to and fro

Back and forth; from one place to another; toward and away. She paced to and fro while she waited for the doctors to give her an update on her husband. You need to bring the kids to a place where they can run to and fro without restriction for a while.

See also: and, fro, to

to and fro

[of movement] toward and away from something. The puppy was very active—running to and fro—wagging its tail. The lion in the cage moved to and fro, watching the people in front of the cage.

See also: and, fro, to

to and fro

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]

See also: and, fro, to

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ˌto and ˈfro

from one place to another and back, repeatedly; from side to side repeatedly: They travel to and fro between London and Paris. ♢ She held the baby in her arms and rocked her to and fro.

See also: and, fro, to

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

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References in classic literature

Nag waved to and fro, and then Rikki-tikki heard him drinking from the biggest water-jar that was used to fill the bath.

Then he was battered to and fro as a rat is shaken by a dog--to and fro on the floor, up and down, and around in great circles, but his eyes were red and he held on as the body cart-whipped over the floor, upsetting the tin dipper and the soap dish and the flesh brush, and banged against the tin side of the bath.

Nagaina was coiled up on the matting by Teddy's chair, within easy striking distance of Teddy's bare leg, and she was swaying to and fro, singing a song of triumph.

"He threw me to and fro, but he could not shake me off.

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The clouds scarce dim the water's sheen, The moon-bathed islands wanly show, And sweet words falter to and fro -- Though the great River rolls between.

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If in the front and the key-truck of chaos, he entered terrifically into the quarrel that was raging to and fro among the drivers on their high seats, and sometimes roared oaths and violently got himself arrested.

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The Management of the Liberia Airport Authority (LAA) has acquired a new ramp bus, to transport passengers to and fro the terminal to flights, as a way of adding value to the Roberts International Airport infrastructure growth.

LAA acquires new ramp bus for passengers

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