one-pair
Definition
- Noun:
- A set of two matching items: "one-pair" refers to a single set consisting of two corresponding things, such as shoes, socks, or gloves.
- A room on the second floor (chiefly British, historical): "one-pair" denotes a room located on the first floor above the ground floor (i.e., the second floor), often used in describing apartments or lodgings.
Usage Examples
A set of two matching items:
- I need to buy a one-pair of new running shoes. (A single set of two shoes that match.)
- She lost one-pair of her favourite earrings. (A single set of two earrings.)
A room on the second floor:
- They rented a one-pair flat overlooking the park. (A flat on the second floor.)
- The landlady showed him the one-pair room at the top of the stairs. (A room on the first floor above the ground floor.)
Advanced Usage
- "one-pair back": In British property descriptions, this may refer to a room on the second floor at the rear of a building.
- The one-pair back had a view of the garden. (The second-floor room at the back.)
Variants and Related Words
- One-pair-of (phrasal noun): a specific set of two items, usually used before a noun.
- He bought a one-pair-of-socks pack. (A pack containing a single pair of socks.)
- One-pair-room (noun): a compound term for a room on the second floor.
- The one-pair-room was small but cosy. (The second-floor room.)
Synonyms
- Pair: a set of two things used together.
- Couple: two items of the same kind.
- Second-floor room: a room on the second storey.
Idioms
- "one-pair of hands": a metaphorical expression meaning a single person's effort or ability.
- With only one-pair of hands, it took all day to clean the house. (With only one person working.)
Notes
- The use of "one-pair" to mean a second-floor room is now largely historical or regional, primarily found in older British English or in descriptions of traditional lodgings. The more common modern term is "second-floor room" or "first-floor room" depending on the numbering system.