7
$\begingroup$

From the lines below, can you determine what each is describing and the commonality between each answer? Once you get a couple, the pattern is obvious. Caveat: a handful of lines have a couple valid answers, and there may be some that I hadn't though of, but I am happy to accept any answer that seems viable (follows the pattern and fits the clue). Have fun:

A very adaptable novel of manners
A simple mistake becomes a criminal offense
An officer's responsibilities
Trinkets
Scientific process, in many cases
A witch's incantation
Econ 101
Like most wanted men
Dun-Dun!!!
Repeatedly
The lunar cycle
"This pot's mine, boys!"
Fisher's methodology
"No use crying over spilled milk"
Orator's introduction
90's events inspire 10's satirical movie
"Time to get up!"
A real deluge
Quite the stark contrast
A children's game
"That's all there is to it"
Try different combinations
Ready to rollout
For hunting purists
A stunning tactic

For bonus points, can you come up with some good examples of the opposite of this pattern?

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
3
  • $\begingroup$ Is this what you had in mind for an opposite: no pain, no gain? $\endgroup$
    – Gordon K
    Aug 17, 2015 at 23:21
  • $\begingroup$ I meant linguistic freezes that use or instead of and e.g. 'hell or high water', 'fight or flight' $\endgroup$
    – NeedAName
    Aug 18, 2015 at 13:53
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ All or nothing, money or your life, sink or swim, death or glory $\endgroup$
    – Gordon K
    Aug 18, 2015 at 13:56

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
9
$\begingroup$

The pattern is:

any phrase in the form "_____ and _____"

Mostly complete list, but one or two left:

A very adaptable novel of manners

Pride and Prejudice

A simple mistake becomes a criminal offense

Crime and punishment

An officer's responsibilities

Serve and protect

Trinkets

Odds and ends (fm. GentlePurpleRain)

Scientific process, in many cases

Trial and error

A witch's incantation

Eye of newt and toe of frog
(Double, double,) toil and trouble (fm. Sabre)

Econ 101

Supply and demand

Like most wanted men

Armed and dangerous

Dun-Dun!!!

Law & Order (fm. Mohair)

Repeatedly

Over and over

The lunar cycle

Waxing and waning (fm. psmears)

"This pot's mine, boys!"

Read 'em and weep

Fisher's methodology

Catch and release

"No use crying over spilled milk"

Live and learn (fm. Curtis Reubens)

Orator's introduction

Ladies and gentlemen

90's events inspire 10's satirical movie

Pain & Gain (fm. Sabre)

"Time to get up!"

Rise and shine

A real deluge

(raining) cats and dogs

Quite the stark contrast

Black and white

A children's game

Chutes and Ladders

"That's all there is to it"

Over and done with

Try different combinations

Mix and match

Ready to rollout

Locked and loaded (fm. Curtis Reubens)

For hunting purists

Bow and arrow

A stunning tactic

Shock and awe

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
10
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ That answer is borderline in my mind, actually. $\endgroup$
    – lorimer
    Aug 17, 2015 at 16:36
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Trinkets = "Odds and Ends" $\endgroup$
    – GentlePurpleRain
    Aug 17, 2015 at 17:10
  • 5
    $\begingroup$ Dun-Dun!!! = "Law & Order," the TV show. $\endgroup$
    – Mohair
    Aug 17, 2015 at 18:12
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ Witch's incantation = "(Double Double) Toil and Trouble?" $\endgroup$
    – Sabre
    Aug 17, 2015 at 18:50
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ And I guess the satirical movie is probably Pain & Gain $\endgroup$
    – Sabre
    Aug 17, 2015 at 18:57
3
$\begingroup$

Filling in some of lorimer's gaps:

"No use crying over spilled milk"

Live and learn.

Ready to rollout

Locked and loaded

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.