ENGLISH
REFERENCE

there and back

idiom
Meaning

On or for a round trip journey, literal or figurative.

Origin

disputed origin

Possibly a shortening of to there and back.

Examples
SIMPLE

It takes two hours to go there and back.

CONTEXTUAL

I need to drive to the city and back to pick up my sister from the airport.

COMPLEX

The long journey there and back across the mountains proved more exhausting than the travelers had originally anticipated.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    all the way to Egery and back

    The long way; a roundabout route; a long distance to travel.

  2. 02

    all there

    Mentally competent; not absent-minded or insane.

  3. 03

    as if there were no tomorrow

    To an excessive degree, oftentimes with little to no regard to future consequences; desperately; recklessly or wantonly; frantically; very quickly or very much.

  4. 04

    back down

    To take a less aggressive position in a conflict than one previously had, or has planned to have.

  5. 05

    back forty

    The most remote or inaccessible part of any place.

  6. 06

    back gammon player

    A person, chiefly a homosexual, who has anal sex.

  7. 07

    back in the game

    Having recovered from a disadvantageous position.

  8. 08

    back into

    To advance to the post-season as a result of another team's loss, especially where one's own team has also lost.

Last updated April 17, 2026