Last week's one-point lesson was about collocations (words that go together). One type of collocation involves common X and Y expressions like fish and chips or bed and breakfast. There are many of these X and Y expressions in English and, when you use them, it is important to get the order right. In Japanese, for example, you say ”’�• but in English we say black and white. If you say white and black or breakfast and bed, it will sound strange.

Below are 16 words which can be combined to form 8 common X and Y collocations. Can you find them?

ladies / eggs / bread / tonic / loud / gentlemen / safe / cheap / gin / sound / bacon / clear / black / butter / cheerful / blue

Click here to check your answers and to read my comments about how to use some of these expressions