Common phrases with the word and

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English has numerous fixed expressions made by combining two words with “and”

DEFINITION AND IMPORTANCE OF FIXED “AND” PHRASES

The conjunction and is unusual in being able to link not just verb-based statements but also grammatically similar words or phrases. Fixed phrases with and tend to be of this latter sort. They are “fixed” in the sense that most fluent English speakers feel they are very common combinations; indeed, if presented with the first word(s) of one of these expressions plus and, they would normally be quite easily able to provide the rest. It would not be difficult, for example, to complete husband and… and far and… with, respectively, wife and wide.

This property of fixed and expressions makes them a type of “collocation”, or “word partnership” – an aspect of vocabulary that is almost as important to master as word meanings. For examples of other collocation types within this blog, see 164. Fixed Preposition Phrases,  173. “Do Research” or “Make Research”?,  180. Nouns that Count the Uncountable,  241. Some Common Figurative Phrases and 273, Verb-Object Collocations.

Collocations with and are surprisingly numerous. Most advanced English courses make reference to them and provide a few examples, but I have not seen them extensively surveyed and classified. This is what I aim to do here. My list, which has been gradually compiled over time, is probably not complete, but will still hopefully be useful. Readers who know examples not included here are invited to contribute them via the comment facility below.

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CATEGORIES AND EXAMPLES

The categorisation below is in terms of word classes. These are not of individual words within an expression but rather of the whole expression. For example, a pairing that is a “noun expression” is typically used in sentences in noun positions (subject, object, complement, etc.). Usually the words within the expression will reflect this word class, but not always.

A noticeable trend among the examples is that the word after and often has more letters than the one before, or at least the same length.

1. Noun Expressions

aches and pains
airs and graces
all and sundry
bits and pieces
bread and butter
carrot and stick
checks and balances
comings and goings
*cut and thrust
day and night (or night and day
doom and gloom
facts and figures
*give and take
heaven and hell
highways and byways
husband (or man) and wife
hustle and bustle
*ins and outs
law and order
life and death
part and parcel (of…)
pros and cons
*push and pull
*rise and fall
*rough and tumble
salt and pepper
spit and polish
sticks and stones
stresses and strains
toil and trouble
*toing and froing
trouble and strife
twists and turns
*ups and downs
wear and tear
*whys and wherefores

EXAMPLES

(a) Magazine sales are our bread and butter.

(b) Successful relationships involve give and take.

I have omitted many food combinations in this category because they are rare in formal writing. Bread and butter is included because it has a metaphorical meaning of “primary source of regular income”. It frequently follows a possessive adjective like our in (a).

The two words combined with and are usually nouns like the whole phrase. A few, indicated by *, seem like other word types but are still nouns. The noun-like use of verbs in their base form, as in cut and thrust and give and take is also found after HAVE (e.g. have a look – see 116. Rarer Uses of HAVE, #6) and in some preposition phrases (e.g. on the go in 164. Fixed Preposition Phrases).

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2. Verb Expressions

chop and change
come and go
compare and contrast
cut and run
done and dusted
give and take
huff and puff
read and write
rise and fall
stop and start

EXAMPLE

(c) When share prices fall, it is time to cut and run.

This seems to be quite a small category. Give and take is also usable like a noun. For an explanation of compare and contrast, see 94. Essay Instruction Words.

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3. Adverb Expressions

again and again
at (someone’s) beck and call
back and forth
by and by
*by and large
by/in leaps and bounds
day and night (or night and day)
down and out
every now and then
*far and away
far and wide
fast and furious(ly)
*first and foremost
here and there (or hither and thither)
home and away
in dribs and drabs
in fits and starts
in/by leaps and bounds
in this day and age
little and often
*lo and behold
nice and easy (informal)
nip and tuck
now and again
(every) now and then
off and on
out and about
over and over again
round and round
thick and fast
through thick and thin
*through and through
time and (time) again
*to all intents and purposes
to and fro
up and down
with care and attention

EXAMPLES

(d) Errors occur off and on in all contexts.

(e) It is wise to shop little and often.

The kinds of words that help make these adverb phrases are not all the same. Nouns are common, usually with a starting preposition, the typical means of putting nouns in adverb positions (see 84. Seven Things to Know about Prepositions, #2); otherwise, one tends to find adverbs, including ones that elsewhere might be prepositions, such as by (see 120. Six Things to Know about Adverbs, #5).

