ebb and flow
verb› To alternately ebb and flow, as:
1
Of the tides To recede and advance.
- As true we are as flesh and blood can be: / The sea will ebb and flow, heaven show his facec. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Loues Labour’s Lost”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii]:
2
Figuratively To wax and wane.
- The quality of his service game varied as the contest ebbed and flowed, but landing 54% of his first serves over the whole match was a telling statistic.2025 June 8, Jonathan Jurejko, “Alcaraz stuns Sinner in extraordinary French Open final”, in BBC:
- Related terms
- come and go