Nach und nach
Example: Die Pflanzen wachsen nach und nach im Frühling.
Definition
"Nach und nach" is a German expression meaning gradually or little by little, describing a process that happens step by step or over time. For example, in the phrase "Die Pflanzen wachsen nach und nach im Frühling," it indicates that the plants grow slowly throughout the spring.
Etymology
The phrase "nach und nach" comes from the German words 'nach' meaning 'after' or 'according to,' repeated for emphasis, combined with 'und' meaning 'and.' It literally translates to 'after and after,' which conveys the sense of something happening progressively. This repetition is a common way in German to express gradual progression.
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"Nach und nach" appears in the Vocaplus list "", containing 105 commonly used expressions.
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