backwards and forwards: meaning & examples

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Language: English

Meanings:

  • 1.

    British EnglishAmerican Englishneutral
    • With continuous movement first in one direction and then in the opposite direction; to and fro.

    Examples

    Beta

    • The children played on the seesaw, moving backwards and forwards with laughter.

      Los niños jugaban en el balancín, moviéndose hacia adelante y hacia atrás con risas.

    • He paced backwards and forwards nervously while waiting for the interview to start.

      Él caminaba de un lado a otro nerviosamente mientras esperaba que comenzara la entrevista.

    • The pendulum swung backwards and forwards rhythmically, marking the passing seconds.

      El péndulo se movía hacia adelante y hacia atrás rítmicamente, marcando los segundos que pasaban.

    • She rocked the baby backwards and forwards gently to soothe him to sleep.

      Ella mecía al bebé hacia adelante y hacia atrás suavemente para calmarlo y que durmiera.

  • 2.

    British EnglishAmerican Englishinformalneutral
    • Thoroughly or completely; with intimate or detailed knowledge of every aspect.

    Examples

    Beta

    • I’ve read that report backwards and forwards and still can’t find the error.

      He leído ese informe de arriba abajo y aún no puedo encontrar el error.

    • She knows this software backwards and forwards, so you can ask her any question.

      Ella conoce este software a la perfección, así que puedes hacerle cualquier pregunta.

    • He studied the contract backwards and forwards before signing to make sure everything was clear.

      Él estudió el contrato detenidamente antes de firmar para asegurarse de que todo estaba claro.

  • 3.

    British EnglishAmerican Englishneutral
    • Repeatedly, often many times, usually implying checking, testing, or traversing back and forth.

    Examples

    Beta

    • I went backwards and forwards on the decision for hours before finally submitting the report.

      I was indecisive for a long time before I finally sent the report.

    • She paced the room backwards and forwards, nervously rehearsing her speech one last time.

      She walked back and forth in the room, nervously practicing her speech again.

    • Did you check the contract backwards and forwards to make sure there were no hidden clauses?

      Did you review the contract repeatedly to ensure there were no hidden terms?

Examples:

  • EN: Do you suppose that I'm going to carry trays backwards and forwards all day?
    ES: ¿No pretenderá que me pase el día subiendo y bajando bandejas?
  • EN: I know the cue backwards and forwards.
    ES: Me sé la señal con todo detalle.
  • EN: I've been all through that transcript backwards and forwards and all the witnesses say the same thing about the taxi
    ES: Volví a leer las declaraciones de todos los testigos y todos dijeron lo mismo sobre el taxi.
  • EN: Anybody that's ever been married knows that line backwards and forwards.
    ES: Quien haya estado casado conoce esa frase de memoria.
  • EN: We checked it every way. Twenty times, backwards and forwards.
    ES: Hemos hecho toda clase de comprobaciones.
  • EN: You know it backwards and forwards.
    ES: Te lo sabes del derecho y del revés.
  • EN: The job's been cased backwards and forwards.
    ES: El trabajo ha sido estudiado minuciosamente.
  • EN: And there you stand Leo, to attention at the bottom of the river, like a little tin soldier, swaying backwards and forwards among the fishes and the weeds.
    ES: Y ahí estarás, Leo pegado al fondo del río, como un pequeño soldado de hojalata, balanceándote hacia adelante y hacia atrás, entre los peces y las malas hierbas.
  • EN: Do you suppose that I'm going to carry trays backwards and forwards all day?
    ES: ¿No pretenderá que me pase el día subiendo y bajando bandejas?
  • EN: I know the cue backwards and forwards.
    ES: Me sé la señal con todo detalle.
  • EN: I've been all through that transcript backwards and forwards and all the witnesses say the same thing about the taxi
    ES: Volví a leer las declaraciones de todos los testigos y todos dijeron lo mismo sobre el taxi.
  • EN: Anybody that's ever been married knows that line backwards and forwards.
    ES: Quien haya estado casado conoce esa frase de memoria.
  • EN: We checked it every way. Twenty times, backwards and forwards.
    ES: Hemos hecho toda clase de comprobaciones.
  • EN: You know it backwards and forwards.
    ES: Te lo sabes del derecho y del revés.
  • EN: The job's been cased backwards and forwards.
    ES: El trabajo ha sido estudiado minuciosamente.
  • EN: And there you stand Leo, to attention at the bottom of the river, like a little tin soldier, swaying backwards and forwards among the fishes and the weeds.
    ES: Y ahí estarás, Leo pegado al fondo del río, como un pequeño soldado de hojalata, balanceándote hacia adelante y hacia atrás, entre los peces y las malas hierbas.
  • EN: so we wouldn't keep that poor man running backwards and forwards, backwards and forwards.
    ES: Así ese hombre no tendría que andar yendo y viniendo.
    ES: Así ese hombre no tendría que andar yendo y viniendo.
  • EN: I don't want you running backwards and forwards holding Miss Young's hand.
    ES: Y no quiero verte paseando con la sta. Young.
  • EN: People used to sit... outside their houses on warm evenings and rock backwards and forwards.
    ES: Es una mecedora. La gente solía sentarse en el porche de su casa por la noche y se mecía.
  • EN: That car must have... gone backwards and forwards over his body... half a dozen times.
    ES: El auto debe de haber pasado sobre el cuerpo... unas doce veces.
  • EN: I can see myself stuck here forever going backwards and forwards.
    ES: Me veo toda la vida en este barco yendo y viniendo de puerto en puerto.
  • EN: Would you turn the latch backwards and forwards to see how smoothly it runs and how much noise it makes?
    ES: Podría mover hacia atrás la puerta... para ver si se mueve suavemente y cuanto ruido hace.
  • EN: You see the goalie running backwards and forwards... bending over left and right... shouting at the backs
    ES: Ves al portero correr hacia atrás y hacia adelante... inclinarse a derecha e izquierda... gritando a los defensas.

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Sourced from Wiktionary

Source: Wiktionary

backwards and forwards | Idiomator