Posted by Kathy_S on March 25, 2006 at 02:03:21 from 24.223.129.242 user kschmid.
In Reply to: Ransome expressions, but across the pond...? posted by Ed Kiser on March 24, 2006 at 18:18:36:
I agree with Ed, in that one of the Ransome's attractions for me has always been the slightly exotic language. It's always fun to discuss meanings!
I have no problem with "to and fro," possibly because Ed and I are from different parts of the country. I agree that it's more like "back and forth" than "to and from," since it normally describes a motion that's repetitive and somewhat rhythmic. I'm not sure whether my earliest recollections of the phrase are linked to the swing sets at the local park, or to rocking chairs. Both swinging and rocking involved to and fro. We even say that someone is toing and froing when they're vacillating over something.
One of the more "American" sounding usages comes in an ancient camp song in which "They dipped their paddles to and fro, and it didn't even make a sound" is juxtaposed with "Whatcha gonna do in a little canoe, with the moon shinin' all around?"
However, there's a Ransome phrase that seems to have a similar rhythm, but that I've never heard in real life: "so and back, so and back..." Is this in common usage, and, if so, is it used for anything but sailing?