back and forth

• back-and-forth

back and forth (not comparable)

1. From one place to another and back again.
   1. Backwards and forwards.

back and forth (not comparable)

1. Going from one place or position to another and back again.

   The back and forth movement of the tide causes erosion of the coastline.

back and forth (countable and uncountable, plural back and forths)

1. The movement (of someone or something) forward followed by a return to the same position. May refer to a concept such as an emotional state or a relationship as well as a physical thing.
   • 2009, Dorothy Rich with Beverly Mattox, Megaskills for Babies, Toddlers, and Beyond: Building Your Child's Happiness, page 43:

     Roll the ball to your child, who then rolls it back to you. After a few back-and-forths, roll the ball to a nearby corner of the room or other hiding place.

2. Negotiations or discussions (not necessarily fruitful) between two or more parties; a dialog.
   • 1895, United States Congress, “Congressional serial set”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name), volume 11214, page 718:

     There's some back and forth between Simpson and his CIA counterparts and, in essence, the CIA says that you must ship all of the quantities requested.

   • 2014 October 27, Taylor Swift, Imogen Heap, “Clean (Taylor's Version)”, in 1989 (Taylor's Version)‎, performed by Taylor Swift, published 2023 October 27:

     It was months and months of back and forth, ah-ah, ah-ah
     You're still all over me like a wine-stained dress I can't wear anymore

• (negotiations): tug of war