Two word expressions （两字短语）

In spoken English, we often use two-word phrases, such as "so-so". Here are some of the more common two word phrases.

so-so = neither very bad(ly) nor very good/well （不好也不坏的，马马虎虎的，还算过得去的）
-----How was the meeting?
-----So-so. It was nice to see everyone, but we didn't get anything decided.

on-off = from time to time; sometimes（断断续续，有时）
They have a very on-off relationship.

love-hate = having feelings for someone/something which swing from love to hate（爱恨交加的强烈感情关系）
I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with my car.

mish-mash = an untidy disorderly mixture (混杂物，大杂烩)
The new policy is a bit of a mish-mash of the last two policies we've had.

riff-raff = quite a 'snobby' expression to describe people you think are lower in class than you（乌合之众；地痞流氓）
Let's send out invitations for the party. We don't want the town's riff-raff turning up and eating all the food.

chit-chat = small talk or informal light conversation（聊天，闲谈）
He asked us to stop our chit-chat and get on with our work.

knick-knack = a small cheap decorative object, esp. for the house（小摆设，小玩艺儿）
She's got a lot of knick-knacks. I'm always afraid I'm going to break one.

ship-shape = made clean and neat; in good order（整齐的，井然有序的）
I want to leave the place ship-shape when we go on holiday.

zig-zag = a line shaped like a row of z's（曲折，之字形）
the zigzags of the mountain roads

ding-dong = an noisy fight or argument（争吵，争辩）
They've had a bit of a ding-dong and they're not talking to each other at the moment.

higgledy-piggledy = in disorder; mixed together without system（紊乱的，杂乱无章的）
That bookshelf is all higgledy-piggledy!

flip-flops = a type of open shoe, which is usu. made of rubber and is held on by the toes and loose at the back（平底人字拖鞋）
I lived in my flip-flops when I was staying on the beach.

see-saw = 1) a board which is balanced in the middle and on which children sit at opposite ends, so that when one end goes up the other goes down（跷跷板）
2) to move backwards and forwards, up and down, or between opponents or opposite sides（前后或上下运动；交替）
The English pound has see-sawed against the American dollar for the last two weeks.