by Kevin Burton
If you start talking about the fauna and flora of a certain environment, people are going to be weirded out. Why?
Well, we usually say flora and fauna, not the other way around. Is there a good reason for this? Maybe not, but don’t buck the trend, unless weirdness is what you are going for!
OK, so “found and lost” makes no sense, since something has to be lost before it can be found. But “pepper and salt”? What would be so wrong with that?
Our friends at Dictionary Scoop have compiled a list of 14 phrases and the reasons why we say them the way we do. Some of the pairs from their list below, I find readily reversable. What say you?:
Some word pairs have a fixed order due to rhythm, history, or phonetics. Though not all common word pairings have a fixed order, many do, and in most cases, this order is irreversible—at least without making it sound weird! Here’s why some words always take the lead:
1–Black and White
“Black and white” follows a common pattern where darker colors come before lighter ones. This phrase dates back to the 14th century, referring to ink on paper. It also follows the natural English preference for short, strong sounds first.
2–Salt and Pepper
Salt grains are smaller than peppercorns, and in English, we tend to list things from small to large. The phrase likely became standard because salt, being essential for survival, was more familiar and historically more valuable.
3–Bread and Butter
Bread is the base, and butter is the topping. This reflects the natural sequence of how we prepare and consume food. The phrase has also become synonymous with livelihood, reinforcing its established order in speech.
4–Thunder and Lightning
Even though lightning comes first in nature—and we see it before we hear thunder—the phrase “thunder and lightning” feels more intuitive, likely because English tends to favor short, strong sounds first.
5–Give and Take
“Give” represents an outward action, while “take” is a response. Many word pairs follow this active-passive pattern, emphasizing initiative first. The phrase has been used metaphorically since the 1700s to describe balanced exchanges.
6–Day and Night
The human experience begins with daylight, making “day and night” the intuitive sequence. This ordering appears in multiple languages, reinforcing that our perception of time influences linguistic patterns.
7–Lost and Found
This phrase follows the standard English structure of presenting the problem before the solution. “Lost” sets the stage, while “found” is the resolution, making it easier for listeners to process.
8–Odds and Ends
“Odds” has a shorter, punchier sound than “ends,” following the linguistic preference for short-first phrasing. The phrase has been in use since the 18th century to describe miscellaneous, leftover items.
9–Ladies and Gentlemen
This order dates back to chivalric traditions, where ladies were introduced first out of courtesy. The phrasing became a formalstandard in speeches and announcements, reinforcing its place in common usage.
10–Rock and Roll
“Rock” has a sharper, percussive sound than “roll,” making it more suitable as the lead. The phrase originated from African American slang in the early 20th century before defining a genre.
11–More or Less
The phrase follows a natural scale from an increase to a decrease. English often favors sequences that rise before they fall, making “more or less” the preferred order.
12–Hot and Cold
People react more strongly to heat than cold, so “hot” comes first. The phrase aligns with the body’s instinctive sensitivity, which prioritizes heat as a survival concern.
13–Sick and Tired
“Sick” implies a physical state, while “tired” suggests exhaustion. English often places more urgent conditions before milder ones, cementing this order.
14–This and That
“This” refers to something immediate, while “that” points to something further away. English naturally prioritizes what is closer to the speaker in sequence.
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