up-and-down
up-and-down — adjective
1. having good periods and bad periods, so success or progress does not stay steady
having good periods and bad periods, so success or progress does not stay steady.
The team's results were up-and-down for most of the season.
be up-and-down for a period
Nellie's grades stayed up-and-down after she changed schools twice.
Business at the beach hotel is always up-and-down after summer ends.
Their marriage had an up-and-down year after the family moved abroad.
- uneven
focuses on varying quality or level, often across a period
- unstable
stronger; stresses lack of balance or lasting security
- inconsistent
often used for performance that cannot be relied on from one time to the next
- steady
showing little change and no sharp bad periods
- consistent
producing a similar level of quality or success each time
文法句型
be up-and-down
an up-and-down [year/season/relationship]
用法筆記
Common for performance, money, health, or relationships that improve for a while and then get worse again. Distinguish from idiom sense 2, which describes actual physical movement rather than changing results.
常見錯誤
up-and-down — idiom
1. from one side or end to another and then back again, often several times.
from one side or end to another and then back again, often several times.
Kenji paced up and down outside the interview room.
pace up and down while waiting
A small ferry moved up and down between the island and the pier.
move up and down between two points
The children ran up and down the hall before dinner.
Soraya walked up and down the platform, checking every train door.
- back and forth
the closest everyday synonym for repeated movement along the same path
- to and fro
more literary or formal than ordinary speech
文法句型
walk/pace/run up and down [place]
move up and down between [two places]
用法筆記
Usually follows a verb such as walk, pace, run, or move, and often names the path or area. Distinguish from idiom sense 2, which is about repeated vertical motion rather than travel over a surface.
2. rising and falling again and again, or making someone or something do that.
rising and falling again and again, or making someone or something do that.
The elevator toy carried the monkey up and down all afternoon.
up and down for repeated vertical travel
Joon's shoulders moved up and down as he laughed on the bus.
The fishing boat bobbed up and down in the grey morning waves.
Manuela bounced the baby gently up and down before bedtime.
- rise and fall
broader and often used for levels, voices, or movement
- bob
especially natural for floating objects on water
- bounce
suggests a quicker repeated movement, often with people or toys
文法句型
bob/bounce/move up and down
lift/bounce [someone] up and down
用法筆記
Common with boats, body parts, toys, and babies being bounced. Distinguish from idiom sense 1, which describes going from place to place rather than vertical repeated motion.
3. in different parts of a place instead of in just one spot.
in different parts of a place instead of in just one spot.
Small food stalls were up and down the street during the night market.
up and down + place for spread along an area
Blue wildflowers grew up and down the riverbank after the spring rain.
Election posters hung up and down the village road all week.
Music floated up and down the beach on summer evenings.
- all along
close in meaning for things spread through the length of a road, river, or coast
- throughout
broader; works for areas in general, not only long paths
- in one place
staying in a single spot rather than spread through an area
文法句型
up and down [street/coast/riverbank]
be/hear/see [something] up and down [place]
用法筆記
Usually follows a place noun such as street, coast, beach, or road. Distinguish from idiom sense 1, where a person or thing moves back and forth, because this sense focuses on something being found in many parts of an area.
4. in a way that examines or covers every part or detail without missing anything.
in a way that examines or covers every part or detail without missing anything.
I searched my backpack up and down for the missing library card.
search [something] up and down for [something]
The coach looked the team sheet up and down before signing it.
Aunt Rosa checked the guest room up and down before her sister arrived.
The nurse read the form up and down, then circled the allergy warning.
- thoroughly
the closest single-word match for complete checking or covering
- carefully
close, but it focuses more on attention than total coverage
- from top to bottom
often used when every part of a place or text is checked
- quickly
without taking time to examine everything
- superficially
looking only at the surface instead of every detail
文法句型
search/check/read [something] up and down
look [place] up and down for [something]
用法筆記
Often appears with search, look, read, or check when the speaker means complete coverage. Distinguish from idiom sense 3, which means something is spread through an area rather than examined thoroughly.