to-and-fro

[ too-uhn-froh ]

adjective

1. back-and-forth:

   to-and-fro motion.

noun

, plural to-and-fros.

1. a continuous or regular movement backward and forward; an alternating movement, flux, flow, etc.:

   the to-and-fro of the surf.

to and fro

adjective

1. back and forth
2. here and there

Derived Forms

• ˈtoing and ˈfroing, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of to-and-fro¹

First recorded in 1820–30; adj. and noun use of adv. phrase to and (fro) ( def 2 )

Idioms and Phrases

Back and forth, as in He was like a caged animal, pacing to and fro . Strictly speaking, to means “toward” and fro “away from,” but this idiom is used more vaguely in the sense of “moving alternately in different directions.” [First half of 1300s]

Example Sentences

After a few hours of to-and-fro with his commander, the squad was given permission to do what they wanted with him.

From The Daily Beast

It was not difficult to fancy he saw an indistinct moving to-and-fro below him.

From Project Gutenberg

He called, groaned, hissed that name, while his to-and-fro ranging quickened to a trot.

From Project Gutenberg

A young man, member of the church, by the name of Teams stepped out in the aisle and began to yell and stamp and walk to-and-fro.

From Project Gutenberg

When we make a rapid to-and-fro motion we send out great waves in the æther.

From Project Gutenberg

There is no peace for us so long as the coil is kept revolving; we are kept in a constant state of rapid to-and-fro motion.

From Project Gutenberg