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'Again and Again' Idiom Uses and Meaning

The idiom "again and again" is used to indicate that something happens repeatedly or continuously. It is often used to express the idea of doing something over and over. For example, "He's been told the same thing again and again, but he never seems to listen." It is used as an adverb phrase to express the idea of repetition.


The origin of the idiom "again and again" is not clear. It is a combination of the adverb "again" and the adverb "and again". Both "again" and "and again" have been used in English for centuries, with "again" meaning "once more" and "and again" meaning "repeatedly." The phrase "again and again" has been used in English literature since at least the 17th century. It is likely that the phrase evolved naturally as a way to express the idea of repetition in a concise and easy-to-understand manner.

Here are 10 sample sentences using the idiom "again and again":
  1. I've told you again and again to be careful with that glass.
  2. He keeps making the same mistake again and again.
  3. We've gone over this again and again, and I still don't understand.
  4. I can't believe I have to explain this to you again and again.
  5. I keep seeing the same error again and again in your work.
  6. She keeps bringing up the same old argument again and again.
  7. I've heard that song again and again and it still gives me chills.
  8. You need to stop procrastinating and do your work again and again until it's perfect.
  9. He keeps falling for the same type of person again and again.
  10. I've been trying to quit smoking again and again but I can't seem to break the habit.
The idiom "again and again" is used in a variety of contexts, but is most commonly used to indicate that something happens repeatedly or continuously. It is often used to express frustration or annoyance at someone or something that keeps happening or repeating itself. For example, "I've told you again and again to be careful with that glass" implies that the speaker is frustrated or annoyed that the person they are speaking to keeps breaking the glass.

It can also be used to express a sense of surprise or disbelief that something keeps happening, for example, "I can't believe I have to explain this to you again and again" implies that the speaker is surprised or annoyed that they have to explain something multiple times.

It can be used in different tenses, like past, present and future, and it can be used in different types of sentences, like affirmative, negative and interrogative.

It can also be used in a positive context, for example, "I've heard that song again and again and it still gives me chills" implies that the speaker enjoys listening to the song multiple times.

In a nutshell, the context of this idiom is to express repetition of actions, events, situations and so on, and it can express different emotions and feelings depending on the context and the tone of the sentence.

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