This activity is designed as a vocabulary expander. It gets students thinking about words that go together to form familiar phrases. Present the first word(s) and ask your students to determine the word that will complete the phrase. I like to make a set of cards with the first word(s) on the front of each card and the answers on the back. Individuals students, small groups, or even the entire class may play.

Words are given in black; answers in blue.

• toss and...turn
• up, up, and...away
• bread and...butter
• hop, skip, and a...jump
• animal, vegetable, or...mineral
• coffee, tea, or...milk
• rich man, poor man, beggarman...thief
• bacon, lettuce, and...tomato
• spic and...span
• reading, writing, and...arithmetic
• peace and...quiet
• fish and...chips
• sugar and...spice
• rise and...shine
• aches and...pains
• ear, eyes, nose, and...throat
• whether or...not
• nickel and...dime
• tall, dark, and...handsome
• now or...never
• bell, book, and...candle
• short but...sweet
• safe and...sound
• p's and...q's
• rough and...ready
• do's and...don'ts