What is a three word phrase

Three word expressions are common in English. Practising them and using them when you speak will help you sound more natural.

Here are ten common English expressions, along with an explanation and example sentence.

Black and white
Dos and don’ts
Haves and have nots
Ins and outs
Kiss and tell
Odds and ends
P’s and Q’s
Pros and cons
Rights and wrongs
Tried and tested

black and white = something which is extremely clear: “He told her in black and white that she couldn’t leave the house while he was out.”

dos and don’ts = the rules: “There are various do’s and don’ts about driving in the UK.”

haves and have nots = people who are rich and those who are not: “In London you can find the haves and have nots of the population.”

ins and outs = the details: “I don’t know the ins and outs of the situation, so I can’t really advise you.”

kiss and tell = when someone sells a story of themselves and a famous person: “The British tabloids are famous for publishing kiss and tell stories.”

odds and ends = small pieces of various items: “She made a stew with the odds and ends she found in the fridge.”

P’s and Q’s = manners (such as please and thank you): “Mind your P’s and Q’s when you visit them!”

pros and cons = advantages and disadvantages: “There are a few pros and cons that we should consider before buying a new house.”

rights and wrongs = all the good points and bad points of a situation: “Regardless of the rights and wrongs of company policy, you need to give a month’s notice.”

tried and tested = something which has been well tested: “Using salt is a tried and tested way of getting red wine out of a carpet.”

Here are ten more expressions:


Ups and downs
Come and go
Back and forth
Dribs and drabs
Said and done
Cat and mouse
Trial and error
Flesh and blood
Down and out
By and large

ups and downs = very good times and very bad times: “They have a lot of ups and downs in their relationship.”

come and go = use somewhere as your base: “Feel free to come and go as you please!”

back and forth = not to stay still, but to keep travelling between two places: “I’m so glad I’m moving. I was getting sick of going back and forth every day. Now my journey to work will be a lot quicker.”

dribs and drabs = not a steady amount of something: “The marathon runners finished in dribs and drabs.”

said and done = to have the final word on something: “When it’s all said and done, the new reception area is going to be a credit to the company.”

cat and mouse = doing something in the same way that a cat plays with a mouse: “The guerillas played a cat and mouse game with the much better-equipped army.”

trial and error = to do something new by making experiments and occasionally failing: “The new computer system has been installed. But it’s a bit trial and error at the moment – nobody really knows how to use it.”

flesh and blood = your family: “I have to help him if I can – he’s my flesh and blood.”

down and out = someone who has no money at all who has to live on the street: “There are too many young down and outs in London.”

by and large = generally: “By and large, our customers prefer good service to low prices.”

And a further ten expressions:

Up and running = in operation: “The new company is now up and running.”

Noughts and crosses = a game where you take it in turns to put your symbol (either a nought or a cross) into one of nine spaces. The idea is to have a row of either three noughts or three crosses, but your opponent tries to block you. The game looks like this:

O X O
X O X
X O X

Bring and buy = a fair where people try to raise money for a cause by bringing something that other people might want to buy: “I’m making a cake for the school’s bring and buy next week.”

Hide and seek = a children’s game where one child hides and the others try to find him / her: “Someone’s been playing hide and seek with the TV remote control again!”

Around and about = a vague phrase to avoid saying where you have been exactly: “Where have you been – I’ve been worried!”
“Oh, around and about, you know.”

To and fro = another way of saying “back and forth”: “I’m exhausted – I’ve been going to and fro all week!”

Over and out = something you say to show you have come to the end of your message: “The last thing they heard from the pilot was ‘over and out’.”

Done and dusted = properly finished: “Well, that’s this project done and dusted. We need a holiday now.”

Dead and buried = something that will not happen: “That idea is now dead and buried – the Executive Committee decided some time ago to go with another proposal.”

Wine and dine = to entertain someone lavishly: “He’s well-known for wining and dining his business partners.”

Bread and butter = your main source of income, or the most important issue: “Health and education are the bread and butter issues facing the UK government.”

Spick and span = very tidy and clean: “Her house is spick and span at all times.”

Wheel and deal = to make deals when buying and selling things: “If you need a new car, try speaking to John. He’s a bit of a wheeler and dealer!”

Cколько в английском языке three word phrasal verbs? Конечно, их меньше, чем two word, и всё же моя попытка составить о них некое представление провалилась, когда я дошла до глагола get — одного из самых употребительных английских фразовых глаголов. Их слишком много.

То, на что у меня хватило терпения, представляю в виде таблицы. Глаголы от A до D. Отобраны по алфавиту, не по частоте употребления.

