English Idioms
Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms
And so on
Meaning
"And so on" is an idiom that means to continue or repeat something, often in a general sense or without specifying the details. It is commonly used when listing items or describing a process that involves multiple steps.
Usage
- The report included information about the company's financial performance and its plans for future growth. And so on. (Here "and so on" indicates that there were more details in the report.)
- When making a presentation, it is important to provide context for your data and explain how it relates to other factors. And so on. (Here "and so on" suggests that there are other factors to consider when analyzing the data.)
- The process of building a house involves several stages, including design, construction, and inspection. And so on. (Here "and so on" implies that there may be additional steps in the building process.)
- When learning a new language, it is essential to practice speaking and listening regularly. And so on. (Here "and so on" suggests that other language-learning skills, such as reading and writing, are also important.)
- In science, experiments often involve multiple variables that must be controlled in order to obtain accurate results. And so on. (Here "and so on" implies that there may be additional factors to consider when conducting scientific research.)
Roots and History
The phrase "and so on" dates back to the 16th century and is derived from the Latin phrase "et itera succedere," which means "and it succeeds in this way." In contemporary language, the idiom has become more common and is often used in informal speech and writing.
Synonyms in English
- Continue
- Proceed
- Repeat
- Reiterate
- Amplify
Synonyms in other languages
- Spanish: continuar
- French: continuer
- German: weitergeben
- Japanese: 続ける
- Italian: continuare