10 English Idioms in 10 Minutes

• hustle and bustle = hurried activity. I don't like living in the city centre, it's all hustle and bustle.
• ifs and buts = excuses. No ifs and buts, just finish your homework and then you can go to play with the computer.
• odds and ends = small things. I've almost finished this work, but there are still some odds and ends I have to deal with.
• part and parcel = part. All those information programmes on TV are part and parcel of a campaign to destabilize the new government.
• rack and ruin = in bad conditions. This is a nice neighbourhood, but it's a shame that these old buildings are going rack and ruin.
• stuff and nonsense = foolish things. Oh, no, he was not fired! That's all stuff and nonsense!
• touch and go = close to success and failure at the same time. After the accident, he's in a critical situation, the doctor said it's touch and go.
• ups and downs = good and bad moments. Don't panic, in a married couple there are always ups and downs.
• wear and tear = deterioration. Go change those clothes! Those can't stand any more wear and tear!
• by and large = in general. I guess the team played quite well, by and large.