A seesaw is a simple child's toy that consists of two long, flat boards connected by a pivot point in the middle. When one end of the board is lifted up, the other end goes down and vice versa, creating an oscillating motion. The word "seesaw" can also be used figuratively to describe situations where there are opposing or balancing forces at work. For example, if a country's economy seesaws between periods of growth and recession, it means that the economy experiences alternating periods of expansion and contraction.