Nevertheless, there are some exceptions. We find two verbs in lo and behold and nip and tuck, while time and again combines a noun with an adverb. Time and again means “regularly”; now and again means “occasionally”.

Day and night, which also appears in the noun list above, and could have by in front when an adverb, is usable without it like this:

(f) Background radiation was the same in all directions day and night.

It seems that day and night breaks the preposition rule in the same way as various other time nouns do (cp. every Sunday, next week). There is a similar situation with home in home and away, the “understood” preposition being at.

Nice and easy is an informal expression that also appears in the adjective list below. It is usable as an adverb because the individual words that make it do not have to add -ly to become adverbs in informal contexts (see 120. Six Things to Know about Adverbs, #6).

The adverb uses of the above-listed expressions are not all the same. Saying something about a verb is possible for all except those marked *. Of these latter, by and large, first and foremost and to all intents and purposes may describe a sentence or adverb, or a complement as in …was by and large a success. Through and through is only usable in this last way, and must also, like enough, follow the complement (e.g. …is honest through and through). Lo and behold and by and by only describe sentences (an adverb use detailed in these pages in 121. Sentence-Spanning Adverbs); while far and away is only a “degree” adverb, and only possible with a superlative adjective or adverb (far and away the easiest).

In addition to the above-listed expressions, there are many involving a repeated comparative adverb, such as better and better or more and more rapidly. Practically any comparative adverb seems able to make such an expression, some more “fixed” than others. Other common fixed ones include higher and higher, harder and harder, more and more successfully and more and more often. The meaning is always a gradual increase in the manner indicated by the adverb.

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4. Adjective Expressions

black and blue
black and white
bright and early
cheap and nasty
dead and buried (A)
*down and out (A)
few and far between (A)
+ first and foremost
free and easy
hard and fast (B)
high and dry
high and mighty
hit and miss
home and dry
+nice and easy
+nip and tuck (A)
*off and on (or on and off)
*out and about (A)
out and out (B)
pure and simple (A)
safe and sound (A)
spick and span
such and such
swings and roundabouts (A)
touch and go (A)
tried and tested
up and coming
*up and down
willing and able

EXAMPLES

(g) Safety is first and foremost among our priorities.

(h) There are no hard and fast rules for making friends.

Like adjectives in general, the above phrases are not all able to go in both of the common adjective positions, before their noun and after it with a link verb like BE in between (see 184 Adjectives with Limited Mobility). Those that can only go before their noun are marked (B), while those that can only follow it have (A).

The phrases marked * and + also appear in the earlier adverb list. Those with * resemble single preposition-like words that have both an ordinary adverb use, e.g. went up and an adjective-like one after BE, e.g. was up (see 154. Lone Prepositions after BE).

The phrase pure and simple is often placed directly after its noun with no verb in between, e.g. an adjective pure and simple. This gives it the special meaning “and nothing more needs to be said”. Black and white is often used metaphorically to mean “clearly defined” (see 278. Colours), while black and blue usually means “extensively bruised”.

It will be seen that most of the adjective expressions are made with two ordinary adjectives, or two preposition-like ones. Exceptions are out and out (two adverbs meaning “complete”, as in an out and out failure), nip and tuck (two verbs), hit and miss (two verbs), touch and go (two verbs), swings and roundabouts (two nouns), home and dry (noun + adjective), and up and coming (adverb + participle).

Like adverbs, most adjectives in their comparative form can be repeated with and in order to express a gradual increase. Examples of a more fixed kind are better and better, stranger and stranger, more and more worrying and more and more important.

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5. Preposition Expressions

A small number of and expressions work as multi-word prepositions (see 221. Multi-Word Prepositions). They are all made with two prepositions of the ordinary kind:

in and around
above and beyond
over and above

One of the reasons that people struggle to sound natural in English is that they have trouble hearing the natural rhythm of the language.

A key element of producing the natural rhythm of English is word stress.

In fact, word stress is the very first thing you should pay attention to when learning new words.

Word stress is essential for pronouncing words correctly and speaking more clearly.

When you start paying more attention to word stress, your ear will start to identify stress patterns.

You’ll start noticing the different types of stress that native speakers use when they’re talking.

And as you advance, you especially want to pay attention to words in phrases or “chunks.”

Remember, we don’t usually use words on their own; we usually say them in entire phrases, chunks, or sentences.

For this reason, it’s important to pay attention to word stress, but then go a step further: you must also notice how each word works together with other words in order to create the rhythm of English in your sentences.

It may be frustrating to learn that native speakers produce these stress patterns without even thinking about it – it’s second nature!

