back-and-forth

Back-and-forth is a noun that means an argument or discussion in which little gets resolved.

Back-and-forth is also used to describe something having a movement pattern in which it repeatedly moves somewhere and returns to where it started.

A back-and-forth is a discussion where two or more people are failing to reach a compromise or a solution, as in I had a very long back-and-forth with my girlfriend about what to do with my dog.

A back-and-forth is a much less productive version of a give-and-take, where people more easily reach a compromise.

As an adjective, back-and-forth describes a movement from one point to another and then back to the original point, as in The audience stared at the back-and-forth movements of the hypnotist’s watch. Such a movement might be forward and backward and forward again or from one side to another and back to the first side.

Example: The budget discussion became an intense back-and-forth where neither side wanted to concede anything.

The first records of back-and-forth come from around 1605. It is composed of the words back, meaning “toward the rear (backward)”, and forth, meaning “toward the front (forward).”

If something literally moves backward and then forward, it is back where it started. It makes no progress. The figurative noun sense likely alludes to this idea of a lack of progress.

What are some synonyms for back-and-forth?

• backward and forward
• to and fro
• alternating
• from side to side

What are some words that share a root or word element with back-and-forth? 

• back
• forth

What are some words that often get used in discussing back-and-forth?

• pendulum
• seesaw
• swing
• argument
• stalemate
• uncompromising

Back-and-forth is most often used to refer to an unresolved argument or something that moves backward and forward.

“Instead of just calling you and getting the task done in 3 minutes, I insist on 27 back-and-forth emails.” – way too many people I know

— George Hahn (@georgehahn) January 29, 2021

Ratchet: A tool consisting of a handle with a built-in mechanism allowing it to be turned using a back-and-forth motion in cramped spaces.

— Blackbeard (@scissorspeaks) June 22, 2012

Time is money. The next time someone reaches out to sell you their services, here's how you avoid endless back-and-forth emails: "Thank you for reaching out. What are your rates?"

— Carlos Gil 📙 (@carlosgil83) September 19, 2019

True or False?

A back-and-forth is an argument that goes unresolved or fails to lead to a compromise.