I can understand a pair of scissors as there are two components but why use the phrase ” pair of bars” when there is only one item?

How many handles on a pair of handlebars?

None

rephrase. At how many points do you hold the handlebar?

Is this a troll or does OP really not understand what a “handle” is? 😉

Pair of pants? Pair of trousers?

At how many points do you hold the handlebar?

What about a spade then?

Pair of glasses?

Pair of knickers?

Why not pair of bras?

Sort of question my 10 year old asks after school 🙂

It’s just that quirky ol’ English language.

One foot two feet, 1 tooth two teeth, one shoop two sheep? Well it should be…

Cheers

Danny B

hmm, should really be a Handlesbar, shouldn’t it!?… 🙂

A spade is named for it’s cutting blade. As is a shovel.

What did the bars on a safety bicycle look like?

Shovels don’t have cutting blades.

(-:

the blade on a shovel cuts more than your wit.

Is the handlebar connected to a fork?

Or a pair of forks?

I got told off for calling it a pair of forks once as it is only one fork as in knife and fork.

Still call it a pair of forks or set of forks if I’m feeling rebellious though!

Cheers

Danny B

Doors have handles bars don’t

I’d say its to do with the contact points, two hands, two contact points, ergo a pair.

Scissors are only one handed though

Knickers?

Doors have handles bars don’t

[s]you are[/s] doors have a knob.

I’d say the phrase might come from a circumstance when the two sides were separate like many motorcycles.

Bra?

I think it may come from motorbikes, where many have 2 separate bars. Hence a set of bars. Or it’s just inaccuracy.

Some are still one piece like ours:

Scissors are indeed one handed yet have “two” contact points, yer thumb and yer fingerbob, ergo a pair.

Pair of glasses?

two lenses

Pair of knickers?

two leg holes

Why not pair of bras?

no idea, I’ll have to look into this, does the Littlewoods catalogue still have the ladies lingerie section?

Scissors are indeed one handed yet have “two” contact points, yer thumb and yer fingerbob, ergo a pair

Yes, two separate contact points joined together, where is the join on a pair of handlebars?

Oh dear. Things are going down hill fast here

+1 on glasses / spectacles, who uses a single glass?

ok, got it – you pretty much need two hands to get her knickers off, but can (un)do a bra with one.

I’ve never heard them called a pair of handlebars, just handlebars or just a handlebar.

Otherwise a handlebar moustache would just be on one side of your face no?

Anyway, scissors are clearly a pair – they are two separate pieces, many kitchen scissors can be disarticulated for cleaning. My wife and her entire family still use the singular though: “Do you have a scissor?”

Knickers too, because it’s short for knickerbockers which are two long legs sewn together cf trousers and pants.

“I asked for four candles…”
The curators of the Cutty Sark obviously have a sense of humour…

Bra is short for brassiere. Which was once more than the cups. The modern bra is a much reduced version of the original

Oxford University Press. 1989. “handle-bar n. A transverse bar, usually curved, with a handle at each end, connected with the driving- or steering-wheel of a cycle, by which the vehicle is guided by hand; pl. the right- and left-hand parts of which this is composed.”

Handle bar, the bit your hand holds, where you would add a ‘grip’ if your hand required. A pair of handle bars are joined by a transverse bar.

Really, none of the terms used in modern products apply as they did when originally invented years ago, dont fret.

You’re all losers in the bigger game:

<doffs cap and looks wistfully upwards 🙁 >