But the good news is that you can learn these stress patterns in order to speak English more like a native English speaker. ?

In this video, we’re going to discuss common phrases that use the word “and.”

“And” phrases contain a consistent, recognizable stress pattern that you can learn and practice so that you start sounding more natural in English.

As we go through the examples, think of other related phrases with “and” that you often use in your work or everyday life.

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Let’s start out with some common food phrases connected by the word “and.”

For example, consider the phrase bread and butter (listen for the pattern at 1:33). ?

We pronounce “bread and butter” like this: bread n BUT-ter. (In these examples, I mark the stressed syllable by putting it in capital letters.)

If you put extra stress on the word bread, and less stress on butter, it sounds weird! (Listen to the video to hear the difference!)

Another common phrase is cream and sugar (1:50): cream n SU-gar. ?

On the weekends, you may be enjoying wine and cheese (1:57): wine n CHEESE. ?

Or you may decide to go have a burger and fries (2:02): bur – ger n FRIES. ?

Some people really like the flavor combination called sweet and sour (2:08): sweet n SOUR. ?

As you probably have noticed, all of these phrases use a recognizable stress pattern that native speakers will produce automatically.

If you practice these examples, it will help you create the natural rhythm of English.

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People and Animal Phrases with “And”

Now let’s talk about a couple of phrases related to people.

We often talk about the difference between the rich and poor (2:28): rich n POOR. ?

Or you may talk about people’s heights, such as your friends who are tall and short (2:34): tall n SHORT. ?‍?

We often discuss the differences between men and women (2:43): men n WO-men. ?

Or boys and girls (2:48): boys n GIRLS. ??

If we’re talking about our animal friends, we may compare cats and dogs (2:53): cats n DOGS. ??

Are you starting to hear the pattern in these phrases?

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Musical Phrases with “And”

Last but not least, let’s talk a little bit about music. ?

A lot of people really enjoy rock n roll (3:07): rock n ROLL. ?‍?

Or they may like R&B (3:13): arr n BE. ?

(R&B is short for rhythm and blues, but most people call it R&B music.)

For even more examples, check out this article on 29 must-know binomial expressions (and how to use them).

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Your Turn

As you can see – or better yet, hear – this particular pattern will help you sound more like a native speaker.

If you switch around the stress, it’s going to sound unnatural.

The phrase won’t sound exactly the way a native speaker would say it or expects to hear it (which makes it harder for us to understand you!).

Now it’s your turn! Can you think of any other phrases that follow this stress pattern?

Leave a comment below and let me know. Then be sure to practice saying the phrase with the correct stress pattern!

In the video lesson we learned the 80 most common phrases in English.

Common phrases to ask how someone is:

• What’s up?
• What’s new?
• What have you been up to lately?
• How’s it going?
• How are things?
• How’s life?

Common phrases to say how you are:

• I’m fine, thanks. How about you?
• Pretty good.
• Same as always
• Not so great.
• Could be better
• cant complain

Common phrases to say thank you:

• I really appreciate it.
• I’m really grateful
• That’s so kind of you.
• I owe you one. (this means you want/need to do a favor for the other person in the future)

Common phrases to respond to thank you:

• No problem.
• No worries
• Don’t mention it.
• My pleasure.
• Anytime.

Common phrases to end a conversation politely:

• It was nice chatting with you.
• Anyway, I should get going.

Common phrases to ask for information:

• Do you have any idea…?
• Would you happen to know…? (when you’re not sure if the other person has the information.)
• I don’t suppose you (would) know…? (when you’re not sure if the other person has the information.)

Common phrases to say I don’t know:

• I have no idea/clue.
• I can’t help you there.
• (informal) Beats me.
• I’m not really sure.
• I’ve been wondering that, too.

Common phrases for not having an opinion:

• I’ve never given it much thought.
• I don’t have strong feelings either way.
• It doesn’t make any difference to me.
• I have no opinion on the matter.

Common phrases for agreeing:

• Exactly.
• Absolutely.
• That’s so true.
• That’s for sure.
• I agree 100%
• I couldn’t agree with you more.
• (informal) Tell me about it! / You’re telling me!
• (informal) I’ll say!
• I suppose so. (use this phrase for weak agreement – you agree, but reluctantly)

Common phrases for disagreeing:

• I’m not so sure about that.
• That’s not how I see it.
• Not necessarily

Common phrases to respond to great news:

• That’s great!
• How wonderful!
• Awesome!

