twice
adverb /twaɪs/
/twaɪs/
Idioms - two times; on two occasions
- I don't know him well; I've only met him twice.
- The cows are milked twice daily.
- The cows are milked twice a day.
- They go there twice a week/month/year.
- a twice-monthly/yearly newsletter
- He managed to score twice in the match.
- The book has been turned into film at least twice before.
- double in quantity, rate, etc.
- an area twice the size of Wales
- Cats sleep twice as much as people.
- At 56 he's twice her age.
- Charges have risen at twice the rate of inflation.
Word Originlate Old English twiges, from the base of two + -s (later respelled -ce to denote the unvoiced sound); compare with once.
Idioms
lightning never strikes (in the same place) twice
- (saying) an unusual or unpleasant event is not likely to happen in the same place or to the same people twice
once bitten, twice shy
- (saying) after an unpleasant experience you are careful to avoid something similar
once or twice
- a few times
- I don't know her well, I've only met her once or twice.
think twice about something/about doing something
- to think carefully before deciding to do something
- You should think twice about employing someone you've never met.
twice over
- not just once but twice
- There was enough of the drug in her stomach to kill her twice over.