Phrasal Verb Meaning Example Notes
 1 Break out of Escape Three dangerous Category A prisoners BROKE OUT OF Wandsworth Prison last night. Inseparable
 2 Break out in Sweat heavily, develop skin sores or irritation The measles caused me to BREAK OUT IN a rash. Inseparable
 3 Come down with Fall ill She CAME DOWN WITH a virus. Inseparable
 4 Add up to Have a certain result Trains delays are getting worse and with the high fares, it all ADDS UP TO misery for the commuters. Inseparable
 5 Add up to Come to a certain amount or figure The total costs ADD UP TO several million euros. Inseparable
 6 Back out of Fail to keep an agreement, arrangement She BACKED OUT OF the agreement at the last minute  Inseparable
 7 Back out of Exit a parking area in reverse gear She BACKED the Rolls OUT OF its parking space
 8 Bang on about Keep talking about something He’s always BANGING ON ABOUT football. Inseparable
 9 Be cut out for Be suitable, have the necessary qualities She’s not CUT OUT FOR this kind of work Inseparable
 10 Bear down on Move towards She spotted him on the other side of the room and BORE DOWN ON him. Inseparable
 11 Bear up under Cope with something difficult or stressful He’s BEARING UP UNDER the pressure. Inseparable
 12 Beaver away at Work hard doing something I have to BEAVER AWAY AT it or else I will fail the course. Inseparable
 13 Bend over backwards Do a lot to try to help or please someone I BENT OVER BACKWARDS for them and they didn’t even thank me. Intransitive
 14 Boil down to Amount to It all BOILS DOWN TO money at the end of the day. Inseparable
 15 Bone up on Study hard for a goal or reason I need to BONE UP ON my French grammar for the test. Inseparable
 16 Break out in Sweat heavily, develop skin sores or irritation. The measles caused me to BREAK OUT IN a rash. Inseparable
 17 Break out of Escape Three dangerous Category A prisoners BROKE OUT OF Wandsworth Prison last night. Inseparable
 18 Bring out in Cause a health problem or reaction It was the lobster that BROUGHT me OUT in this rash all over my body. Separable [obligatory]
 19 Carry on with Have an affair He’s been CARRYING ON WITH someone at work for years. Inseparable
 20 Cash in on Benefit or make money on something, especially if done unfairly The opposition party are CASHING IN ON the government’s unpopularity. Inseparable
 21 Cast about for Try to find something They’re CASTING ABOUT FOR support. Inseparable
 22 Cast around for Try to find something She was CASTING AROUND FOR people to help her. Inseparable
 23 Cast round for Try to find something He CAST ROUND FOR any sign of his things. Inseparable
 24 Catch up in Become involved, often against one’s will The tourists were CAUGHT UP IN the violence of the revolution. Inseparable
 25 Catch up on Do something that should have been done earlier I’m going home to CATCH UP ON my sleep. Inseparable
 26 Catch up on Reminisce with an old friend after not seeing them for a while I hadn’t seen her for years, so we spent the afternoon CATCHING UP ON old times. Inseparable
 27 Catch up with Do something that should have been done earlier I’m going home to CATCH UP WITH my sleep. Inseparable
 28 Catch up with Meet someone after a period of time and find out what they have been doing I CAUGHT UP WITH her at the conference. Inseparable
 29 Chalk up to Explain the reason for a problem They CHALKED the poor sales UP TO the lower numbers of tourists visiting this year. Separable [obligatory]
 30 Cheat out of Get money from someone under false pretences I hate him- he CHEATED me OUT OF ?100. Separable [obligatory]
 31 Check out of Settle up and pay before leaving a hotel Guests have to CHECK OUT OF the hotel before midday. Inseparable
 32 Chip away at Gradually reduce something to make it less powerful, effective, etc They have been CHIPPING AWAY AT his reputation ever since he took office. Inseparable
 33 Chow down on Eat something We’re going to CHOW DOWN ON that barbecued pork. Inseparable
 34 Clamp down on Restrict or try to stop something The government are CLAMPING DOWN ON antisocial behaviour. Inseparable
 35 Cling on to Try to keep something They CLUNG ON TO power despite the protests. Inseparable
 36 Close in on Get near someone The police were CLOSING IN ON the gang. Inseparable
 37 Close in upon Get near someone The police were CLOSING IN UPON the gang. Inseparable
 38 Come down on Criticise heavily The management really CAME DOWN ON him for losing the contract. Inseparable
 39 Come down to Amount to, be the most important aspect It all COMES DOWN TO a question of who tries hardest. Inseparable
 40 Come down upon Criticise, reprimand severely They will COME DOWN UPON us if we are late. Inseparable
 41 Come down with Fall ill She CAME DOWN WITH a virus. Inseparable
 42 Come forth with Provide information None of the witnesses CAME FORTH WITH an accurate description of the gang. Inseparable
