Korean idiom of the day: Either all heads or all tails ― means the situation is very extreme.

@tchrist @Mitch WELL, it seems to me that Herrison's answer on the linked to question is lacking somewhat because it doesn't ever actually point out that - at least as far as the UK situation goes - been is a strong form, and bin (strong or) weak one, which is pretty basic.

Perhaps it would be better to reverse the direction of the dupe or merge the questions. I think there are still useful additional answers people might give, or useful additional bits. Costillo's contribution isn't bad. And it could usefully be pointed out that /bi:n/ is the suppletive past participle of go when a person has returned from wherever they went to, and when used in that way is very often, if not usually, stressed. I'm sure there's other bits and bobs to be said too.

But I suppose we're unlikely to find out unless the question gets reopened!

@Robusto I can second that as a language teacher. Students nearly always remember words they've "drilled", but only a small proportion of words they've just had explained or looked up etc.