और तो और (aur to aur)
conjunction
A fixed emphatic phrase meaning 'and what's more' or 'on top of that' -- used to introduce a surprising or escalating example that tops what was just said.
Sense
1
:
on top of that, and what's more (introduces an escalating/surprising example)
conjunction Sits at the start of the clause it introduces, after an initial statement has set up a comparison; the clause that follows names something even more extreme than what preceded it.
Synonyms: यहाँ तक कि (yahaan tak ki), ऊपर से (oopar se, colloquial)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You will hear this constantly in animated Delhi conversation when someone is building up a complaint or a piece of gossip: 'उसने झूठ बोला, और तो और, मेरे सामने ही बोला' (usne jhooth bolaa, aur to aur, mere saamne hii bolaa, 'He lied, and what's more, he lied right in front of me'). The repetition of और (aur) around तो (to) gives it a punchy, rising-intonation feel when spoken -- it's made for drama.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes translate it word-for-word as 'and then and' since और (aur) means 'and' and तो (to) is 'then/so' -- but the whole phrase is frozen and only makes sense as a unit meaning 'what's more.' 2) It needs a preceding statement to escalate from; used alone at the start of a conversation it sounds incomplete. 3) It is not interchangeable with plain और (aur, 'and') -- dropping तो (to) removes the emphatic 'topping' feel entirely.
Sample Sentences:
उसने झूठ बोला, और तो और, मेरे सामने ही बोला।
He lied, and what's more, he lied right in front of me.
(usne jhooth bolaa, aur to aur, mere saamne hii bolaa।)
मकान महँगा था, और तो और, टूटा-फूटा भी था।
The house was expensive, and what's more, it was falling apart too.
(makaan mahangaa thaa, aur to aur, tootaa-phootaa bhii thaa।)
वह हमेशा देर से आता है, और तो और, माफ़ी भी नहीं माँगता।
He always comes late, and what's more, he doesn't even apologize.
(vah hameshaa der se aataa hai, aur to aur, maafii bhii nahiin maangtaa।)
खाना ठंडा मिलेगा, और तो और, हो सकता है कुछ बचा भी न हो।
The food will be cold, and what's more, there might not even be anything left.
(khaanaa thandaa milegaa, aur to aur, ho saktaa hai kuchh bachaa bhii n ho।)
अगर वह ईमानदार होता, तो सब ठीक होता; और तो और, वह तो सबको बेवकूफ़ बना रहा था।
If he had been honest, everything would have been fine; and what's more, he was actually fooling everyone.
(agar vah iimaandaar hotaa, to sab thiik hotaa; aur to aur, vah to sabko bevkoof banaa rahaa thaa।)
यह इलाक़ा शोरगुल वाला है, और तो और, यहाँ रात में भी नींद नहीं आती।
This area is noisy, and what's more, you can't even sleep here at night.
(yah ilaaqaa shorgul vaalaa hai, aur to aur, yahaan raat men bhii niind nahiin aatii।)
कंपनी ने तनख़्वाह रोक दी, और तो और, बोनस भी काट लिया।
The company withheld the salary, and what's more, they even cut the bonus.
(kampnii ne tanakhvaah rok dii, aur to aur, bonas bhii kaat liyaa।)
नेता जी ने वादा तोड़ा, और तो और, जनता से माफ़ी माँगने की भी ज़रूरत नहीं समझी।
The leader broke his promise, and what's more, he didn't even feel the need to apologize to the people.
(netaa jii ne vaadaa todaa, aur to aur, jantaa se maafii maangne kii bhii zaroorat nahiin samjhii।)