two
number /tuː/
/tuː/
Idioms - 2
- There are only two cookies left.
- two of Sweden’s top financial experts
- Ten people were invited but only two turned up.
- Can you lend me two dollars?
- a two-month contract
- Look at page two.
- Two and seven is nine.
- Three twos are six.
- I can't read your writing—is this meant to be a two?
- The bulbs are planted in twos or threes (= groups of two or three).
- We moved to America when I was two (= two years old).
- Shall we meet at two (= at two o'clock), then?
More Like This Silent lettersSilent letters- gnarled
- gnash
- gnat
- gnaw
- gnome
- haute cuisine
- heir
- herb
- honour
- hors d’oeuvre
- hour
- knack
- knee
- kneel
- knife
- knight
- knit
- knob
- knock
- knot
- know
- knuckle
- psalm
- psephology
- psychic
- ptarmigan
- pterodactyl
- psychology
- wrangle
- wrap
- wreath
- wreck
- wrench
- wrestle
- wriggle
- wring
- write
- wrong
- bomb
- climb
- crumb
- doubt
- lamb
- limb
- ascent
- fascinate
- muscle
- scene
- scissors
- height
- right
- sleigh
- weight
- align
- campaign
- design
- foreign
- malign
- reign
- unfeigned
- balmy
- calm
- calf
- half
- yolk
- autumn
- column
- condemn
- damn
- hymn
- solemn
- bristle
- fasten
- listen
- mortgage
- soften
- thistle
- wrestle
- biscuit
- build
- circuit
- disguise
- guilty
- league
- rogue
- vague
- yacht
- answer
- sword
- two
Word OriginOld English twā (feminine and neuter) of Germanic origin; related to Dutch twee and German zwei, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin and Greek duo. Compare with twain.
Idioms
be in two minds about something/about doing something (British English)
(North American English be of two minds about something/about doing something)
- to be unable to decide what you think about somebody/something, or whether to do something or not
- I was in two minds about the book (= I didn't know if I liked it or not).
- She's in two minds about accepting his invitation.
a day, moment, pound, etc. or two
- one or a few days, moments, pounds, etc.
- May I borrow it for a day or two?
fall between two stools
- (British English) to fail to be or to get either of two choices, both of which would have been acceptableTopics Difficulty and failurec2
in two
- in or into two pieces or halves
- He broke the bar of chocolate in two and gave me half.
in twos and threes
- two or three at a time; in small numbers
- People arrived in twos and threes.
in two shakes | in a couple of shakes
- (informal) very soon
- We’ll be there in a couple of shakes.
it takes two to do something
- (saying) one person cannot be completely responsible for something
- You can't put all the blame on him. It takes two to make a marriage.
it takes two to tango
- (informal) used to say that two people or groups, and not just one, are responsible for something that has happened (usually something bad)
not have two cents, pennies, brain cells, etc. to rub together
- (informal) to be very poor, stupid, etc.
put two and two together
- to guess the truth from what you see, hear, etc.
- He's inclined to put two and two together and make five (= reaches the wrong conclusion from what he sees, hears, etc.).
that makes two of us
- (informal) I am in the same position or I agree with you
- ‘I'm tired!’ ‘That makes two of us!’
two/ten a penny (British English)
(North American English a dime a dozen)
- very common and therefore not valuable
- Teachers of history are ten a penny.
two sides of the same coin
- used to talk about two ways of looking at the same situation