 43 Come into use Start being used The computerised system CAME INTO USE at the end of last year. Intransitive
 44 Come off it I don’t believe what you’re saying; used as an imperative COME OFF IT; tell me the truth for goodness’ sake. Inseparable
 45 Come out in Have a rash or similar skin problem She CAME OUT IN a nasty rash after touching the poisonous plant by mistake. Inseparable
 46 Come out of Recover consciousness After three years, he CAME OUT OF the coma. Inseparable
 47 Come out with Make something available They have just COME OUT WITH a new version. Inseparable
 48 Come through with Provide something needed He didn’t COME THROUGH WITH the money and they went bust. Inseparable
 49 Come through with Provide something needed He didn’t COME THROUGH WITH the money and they went bust. Inseparable
 50 Come up against Encounter problems or difficulties They CAME UP AGAINST a lot of opposition to their plans for an out-of-town supermarket development. Inseparable
 51 Come up with Think of a solution, excuse, etc. Nobody could COME UP WITH a satisfactory explanation for the accident. Inseparable
 52 Contract out of Formally leave and agreement I CONTRACTED OUT OF the deal years ago. Inseparable
 53 Crack down on Use more authority than usual The police always CRACK DOWN ON drink-driving offences over the Christmas period. Inseparable
 54 Creep out on To do the same activity for a very long time He’s been CREEPING OUT ON that computer game all day. Inseparable
 55 Cut back on Reduce expenditure The government has decided to CUT BACK ON spending on the armed forces. Inseparable
 56 Cut down on Reduce Doctors advised her to CUT DOWN ON the amount of saturated fats in her diet. Inseparable
 57 Cut it out Stop your unfair or unreasonable behaviour Will you two idiots CUT IT OUT and keep quiet. Separable [obligatory]
 58 Cut out on Let down, snub Although he’d promised to help, the star CUT OUT ON the charity when offered more money. Inseparable
 59 Dine out on Tell a story repeatedly that is well received I’ve DINED OUT ON the story of his accident. Inseparable
 60 Do away with Abolish, get rid of The United Kingdom DID AWAY WITH the death penalty in 1965. Inseparable
 61 Double up as Have a second function or purpose The display screen DOUBLES UP AS a solar panel. Inseparable
 62 Drill down through Get to the bottom of something, get detailed data They DRILLED DOWN THROUGH the information to find the truth. Inseparable
 63 Duck out of Avoid doing something He DUCKED OUT OF helping us last night. Inseparable
 64 End up with Get as a result of something He tried hard but ENDED UP WITH a poor grade. Inseparable
 65 Face up to Accept an unpleasant truth Many people find it hard to FACE UP TO the fact that they are getting old. Inseparable
 66 Fall back on Be able to use in an emergency It was good to have some money in the bank to FALL BACK ON when I lost my job. Inseparable
 67 Feel up to Feel capable of doing something I’m so tired. I don’t think I FEEL UP TO going out tonight. Inseparable
 68 Fill in for Substitute I was away for a few days, so they had to get someone to FILL IN FOR me. Inseparable
 69 Fill in on Give someone information I’m sorry I missed the meeting; could you FILL me IN ON what happened. Separable [obligatory]
 70 Finish up with Have or do something at the end or as the last of something We attended some workshops and FINISHED UP WITH the keynote speaker. Inseparable
 71 Fit in with Occur or happen in a way that shows that plans or ideas have not changed His rudeness yesterday FITS IN WITH what I have always thought of his behaviour. Inseparable
 72 Fit out with Provide someone with necessary equipment They didn’t FIT the troops OUT WITH the necessary protective gear. Separable [optional]
 73 Fob off on Make or persuade someone to accept something you don’t want I FOBBED the work ON the others. Separable [obligatory]
 74 Fob off onto Make or persuade someone to accept something you don’t want I FOBBED the fake note ONTO a shopkeeper. Separable [obligatory]
 75 Fob off with Make or persuade someone to accept something of lower quality than they wanted He FOBBED her OFF WITH some fake gold. Separable [optional]
 76 Fob off with Make or persuade someone to accept something of lower quality than they wanted He FOBBED her OFF WITH some fake gold. Separable [optional]
 77 Follow on from Be the part of something The film FOLLOWS ON from the original. Inseparable
 78 Gang up against Harass, bully (in a group) They GANGED UP AGAINST me because I wouldn’t accept their ideas. Inseparable
 79 Get across to Be convincing or make a good impression How can I GET ACROSS TO my audience? Inseparable
 80 Get ahead of Move in front of I work at home in the evening to GET AHEAD OF schedule. Inseparable
 81 Get along in Progress How are you GETTING ALONG IN the company. Inseparable