Common phrases to respond to bad news:

• Oh no…
• That’s terrible.
• Poor you. (Use this to respond to bad situations that are not too serious)
• I’m so sorry to hear that.

Common phrases to invite someone somewhere:

• Are you free… [Saturday night?]
• Are you doing anything… [Saturday night?]
• . (informal) Do you wanna… [see a movie?]
• (formal)Would you like to… [join me for dinner?]

Common phrases for food:

• I’m starving! (= I’m very hungry)
• Let’s grab a bite to eat.
• How about eating out tonight? (eat out = eat at a restaurant)
• I’ll have… (use this phrase for ordering in a restaurant)

Common phrases for price:

• It cost a fortune.
• It cost an arm and a leg.
• That’s a rip-off. (= overpriced; far more expensive than it should be)
• That’s a bit pricey.
• That’s quite reasonable. (= it’s a good price)
• That’s a good deal. (= a good value for the amount of money)
• It was a real bargain.
• It was dirt cheap. (= extremely inexpensive)

Common phrases for weather:

• It’s a little chilly.
• It’s freezing. (= extremely cold)
• Make sure to bundle up. (bundle up = put on warm clothes for protection against the cold)

Common phrases for hot weather:

• It’s absolutely boiling! (boiling = extremely hot)
• it scorching hot outside

Common phrases for being tired:

• I’m exhausted.
• I’m dead tired.
• I’m beat
• I can hardly keep my eyes open
• I’m gonna hit the sack. (hit the sack = go to bed)

Fun & Easy Way to Learn English

Learn 400 common English phrases and sentences that are commonly used in more advanced conversations! Enhance your communication skills and master advanced techniques to speak with confidence!
It can be difficult to communicate effectively with a new language like English. There are a lot of new terms that you need to learn, grammar rules to be aware of, and little nuances that are learned by years of practicing and growing. In particular, for those who are shy and scared of failing using these brand new phrases and words can trigger an anxiety attack!

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But where do you begin?

If you’re looking to begin speaking English now and begin your experience with the language of everyday life You’re at the right place.
Below are 400 most common English phrases and sentences that can help you expand your English vocabulary and help you sound like a native speakers.

A phrasal verb that combines a normal verb with an adverb or a preposition to create an entirely new verbal phrase is called the phrasal verb. A phrasal verb is a verb like pick up, turn on or get on with.

Common phrasal verbs (with meanings and examples)

back [x] up

Meaning: support or defend someone

Example: Don’t forget to back up your work.

break down

Meaning: stop working, especially when referring to machines

Example: The young man broke down in tears.

Carry on with

Meaning:  Continue

Example: I want you to carry on with the work while I am out of the country.

Carry on

Meaning:  Continue

Example:  Carry on. I didn’t mean to interrupt you.

Carry on about

Meaning: Continue in an annoying way

Example: She kept carrying on about how much money she made.

Carry off

Meaning: Succeed, win

Example: He carried off the first prize in the tennis tournament.

Carry over

Meaning:  Continue past a certain point

Example: The meeting carried over into lunchtime.

Carry out

Meaning:  Perform a task

Example: I would like to carry out the plan.

Carry on

Meaning: Behave badly

Example: My son annoyed me by carrying on all day.

call around

Meaning: contact multiple people

Example: Roy called around to find a nearby mechanic.

calm down

Meaning: relax after an energetic or irritated state

Example: I need a few minutes to calm down after that match.

call [x] off

Meaning: cancel

Example: We called the party off. / We called off the party.

check [x] out

Meaning: verify a person or thing (can sometimes be flirtatious when used in reference to a person)

Example: I’ll check the contract out. / I’ll check out the contract. 

clean up

Meaning: be extremely successful in an endeavor, such as business, sports, or gambling

Example: Our hockey team cleaned up at the tournament and went home undefeated. 

come around 

Meaning: change an opinion or see a new point of view

Example: I never liked seafood, but came around after trying fried calamari. 

come between 

Meaning: disturb a relationship

Example: After more than fifty years of marriage, nothing could come between them. 

come down on 

Meaning: attack or punish harshly

Example: Ever since last month’s accident, police have been coming down on drunk driving. 

come down with 

Meaning: become sick

Example: After sitting in the rain for hours, Chandra came down with a nasty cold. 

come out of

Meaning: happen as a consequence of another event

Example: We missed a day of school, so at least some good came out of our boring class trip. 

come up

Meaning: become the topic of discussion or receive attention

Example: Everyone talked about how much they enjoyed the movie, but the run time never came up in the conversation.

