back and forth
來來往往地,來回,反復
Back, adv.
1. In, to, or toward, the rear; as, to stand back; to step back.
2. To the place from which one came; to the place or person from which something is taken or derived; as, to go back for something left behind; to go back to one's native place; to put a book back after reading it.
3. To a former state, condition, or station; as, to go back to private life; to go back to barbarism.
4. (Of time) In times past; ago. “Sixty or seventy years back.”
5. Away from contact; by reverse movement.
The angel of the Lord . . . came, and rolled back the stone from the door. --Matt. xxviii. 2.
6. In concealment or reserve; in one's own possession; as, to keep back the truth; to keep back part of the money due to another.
7. In a state of restraint or hindrance.
The Lord hath kept thee back from honor. --Numb. xxiv. 11.
8. In return, repayment, or requital.
What have I to give you back? --Shak.
9. In withdrawal from a statement, promise, or undertaking; as, he took back the offensive words.
10. In arrear; as, to be back in one's rent. [Colloq.]
Back and forth, backwards and forwards; to and fro.
To go back on, to turn back from; to abandon; to betray; as, to go back on a friend; to go back on one's professions. [Colloq.]
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Forth v.
1. Forward; onward in time, place, or order; in advance from a given point; on to end; as, from that day forth; one, two, three, and so forth.
Lucas was Paul's companion, at the leastway from the sixteenth of the Acts forth. --Tyndale.
From this time forth, I never will speak word. --Shak.
I repeated the Ave Maria; the inquisitor bad me say forth; I said I was taught no more. --Strype.
2. Out, as from a state of concealment, retirement, confinement, nondevelopment, or the like; out into notice or view; as, the plants in spring put forth leaves.
When winter past, and summer scarce begun,
Invites them forth to labor in the sun. --Dryden.
3. Beyond a (certain) boundary; away; abroad; out.
I have no mind of feasting forth to-night. --Shak.
4. Throughly; from beginning to end. [Obs.]
And so forth, Back and forth, From forth. See under And, Back, and From.
Forth of, Forth from, out of. [Obs.] --Shak.
To bring forth. See under Bring.
back and forth
adv : moving from one place to another and back again; "he
traveled back and forth between Los Angeles and New
York" [syn: backward and forward, to and fro]