first and foremost - the most important thing - Now first and foremost I want to tell you about …
2. time and time again - very often - … a way of expression that native English speakers use time and time again
3. loud and clear -very clear and easy to understand - I will say this loud and clear
4. part and parcel - an essential part - It is after all part and parcel of the English language
5. sooner or later - it will happen sometime in the future
6. little by little - gradually - little by little and step by step, you have to start adding them to your conversation
7. step by step - to progress gradually - little by little and step by step, you have to start …
8. good and proper - very well - This person speaks English good and proper he or she is using binomials
9. the nitty-gritty - the essential aspects, the most important details - we are going to get to the nitty-gritty of binomials
10. give or take -approximately, possibly a mall difference to the amount mentioned - give or take one or two
11. short and sweet - brief and relevant and in the way that is pleasing - but I'll keep it short and sweet so please …
12. hustle and bustle - busy, active and noisy - take a moment away from the hustle and bustle of your daily life to study
13. now or never - do immediately , the chance might not come again - … because it's now or never so …
14. loud and clear - in a way that is clear and easy to understand - "I hear you loud and clear"
15. take it or leave it - it is a non-negotiable offer - "this is my final offer you can take it or leave it"
16. rise and shine - it’s time to wake up - wake up now it's already 9:00 a.m. rise and shine
17. flesh and blood - be a member of the family - I know he's rude and cruel but I can't abandon Tommy he's my brother is my flesh blood
18. sink-or-swim- you must fail or succeed by our own efforts - new businesses entering the market don't get any help from anybody so it's sink or swim
19. sink and tired - to be fed up of something or someone - every time we meet you at least 20 minutes late I'm sick and tired of it
20. mumbo jumbo - nonsense - astrology is just a load of mumbo jumbo
21. culture vulture - the person who is interested in arts and cultural events - he goes to the museum, the opera, the theater something like that every day she's such a culture vulture
22. Wine and dine - to provide good food, drink and entertainment - our hosts were very kind they wined and dined us throughout our stay
23. live and learn -discover something surprising that adds to your experience of life
24. from rags to riches - to rise from poverty to wealth - this is a story of rags to riches from a poor child in the ghetto to a multi-million dollar business empire
25. tried and tested - something that has proven in the past to be effective or reliable - wearing a helmet is a tried and tested way of making a bike journey safer so you do it
26. time after time - repeatedly - you make the same mistake time after time
27. Let bygones be bygones - forget the past disagreements and reconcile - the argument we had happened over 10 years ago let bygones be bygones and let's be friends again
28. all in all - with all things considered - all in all this is the best smartphone on the market
29. beg steal and borrow - do whatever is necessary to get what you want - I will do anything to make you happy I will beg steal and borrow
30. Tom Dick or Harry - any unspecified person or persons - look ask any Tom Dick or Harry and they will tell you broccoli is good for you why do you think you know better
31. Not in any (in no) way, shape or form - definitely not - no absolutely not you cannot be part of this organization in any way shape or form
32. spick-and-span" - very clean or very tidy - when I get back I want this house looking spick and span
33. by hook or by crook - by any means possible (an old expression, first recorded in 1380) - by hook or by crook I'll find out the name of the person who betrayed me
34. By and large - generally for the most part - by and large, pigs are more intelligent than dogs
35. Tall dark and handsome - to refer to a classically good looking guy (dark hair and not short…) - Detective Smart was tall dark and handsome and about 30 years old
36. Safe and sound- to be safe and not in any danger - Oh there you are, it's late I was worried about you I'm glad you are safe and sound
37. Ups and downs - good and bad moments - life has its ups and downs there are joyful times but difficult moments too
38. Pure and simple - no additional explanation for something other than what was just said - you are the best pure and simple -
39. Pride and joy - the object of one’s great pleasure - Our new grandson is our pride and joy
40. Now and then - sometimes now and then I wonder what life would have been like if I had stayed in Scotland
41. Back and forth - moving first in one direction and the opposite one grandmother sat in her rocking chair swaying back and forth all evening
42. Wear and tear - damage resulting from ordinary, everyday use - The uniform needs to be replaced every couple of years because of wear and tear
43. Down and out - destitute, without money and place to live after his wife ran off with the butcher and he lost his job at the post office he ended up down and OUT (*not about) asking passers-by for spare change in the city centre
44. Tooth and nail - to fight intensively and fiercely for something - I will fight this case tooth and nail in the court until I am proved innocent
45. High and dry - in difficult situation and unable to do anything about it - when the principal actress got sick at the last minute without a replacement the theatre was left high and dry
46. Law and order - a situation where respect for the rules of the country is being obeyed - after the Revolution there was a complete breakdown in law and order
47. Odds and ends (1) - some small matters to added to - I'll be back soon I've just got a few odds and ends to finish up at the office
48. Odds and ends (2) - various things of different types, usually small and not important - in this box I keep the odds and ends I need for sewing
49. Song and dance - make a unnecessary fuss about something - ok the spoon was dirty sorry but it's not that serious don't make a song and dance about it
50. An arm and a leg - very expensive - My new car is my pride and joy but it cost me an arm and a leg
51. Tit for tat - action taken in revenge for something unpleasant done to you - Jane didn't come to Sara's birthday party and now Sara has not invited Jane to her wedding it's clearly a case of tit for tat
52. Black and white (1) - a situation where is easy to understand which is right and which is wrong - free trade is not a black and white issue there are advantages and disadvantages
53. Black and white (2) - clearly written - you have no excuses the rules were written in black and white before you started
54. Done and dusted - to be completely finished - now the deal is done and dusted we can go out and celebrate
55. Far and wide - over a large area - we have looked far and wide for a replacement but so far without success
56. Pros and cons - advantages and disadvantages - there are pros and cons of living in a big city
57. No ifs and buts - without any excuses or discussion - now I don't want to hear any ifs and buts just do what I told you to do
58. Born and bred - to have been born grown up in a particular place- I'm a Londoner born and bred
59. Rough and ready - crude but effective - the accommodation in the village was rough and ready but it was good enough for our needs
60. Through thick and thin - during good times and bad times - My wife has stood by me for over 30 years through thick and thin...