to-and-fro

[ too-uh n-froh ]
/ ˈtu ənˈfroʊ /

adjective

back-and-forth: to-and-fro motion.

noun, plural to-and-fros.

a continuous or regular movement backward and forward; an alternating movement, flux, flow, etc.: the to-and-fro of the surf.

Origin of to-and-fro

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

Definition for to and fro (2 of 2)

fro
[ froh ]
/ froʊ /

adverb

Obsolete. from; back.

Origin of fro

1150–1200; Middle English frō, frā < Old Norse frā from; akin to Old English fram from

British Dictionary definitions for to and fro (1 of 3)

to and fro

adjective, adverb to-and-fro

back and forth
here and there

Derived forms of to and fro

toing and froing, noun

British Dictionary definitions for to and fro (2 of 3)

fro 1
/ (frəʊ) /

adverb

back or from See to and fro

Word Origin for fro

C12: from Old Norse frā; related to Old English fram from

British Dictionary definitions for to and fro (3 of 3)

fro 2

'fro

/ (frəʊ) /

noun plural fros or 'fros

short for Afro

Idioms and Phrases with to and fro (1 of 2)

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]

Idioms and Phrases with to and fro (2 of 2)

fro

see to and fro.