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 decided¹.

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 'snobby³' 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 decorative⁴ 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 zigzags⁵ 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 disorder²; 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 backwards⁶ and forwards, up and down, or between opponents⁷ 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.