pace back and forth

pace back and forth

To walk back and forth (in or around some place), as in fear, anger, anxiety, frustration, etc. I hate seeing the animals in the zoo pace back and forth in their cages like that. They all look so unhappy! I just paced back and forth while I waited to hear back from the doctor.

See also: and, back, forth, pace

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

pace back and forth

 and pace up and down

to walk over and over the same short route nervously or anxiously. The leopard paced back and forth in its cage. I paced up and down, worrying about a variety of things.

See also: and, back, forth, pace

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.