come up with  

Meaning: think of an idea, especially as the first person to do so, or to produce a solution

Example: Sahar comes up with her best story ideas at night, so she writes them down before she forgets them. 

count on 

Meaning: rely or depend on 

Example: If I’m ever making a mistake, I can count on my friends to warn me. 

dive into

Meaning: occupy oneself with something; to pore over quickly or reach into quickly

Example: I’ll dive into that new TV show later tonight.

dress up

Meaning: wear nice clothes or put forth in the best light

Example: Abed dressed up for the award ceremony.

end up

Meaning: eventually reach some conclusion or destination

Example: After thinking for a day, he ended up taking the job.

fall apart

Meaning: break into pieces

Example: My new dress completely fell apart after just two washes. 

find out

Meaning: discover or learn

Example: We’ll have to wait until the next TV episode to find out who the killer is.

Go about sth

Meaning: to deal with something

Example: I want to solve this problem but I don’t know how to go about it.

Go after sth

Meaning: to try to get something

Example: He is planning to go after his friend’s project.

Go after sb

Meaning: to try to catch or stop someone

Example: We should go after her and tell her the truth.

Go against sth/sb

Meaning: to oppose or to disagree with someone or something

Example: The people’s votes went against us.

Go ahead

Meaning: to start or to continue to do something, especially after waiting for permission

Example: Why don’t you go ahead and eat it?

Go ahead with

Meaning: to start or to continue with plans to do something

Example: It is a good idea. We should go ahead with the plan and see what happens.

Get (sth) across

Meaning: to make people understand something

Example: The teacher couldn’t get her ideas across to the students.

Get along / Get on / Get on with

Meaning: If people get along, they like each other and they have a good relationship.

Example: I can’t get along with the neighbours anymore.

Get ahead

Meaning: to be successful in the work

Example: I will get ahead at work with this project.

Get at sth

Meaning: to touch or to reach something

Example: The child can’t get at the books on the high shelf.

Get at sb

Meaning: to criticise someone repeatedly

Example: The boss always gets on me. I don’t know why he behaves like that.

Get away

Meaning: to leave or to escape from a place or a person

Example: She usually gets away from the crowds.

go for 

Meaning: try or attempt to achieve something

Example: Carlos trains so hard because he is going for an Olympic gold medal. 

go on 

Meaning: continue doing something (see keep [x] up)

Example: The boys will go on digging until they hit a water pipe. 

go over

Meaning: review or look at it again

Example: Marie went over the study guide one last time before the test.

hand in

Meaning: submit (especially an assignment)

Example: The teacher wants us to hand in our essays through email. 

leave [x] out

Meaning: omit or disregard

Example: Orna left the graph out of the presentation. / Orna left out the graph from the presentation.

let [x] down

Meaning: disappoint 

Example: Kamal let Marco down when he arrived late. / Kamal let down Marco when he arrived late.

let go of 

Meaning: release or free

Example: Don’t let go of the rope until I’m safe. 

let [x] in

Meaning: allow to enter

Example: Close the door or you’ll let the flies in! 

Let on

Meaning: Make clear, evince

Example: You don’t want to let on how rich you really are.

Let off

Meaning: Cause to explode or release

Example: Stand back when you let off fireworks.

Let down

Meaning: Fail to support or help

Example: My friend, don’t let me down this time.

Let out

Meaning: Make bigger

Example: I need to let out this skirt.

Let down

Meaning: Lengthen

Example: My father is a tailor, so he can let my pants down.

let [x] know

Meaning: tell someone something

Example: Let me know as soon as Leslie texts back. 

look after

Meaning: take care of someone or something

Example: Thank you for looking after me when I was sick. 

look up to [x]

Meaning: admire or idolize someone

Example: I looked up to this YouTuber until I read about their scandal. 

Make off

Meaning: Hurry away, escape

Example: The thieves made off before the police arrived.

Make up

Meaning: Forgive each other

Example: Alex and Mary were angry yesterday, but they made up this morning.

Make for

Meaning: Move towards

Example: He was already made for home when I arrived.

Make of

Meaning: Understand, find a reason

Example: I don’t know what to make of his behaviour.

Make out

Meaning: Decipher

Example: Anybody can’t make out her handwriting.

Make up

Meaning: Invent, lie about something

Example: Mary made up a story about why she was late.

