"Irreversible Binomials, or how to twist the tongue w/o even a try"

Hey there, mates, before you can say Jack Robinson, I wanna say "Voila" and draw your mind to some interesting point I've discovered thanks to a student of mine. Interested, hum? Let's get started!

Have you ever wondered if we have any structure or smth when it comes to phrases like "signed and sealed, dusk till dawn, sooner or later, etc"? I have, though only a time ago I did get to know it.

As you have probs realised by now from the title, we call them Irreversible Binomials, and they are "pairs that have some kind of relation with the words they are paired with. The relations range from logic, same or opposite meanings, usage in legal registers etc."

So why to know them, you must have been wondering for all this reading time, ease-peasy, to be aware of the logic and able to use them. Let's group them out and have some examples, eh?

1. Logical Binomials "Logical Binomials are usually word pairs that are used in a logical order." You just need to get what comes or happens first and what after, like

- Signed and sealed No document can be signed after being sealed inside an envelope

- Cause and effect The cause comes first and the effects follow

2. Antonym Binomials "Antonym Binomials are two words that are opposite to or antonyms of one another in sense."

- Floor to ceiling Entirely (Floor is at the bottom and ceiling is on top of a room)

- Ebb and flow Continuity (Ebb is the decrease and flow is the increase of water in the sea)

- Head over heels A somersault position (Head sits on top of the torso and heels, below the feet)

3. Synonym Binomials "Here, the word pairs are made of synonymous terms or words that indicate the same or similar things."

- Hand over fist Rapidly (Hand and fist signify the same part of the human body)

- Null and void No power or validity (Null is zero and void means emptiness)

4. Alliterated Binomials "Alliterated Binomials are based on alliteration or words that start with the same consonant sound. These alliterated binomials almost sound rhythmic because of the repetitive sounds."

- Friend or foe (“fa” sound alliterated) Either friend or enemy

- Mix and match (“ma” sound alliterated) Mix and combine

- Tit for tat (“ta” sound alliterated) Action in revenge

5. Similar Sounding Binomials "These binomials are usually very similar sounding in nature and they almost always end with the same sound."

- Hocus pocus Meaningless talks

- My way or the highway Follow the instructions or leave

- Never, ever Emphasized never

6. Legal doublets "Legal doublets are two legal terms from the English Legal Register paired up in a logical order and most frequently with the use of the conjunction and."

- Law and order The order created by governmental laws and regulations

- Search and seizure An arrest where the criminal is searched and the illegal stuff found in possession is seized

- Terms and conditions List of agreements

Pheeew, that seems to be it, mates.
Hope you've enjoyed the reading and cheers!