簡短說明或直截了當(brief or short)
例如:
In speaking or writing, it is always better to be short and sweet.
說話或寫作，最好簡短扼要。
When an American asked me about a controversial issue, I just gave him/her a short and sweet comment.
當老美問我一個爭議性問題，我只給他/她簡短的意見。
Not short and sweet, Mr. A's speech seemed to be somewhat boring.
A先生的演講，不很直截了當，似乎有點令人厭煩。
(當形容詞，修飾名詞speech)
slow but sure:
進展雖慢，但仍能完成。(not act fast enough, but certainly to finish)
例如:
Slow but sure, Mr. B always completes his job.
B先生雖然慢些，但都能完成他的工作。
Even though it takes Bob several weeks to write this paper, he, slow but sure, has done a good job.
Bob花了幾個星期寫這篇文章，他雖慢些，但寫得不錯。
(當形容詞，修飾he)
Don't rush Bob; he is slow but sure to do what he has promised.
不要催促Bob，他雖慢些，但會按他承諾做完工作。
(2)成對名詞﹕
這些成對的兩個名詞，有時不按字母順序排列，但不能改變。
(多半當名詞用，放在介系詞或動名詞後，有時也當名詞形容詞)
bells and whistles:
指不必要的添加物，或是華而不實點綴品
(extra things added to a product unneeded)
例如:
Some modern equipment with bells and whistles seems to make it more difficult for some people to operate.
有些現代設備，附加不必要點綴，對某些人反而感到操作困難。
It is always better to keep our lives simple without all the bells and whistles.
最好保持生活簡單，不必添加不必要的玩意兒。
From a pragmatic point of view, it would be more expensive and less efficient to add bells and whistles to any product.
從實際觀點來說，任何產品附加華而不實的點綴，既昂貴，效能亦差。
bread and butter:
主要因素，生活工具，謀生之道
(essential elements or means of livelihood)
例如:
One's job is bread and butter to one's family.
一個人的工作就是生活工具。
Earning their bread and butter is extremely difficult for the 1,300 million people in China.
中國十三億人口謀生之道非常不易。
(當名詞，做動名詞earning的受詞)
What is your bread and butter assignment this week?
你本星期主要任務是什麼?(修飾另一名詞assignment)
也可真正指麵包上塗牛油﹕
This bread and butter seems too thick for me.
(因為麵包上一定要塗牛油，所以當做集合名詞，動詞仍用單數seems)
cloak and dagger:
cloak本是掩飾，偽裝；dagger是短劍物。這裡是指秘密工作或奸謀活動
(do something secretly like a spy)
例如:
No matter what social system a country is using, it seems always to have some ongoing cloak and dagger activities.
一個國家不管採用什麼社會制度，似乎都有某些奸諜活動。
(當形容詞，修飾另一個名詞activities)
In order to keep social stability, China is concerned about political cloak and dagger plots.
為了保持社會安定，中國關心政治上的秘密陰謀。
Would it be possible for some Chinese to act as cloak and dagger agents against China for their own interest?
一些老中可能為自身利益擔任奸謀破壞中國嗎?
flesh and blood:
指人，凡人或親骨肉或家人
(human being; family member or relatives)
例如:
I am only flesh and blood; I am not in a position to help him.
我只是一位凡人；我無能為力幫助他。
Many Chinese people have been suffering all flesh and blood can suffer.
許多老中受盡凡人所能忍受的一切苦難。
(flesh and blood當名詞時，可指單複數)
It is very sad that some people killed their own flesh and blood just for money.
一些人為了金錢殺害自己親人，十分可悲。
(flesh and blood是複數=relatives)
More than 60 years ago, it would have been wonderful if people in Taiwan had been allowed to visit their own flesh and blood in China.
六十年前，如果允許台灣人民探訪他們的大陸親人，那該多好啊!
(這是假設語態與過去事實相反)
(不能照字母順序寫成:blood and flesh)
