php preg_match_all("/\((\w+)\):(\d+)/", "(fish):1 sausage (cow):3 tree (boat):4", $matches);
for ($i=0, $c=count($matches[0]); $i < $c; $i++) {
$list[] = $matches[1][$i].$matches[2][$i];
}
<?php
$list = array();
preg_match_all("/\((\w+)\):(\d+)/", "(fish):1 sausage (cow):3 tree (boat):4", $matches);
for ($i=0, $c=count($matches[0]); $i < $c; $i++) {
$list[] = $matches[1][$i].$matches[2][$i];
}
print_r($list);
?>