Make up for

Meaning: Compensate for something

Example: I don’t eat dinner but I make up for it at breakfast.

mix up

Meaning: confuse something with something else

Example: It’s easy to mix up Chris Pine and Chris Pratt. 

pull [x] up

Meaning: retrieve or bring something nearer

Example: Eugene pulled the document up on his computer. / Eugene pulled up the document on his computer.

put [x] on

Meaning: wear or add something to your person or an object 

Example: I always put my backpack on before leaving the house. / I always put on my backpack before leaving the house. 

put up with

Meaning: tolerate or condone

Example: Somehow Paz could put up with Janice’s cynical attitude. 

run out of

Meaning: use all of or drain the supply of something

Example: Isabella ran out of toilet paper at the worst possible time.

see to

Meaning: make sure something is done

Example: I’ll see to watering the plants while you’re gone.

set [x] up

Meaning: arrange or organize

Example: Since no one invited me to join their study group, I set one up myself. 

show off

Meaning: deliberately display abilities or accomplishments in order to impress people

Example: Panya didn’t need to shoot so many three-pointers; she was just showing off. 

shut [x] off

Meaning: turn off, especially a machine

Example: Don’t forget to shut the water off after your shower. / Don’t forget to shut off the water after your shower. 

Set about sth/doing sth 

Meaning: to begin or start doing something

Examples: I don’t know how to set about the work.

Set about sb

Meaning: to attack someone

Example: The crowd began to set about him with stones.

Set forth

Meaning: to begin traveling

Example: We set forth at noon.

Set off

Meaning: to start a journey or trip

Example: We will set off next week.

Set off sth

Meaning: to cause a signal to start something

Example: The loud sound set off the baby’s crying.

Set out

Meaning: to leave a place and begin a journey

Example: We set out on a lonely journey.

Set out ( to do something )

Meaning: to start an activity or something with a special aim or intend

Example: She set out to protect her kids.

take after

Meaning: resemble, especially with parents and their children

Example: Li takes after his father when it comes to politics. 

take [x] out

Meaning: move something outside

Example: Please take the garbage out before dinner. / Please take out the garbage before dinner.

think [x] over

Meaning: consider something

Example: When his parents suggested selling his Pokemon cards, Yosef thought it over. 

throw [x] away

Meaning: dispose of something

Example: Could you throw that old burrito away? / Could you throw away that old burrito?

turn [x] down

Meaning: reject or say “no”

Example: My crush turned me down after I asked them out. 

top off

Meaning: fill something to the top; to complete something in a special or spectacular way

Example: May I top off your beverage?

wait on

Meaning: serve, especially at a restaurant

Example: Billie eagerly waited at the new table of customers, hoping for a big tip.

Read into

Meaning: to believe that an action, remark, or situation has particular importance or meaning, often when this is not true

Example:  Her speech is very clear. Don’t try to read anything else into it.

Read over/through

Meaning: to read something quickly from the beginning to the end

Example: You should read over your exam paper when you have finished.

Warm up

Meaning: Make something warm

Example: I’II warms up some meat for dinner.

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• to word (see also)

• word

And is a coordinating conjunction. We use and to connect two words, phrases, clauses or prefixes together:

Televisions and computers are dominating our daily life. (noun + noun)

I have to shower and change. (verb + verb)

The photos are black and white. (adjective + adjective)

My best friend and my father’s father both come from Wales. (phrase + phrase)

She got to the door and put the key in the latch. (clause + clause)

The houses were a mix of pre- and post-war build. (prefix + prefix)

Go and, come and

Spoken English:

In informal speaking we often use and after go and come before verbs like ask, buy, check, collect, do, find, get:

Why don’t you go and ask her?

I need to go and buy myself some running shoes.

Can you come and do the washing up?

She should go and find another job.

In informal American English speaking, we often leave out and:

Dad will come collect you on the way back from work.

I was expecting him to go get the keys.

Fixed expressions with and

We often use and in common fixed expressions. The order of the words cannot change: peace and quiet, pick and choose, come and go, knife and fork, black and white.

And + adjective

Spoken English:

In informal speaking, when we want to emphasise something positive, we often use and after nice or lovely with another adjective:

The kitchen’s looking nice and clean.

You’re lovely and tanned.

And in numbers

When we speak or write numbers, we use and to separate hundred, thousand, million from numbers smaller than a hundred:

625: six hundred and twenty-five

1,000,410: one million, four hundred and ten

6,492: six thousand, four hundred and ninety-two

101: one hundred and one

We also use and between whole numbers and fractions:

23½: twenty three and a half