相映成趣的反义对偶词组
有些反义词经常搭配在一起，组成有特定含义的词组，称之为反义对偶词组。例如：
1．black and white白纸黑字
This is your hand writing in black and white．You can't deny it．这是你的笔迹，白纸黑字，不容抵赖。
2．every now and then不时，时时
When you read a book，you must stop to think over its meaning every now andthen．读书的时候你得时时停下来想一想书中的意义。
3．（go through）fire and water赴汤蹈火
The revolutionary martyrs went through fire and water to serve the cause of theParty．革命先烈为党的事业而赴汤蹈火。
4．first and last 总的来说，始终都是
First and last，it is important to know oneself．总而言之，认识自己是重要的。
5．hand and foot辛勤地，勤勉地
Make your own tea，I don't see why I should wait on you hand and foot．自己泡茶吧，我不明白为什么我要殷勤地伺侯你。
6．high and low 到处
Bill looked high and low for his lost watch．比尔到处寻找他那丢失的手表。
7．（blow）hot and cold举棋不定，犹豫不决
The president blows hot and cold about a tax act．总统对是否提出一项征税法案犹豫不决。
8．ins and outs 底细；迂回曲折
I tried to explain the ins and outs of our plan to the foreign visitors．我尽力对外宾解释我们计划的所有细节。
I know all the ins and outs of the short way to the camp．我对通往营地的那条弯弯曲曲的近路很熟悉。
9．（the）long and short of it总的情况，要点
The long and short of it is that he can't cope．总之，他这人不善于应付。
10．neither here nor there与正题无关的
He talked for two hours but his remarks were neither here nor there．他讲了两个钟头，但都是题外话。
11．off and on断断续续，时作时辍
We don't go to the theater regularly，just off and on．我们不经常看戏，只是偶而看看罢了。
12．rain or shine无论晴雨，风雨无阻
We will start before daybreak tomormw，rain or shine．无论晴雨，我们准备明天拂晓动身。
13．sink or swim不论成败
Sink or swim， I will try．好歹我要试试。
14．to and fro来来往往
She walked to and fro in the room，waiting for news about her child．她在房间里走来走去，等候她孩子的消息。
15．ups and downs曲折，盛衰，浮沉
Life has its ups and downs．人生有盛衰。
There have been many ups and downs in our marriage，but we still love eachother．我们的婚姻有许多曲折，但我们依然彼此相爱。
常见的还有：back and forth或前或后，来来回回；come and go来来往往，（川流不息）；day and night日日夜夜；here and there各处，处处；live and die不论生死；more or less或多或少；now and then不时，常常；old and young老老少少；sooner or later迟早；up and down上上下下，来回地等。
