In[194]:= ToExpression["3 + x^2 - 4"]
2 2 2 2
Out[194]= {{-1 + a1 , -1 + b1 }, {-1 + a2 , -1 + b3 }}
In[195]:= ToHeldExpression["3 + x^2 - 4"]
2
Out[195]= Hold[3 + x - 4]
In[196]:= ?ToExpression
ToExpression[input] gives the expression obtained by interpreting strings or boxes as
Wolfram Language input.
ToExpression[input, form] uses interpretation rules corresponding to the specified form.
ToExpression[input, form, h] wraps the head h
around the expression produced before evaluating it.