Если у коллег появится желание продолжить список, Вашему вниманию представляю словарь фразовых глаголов ЗДЕСЬ.

Подборка интернет-ресурсов с упражнениями на тренировку three word phrasals:

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Do you know any three-word phrasal verbs? These can be tricky, because sometimes an extra word added to a two-word phrasal verb gives the whole expression a new meaning! These expressions are great to use in an English work environment. Whether you’re at work or in school you can use these phrasal verbs to help you get the job done, and to sound smarter while you do it! Take the quiz to make sure you understand these expressions, and subscribe to my channel for many more free English lessons with me and Mr. E!

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Three Word Phrase

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About

Three Word Phrase is a webcomic created by Ryan Pequin, who is also a storyboard artist and writer for Regular Show. The style has been described as ironic and surreal, hitting «the nice sweet spot between the zen professionalism of PBF and the unhinged id of KC Green’s comics.»[1] Pequin describes the name «Three Word Phrase» thusly:

It’s kind of a joke about how a lot of webcomics have names that are made up of three word phrases, and also it’s kind of a dumb self-referential thing (“three word phrase” is a three word phrase). It doesn’t really mean anything beyond that, though.[2]

Origin

On November 6th, 2010, Pequin uploaded the first comic to threewordphrase.com,[3] called «Gon’ Eat Ya» (pictured below).

Spread

Three Word Phrase quickly gained popularity. In 2011, the comic was written up in a Buzzfeed community post,[4] reviewed by One Punch Reviews,[1] and endorsed by Fountains of Wayne singer Chris Collingwood.[5] A few of his comics became their own separate memes, including «President Bird» and «I Want This Because of Reasons» (shown below).

The comic gained over 330,000 notes on Tumblr[6] (as of August 5th, 2016) and helped the comic achieve its peak in popularity. Three Word Phrase was named one of the ten best webcomics of 2011 by Paste Magazine.[9] On April 11th, 2012, Comics Alliance[10] wrote an article praising Three Word Phrase. Meanwhile, more of Pequin’s comics gained hundreds of thousands of Tumblr notes.[7]

Pequin has published three Three Word Phrase books.[12]

In his 279th comic, Pequin announced that he had been hired by Regular Show and that he would be updating Three Word Phrase more sporadically.[8]

As of August 5th, 2016, Three Word Phrase has over 18,000 likes on Facebook.[11]

Various Examples

MAGINE A WET LITTLE BUTTON NOSE BOOPING A HUMAN FACE-FOREVER DOES POOPY PUPPY EXIST ? POOPY PUPPY OF COURSE HE ExISTS TEN MINUTES HATE DOES HE ExiST LIKE You oR ME? IS WATCHING YOU You Do NOT EXIST. I WANT THE SLIPPERIEST THE mosT SLIPPERY IS THE KIND OF BUTT THAT I WANT PAROON ME, SIR DO YOU HAVE ANY WANT THIS THING THAT WILL BUTT IMAGINABLE. BECAUSE OF MAKE A BUTT REASONS SIR ExtREMELY SLIPPERYBuTT You CaN HAvE -- 0 QUEEN WIENER -LOoKSPLACE THE WIENERS A MIGHTY wIENER DUB THIS MAN DEMANDS To viEw SOME WIENERS INSIDE OF MY FIELDAPPEARS BEFORE OF VISION IMMEDI- ATELY A GOOD WIENER- HAVER! GOD SMILES UPON uS ALL THIS DAY ITS QUEEN BABY WHEN I GET HoME IMWANNA SM0OCH THE .. LIKE, YOUR 8UM GONNA KISS UP ON AL FIGGIN HECK OUTTA AND VAGINA AND THAT STUFF YOUR STUFF WHATEVER "J YoU'RE APPLYING FOR THE FLUFFER POSITION, EH? WHAT WOULD YoU SAY IS YoUR GREATEST PROFESS - ONAL WEAKNESS? CAN NEVER FINISH WHAT I START WEL COME ABOARD, SONN PoRNO Bos ART SHOW COMICS IT IS OF THIS IS SoME ART THAT I MADE MY TAINT T IS THE AREA BETWEEN MY BUTTOCKS AND MY TESTICLES ㄥ

Search Interest

External References

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$begingroup$

If I say

» 1 2 3″

You might thank me politely.

But if I

» 1 2 3″

You might scream loudly

If I bowl

» 2 3 1″

You might cut it squarely

What are the three words 1,2 and 3?

asked May 16, 2022 at 15:16

RogerA's user avatar

$endgroup$

2

$begingroup$

Is the phrase

Break a leg

Say

«break a leg» to wish good luck, being thanked politely perhaps

Do

«break a leg» and someone may scream loudly.

and Bowl

a leg break is a cricket term, after which the batter may cut it squarely

answered May 16, 2022 at 15:28

SteveV's user avatar

SteveVSteveV

15.4k2 gold badges28 silver badges64 bronze badges

$endgroup$

2

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