ebb and flow
The phrase "ebb and flow" originates from the movement of tides and is used to describe natural fluctuations in various contexts.
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Definition
B2Nature
(technical)The regular movement of the tide as it recedes from and returns to the shore.
Example
- The ebb and flow of the tide are influenced by the gravitational pull of the moon.
B2General
(idiomatic)The natural pattern of increase and decrease, or rise and fall, in various situations.
Example
- The economy experiences an ebb and flow, with periods of growth followed by recession.
- Their friendship had its ebb and flow, sometimes strong and other times distant.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "ebb and flow":