avanti e indietro

Italian

Etymology

Literally, “forward and backward”.

Adverb

avanti e indietro

1. back and forth

Noun

avanti e indietro m (invariable)

1. back and forth
   • 2020, Barack Obama, chapter 24, in Chicca Galli, Paolo Lucca, Giuseppe Maugeri, transl., Una terra promessa [A Promised Land], Garzanti Libri:

     Dopo parecchi avanti e indietro... finalmente McConnell cedette e il 6 dicembre 2010 fui in grado di annunciare che era stato raggiunto un accordo completo.

     After a lot of back-and-forth... McConnell finally relented and on December 6, 2010, I was able to announce that a comprehensive agreement had been reached.

     (literally, “After quite a few back and forths... McConnell finally gave in and on December 6, 2010, I was able to announce that a complete agreement had been reached.”)