make a good pair

Meaning

To look good together, work well together, or be highly compatible as a couple, partners, or teammates. This expression is often used to describe romantic couples who complement each other, but it can also apply to friends or coworkers.

Examples

• They have different personalities, but they really make a good pair.

  They have different personalities, but they really make a good pair.

• Everyone at the party agreed that Tom and Lily make a good pair.

  Everyone at the party agreed that Tom and Lily make a good pair.

• Our two dogs are best friends; they really make a good pair.

  Our two dogs are best friends; they really make a good pair.

• With her marketing skills and his design talent, they make a good pair for this project.

  With her marketing skills and his design talent, they make a good pair for this project.

• Do you think they make a good pair, or are they too different?

  Do you think they make a good pair, or are they too different?

Common Mistakes

• ✗ They make a good couple of partners.

  ✓ They make a good pair.

  'Make a good pair' is an idiomatic chunk. Adding 'of partners' is redundant and unnatural.

• ✗ They do a good pair.

  ✓ They make a good pair.

  The correct verb collocation is 'make,' not 'do.'

Related Expressions

Practice

• I always knew they would ___ because they share the same sense of humor.

  💡 be highly compatible together

  Show answer

  make a good pair

• You and your business partner really ___.

  💡 work well together as a duo

  Show answer

  make a good pair