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to and fro
/tˌuːəndfɹˈəʊ/
/tˌuːəndfɹˈoʊ/
toing and froing
/tʊɪŋ and fɹˈəʊɪŋ/
/tʊɪŋ ænd fɹˈoʊɪŋ/
toing and froing
[PHRASE]1
the act of going back and forth between two places or doing something repeatedly without making much progress
What is the origin of the idiom "toing and froing" and when to use it?
The idiom "toing and froing" may have originated from the sound of footsteps or a repetitive movement back and forth. Today, the idiom is commonly used to describe a situation where someone is busy or active but not necessarily making progress or accomplishing anything significant. It can also imply a sense of indecisiveness or uncertainty, where someone is going back and forth between different options or ideas without making a definite choice.