up-and-down
up-and-down — 形容詞
1. having good periods and bad periods, so success or progress does not stay steady
起伏不定
好壞交替，表現不穩
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.
那支球隊大半個賽季的成績都起伏不定。
be up-and-down for a period
Nellie's grades stayed up-and-down after she changed schools twice.
Nellie 轉學兩次後，成績一直起伏不定。
Business at the beach hotel is always up-and-down after summer ends.
那間海邊旅館的生意在夏天結束後總是起伏不定。
Their marriage had an up-and-down year after the family moved abroad.
那家人搬到國外後，他們的婚姻經歷了起伏不定的一年。
- 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 — 慣用語
1. from one side or end to another and then back again, often several times.
來回地
沿同一路線往返移動
from one side or end to another and then back again, often several times.
Kenji paced up and down outside the interview room.
Kenji 在面試室外來回踱步。
pace up and down while waiting
A small ferry moved up and down between the island and the pier.
一艘小渡船來回往返於小島和碼頭之間。
move up and down between two points
The children ran up and down the hall before dinner.
孩子們晚餐前在走廊裡跑來跑去。
Soraya walked up and down the platform, checking every train door.
Soraya 在月台上來回走動，查看每一節車門。
- 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.
上下起伏
反覆往上又往下移動
rising and falling again and again, or making someone or something do that.
The elevator toy carried the monkey up and down all afternoon.
那個電梯玩具整個下午都載著猴子上下起伏。
up and down for repeated vertical travel
Joon's shoulders moved up and down as he laughed on the bus.
Joon 在公車上大笑時，肩膀上下起伏。
The fishing boat bobbed up and down in the grey morning waves.
那艘漁船在灰濛濛的晨浪裡上下起伏。
Manuela bounced the baby gently up and down before bedtime.
Manuela 睡前輕輕地把寶寶上下搖動。
- 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.
沿途各處
沿著一大片區域的不同地方
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.
夜市期間，整條街沿途各處都有小吃攤。
up and down + place for spread along an area
Blue wildflowers grew up and down the riverbank after the spring rain.
春雨過後，河岸沿途各處都長出了藍色野花。
Election posters hung up and down the village road all week.
整個星期，村路沿途各處都掛著競選海報。
Music floated up and down the beach on summer evenings.
夏天傍晚時，海灘沿途各處都飄著音樂聲。
- 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.
徹底地
每一處、每一點都不漏掉地
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.
我把背包徹底地翻找了一遍，想找那張不見的圖書館卡。
search [something] up and down for [something]
The coach looked the team sheet up and down before signing it.
教練在簽名之前，把那張球隊名單徹底地看了一遍。
Aunt Rosa checked the guest room up and down before her sister arrived.
Aunt Rosa 在妹妹到達前，把客房徹底地檢查了一遍。
The nurse read the form up and down, then circled the allergy warning.
護士把表格徹底地讀過後，圈起了過敏警告。
- 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.