Why do we ‘tackle’ climate change? The special role of word-pairs

The practice of pairing odd words – usually verbs with nouns – surely reaches its zenith in the oft-used modern phrase “to tackle climate change”. Picture: istock

Is there no end to the complexity of the English language? There are idioms like right as rain and good as gold; there are euphemisms like to pass away and to kick the bucket, meaning to die.

I am also quite a fan of the odd malapropism, which was perfectly illustrated by Kim Craig (née Day) of Kath & Kim fame, who defiantly declared to her mother: “I want to be effluent, Mum, effluent.” She meant affluent, of course.

And yet for all the subtleties and intricacies of the English language there is no term – as far as I can make out – for the curious pairing of some words. Indeed, so common is this practice that I think subconsciously we pair words in order to convey another, deeper, even hidden, meaning. Surely there’s a term for this. (And if not, we need to invent one.)

Let me explain what I mean.

We fall in love, we are gripped by fear, we are consumed by jealousy, we drown in debt, we are driven by lust. I am pretty sure that lust is not a chauffeur. And yet there it is, bold as brass, driving humanity in all kinds of directions. To be driven by lust is to pass agency to someone or something else; maybe this phrasing has evolved because it conveniently transfers responsibility to a third party.

I suspect we pair the word “fall” with “love” because it aptly conveys the ethereal sense of floating, of helplessness, of being effortlessly carried forth to our one true love. Plus, in the case of romantic love, “to fall” gives the faller an excuse if things don’t work out because, well, we were swept off our feet.

The practice of pairing odd words – usually verbs with nouns – surely reaches its zenith in the oft-used modern phrase “to tackle climate change”. It is a phrase that has been cited more or less daily for the past 20 years.

When you think about it, “tackle” is a perfect word-pairing for climate change. It suggests intent, action and even confrontation; a tackle is a bold physical act that brings to heel a wayward, even threatening, adversary. Best of all, a tackle doesn’t promise a solution; it merely declares pursuit; it is the perfect political posture.

Perhaps tackle, being a useful and versatile word, could also be put to work managing expectations in defence, in debt management, in social justice, all of which can be “tackled” without the burden of delivering outcomes.

Hidden-meaning word-pairings are everywhere. We search for redemption. We find salvation. Humanity really is a forgetful lot. We look for love but oddly we never listen for love. We are wracked by guilt, where wrack is said to derive literally from the torturer’s rack. Our dreams are ships capable of taking us to faraway places, for they are launched but they can also be dashed.

Tennis players are bundled out, whereas cricketers are given out; why the distinction? Sins are committed. Kindnesses are bestowed. Anxiety is wrestled with. Spending is reined in, occasionally, so I understand.

The reason why word pairings exist is because they allow us to subtly communicate intent, to create an impression, to achieve the outcome we so desperately desire. Word pairings give power, meaning and impact to human communication.