翻来覆去 (fān lái fù qù) — to toss and turn (in bed, sleepless); again and again, repeatedly (figurative)
Definition
A vivid idiom covering two senses: physically tossing and turning in bed, or mentally going over something again and again. Emphasizes the repetitiveness — stronger and more literary than 一再 or 再三.
phrase
to toss and turn (in bed, sleepless)again and againrepeatedly (figurative)
Examples
- 翻来覆去，。Tā zuó wǎn fān lái fù qù, zěn me yě shuì bù zháo.He tossed and turned last night and couldn't fall asleep.
- 翻来覆去。Zhè ge wèn tí tā fān lái fù qù shuō le hǎo jǐ cì.He said this problem over and over several times.
- 翻来覆去。Tā fān lái fù qù kǎo lǜ le hěn jiǔ cái jué dìng.She thought it over again and again for a long time before deciding.
Appears in
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