds and ends.

　　● oddities and absurdities：异样或不合情理的感觉

　　Sometimes, we have to bear with oddities and absurdities of language use.

　　● bits and pieces：零星物件

　　The storeroom is filled with bits and pieces. Cant someone arrange them properly?

　　● aches and pains：周身疼痛

　　After a days hardwork, the old man suffered aches and pains, especially in the limbs.

　　● board and lodging：食宿

　　I paid about $200 for board and lodging when I studied in the U.S. in 1969.

　　● chapter and verse：（常和动词give或quote连用）注明的出处或详情

　　Jason knows all the important points in this book and can give you chapter and verse without hesitation.

　　● hammer and tongs：（常和go at it连用）闹哄哄地争吵

　　At a political meeting, many participants went at it hammer and tongs for quite a while.

　　● heaven and earth：（常和move连用）竭尽全力

　　When a government is good, the people will move heaven and earth to support it.

　　● hue and cry：嘈杂声

　　When it was learnt that some workers would be laid off, there was a hue and cry among them.

　　● hustle and bustle：喧闹

　　One can often see hustle and bustle in a place with crowds of unruly people.

　　● ifs and buts：各种借口

　　No ifs and buts, please ! Just work according to the schedule.

　　● rack and ruin：（常和go to连用）遭破坏

　　Owing to urban renewal, even historic spots are going to rack and ruin.

　　● stuff and nonsense：胡说八道

　　Is Tom asking to leave the company? Stuff and nonsense! I bet that would be the last thing for him to do.

　　● ups and downs：盛衰；浮沉

　　For many people, life is full of ups and downs.

　　● wear and tear：耗损

　　Because of wear and tear, a car needs regular servicing.

　　● bright and breezy：活泼轻快的

　　Joelle is bright and breezy; everyone likes her.

　　● cut and dried：早已决定的

　　The programme is cut and dried; it is not possible to make changes now.

　　● rough and ready：粗略的

　　I cannot dwell on the use of English determiners, but you can follow the rough and ready rules.

　　● spick and span：崭新的；极整洁的

　　Despite being busy, Mrs Chen manages to keep the house spick and span.

　　● short and sweet：简短扼要

　　Everybody is too busy to listen to a long-winded story, so try to keep it short and sweet.