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to and fro

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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 and fro

in one direction and then in the opposite direction The children were running to and fro, knocking over all the chairs.

See also: and, fro

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