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twice
cheap at twice the price
Remarkably or exceedingly inexpensive (as in, even if you doubled the price, it would still be a good value). Primarily heard in UK, Australia. I got a brand new three-piece suit for 50 bucks—cheap at twice the price!
once or twice
Only a few times. A: "Have you ever been to Chinatown in New York?" B: "Once or twice; not enough to really get to know the place."
a stopped clock is right twice a day
Even people who are usually wrong can be right sometimes, even if just by accident. From the idea that the stationary hands of a broken clock will still display the correct time at two points during the 24-hour cycle. I know you're sick of Gran's lectures and think she's out of touch, but you can learn a lot from her. Just keep in mind that even a stopped clock is right twice a day! A: "You know how I feel about the president, but even I think he's right this time." B: "Even a stopped clock is right twice a day."
buy cheap, buy twice
If something is inexpensive, it is probably poorly made or will wear out quickly (and one will have to purchase it again). A: "I need to save some money, so I think I'm just going to buy this cheap cell phone." B: "I'd be wary if I were you. You'll probably end up spending more money—buy cheap, buy twice, and all that."
measure twice and cut once
An axiom that encourages careful first steps in order to avoid extra work later on. I have to go back to the store because I cut the wrong size out of my last piece of material. "Measure twice and cut once" should be my new motto!
measure twice, cut once
An axiom that encourages careful first steps in order to avoid extra work later on. I have to go back to the store because I cut the wrong size out of my last piece of material. "Measure twice, cut once" should be my new motto!
*big as life (and twice as ugly)
and *large as life (and twice as ugly); bigger than life (and twice as ugly)Cliché a colorful way of saying that a person or a thing appeared, often surprisingly or dramatically, in a particular place. (*Also: as ~.) The little child just stood there as big as life and laughed very hard. I opened the door, and there was Tom as large as life. I came home and found this cat in my chair, as big as life and twice as ugly.
Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.
Prov. After being tricked once, one should be wary, so that the person cannot trick you again. Fred: Would you like a can of peanuts? Jane: The last can of peanuts you gave me had a toy snake in it. Fred: This one really is peanuts. Jane: Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.
He gives twice who gives quickly.
Prov. When someone asks you for something, it is more helpful to give something right away than to wait, even if you might be able to give more if you waited. Morris didn't have all the money his sister asked for, but he sent what he had immediately, knowing that he gives twice who gives quickly.
Lightning never strikes (the same place) twice.
Prov. The same highly unlikely thing never happens to the same person twice. Jill: I'm scared to drive ever since that truck hit my car. Alan: Don't worry. Lightning never strikes the same place twice. It's strange, but I feel safer since my apartment was robbed; I figure lightning never strikes the same place twice.
Once bitten, twice shy.
Prov. When something or someone has hurt you once, you tend to avoid that thing or person. Jill: Let's go ride the roller coaster. Jane: No, thanks. I got really sick on one of those once—once bitten, twice shy. I once sent in money for something I saw advertised in the back of a magazine, but the merchandise was of such poor quality I was sorry I'd bought it. I'll never buy anything that way again; once bitten, twice shy.
think twice about someone or something
to give careful consideration to someone or something. Ed may be a good choice, but I suggest that you think twice about him. You will want to think twice about it.
think twice (before doing something)
to consider carefully whether one should do something; to be cautious about doing something. You should think twice before quitting your job. That's a serious decision, and you should certainly think twice.
not think twice about something
to do something quickly without considering it very much With such a good offer from a buyer, I didn't think twice about selling the farm.
think twice (about something)
to consider something more carefully
You may want to think twice before buying one of California's new earthquake insurance policies. Usage notes: often used as a warning, and sometimes used in the form think twice before doing something: He said he is sorry and will think twice before giving such advice again.
Lightning does not strike twice.
something that you say which means that a bad thing will not happen to the same person twice I know the crash has scared you, but lightning doesn't strike twice.
Once bitten, twice shy.
something that you say which means when you have had an unpleasant experience you are much more careful to avoid similar experiences in the future After he left her she refused to go out with anyone else for a long time - once bitten, twice shy, I suppose.
big as life
Also, large as life. In person, as in And there was Mary, big as life, standing right in front of me. This phrase transfers the same size as in real life (life-size) to an actual appearance. Sometimes this term is embellished with and quite as natural, presumably alluding to a likeness of a person or thing that closely resembles the real thing. A similar addition is and twice as natural, which doesn't make sense. [Late 1800s]
2. Also, larger than life; big as all outdoors. On a grand scale, as in The soap opera could well be called a larger-than-life drama, or That friend of his was as big as all outdoors. This phrase can be used either literally, for larger than life-size (second example) or figuratively. The phrase all outdoors has been used to compare something or someone to an immensity since the early 1800s.
cheap at twice the price
Very inexpensive, a good value for the money. For example,
Pete got a $3,000 rebate on his new car-it was cheap at twice the price. For a synonym see
dirt cheap.
lightning never strikes twice in the same place
The same misfortune will never recur, as in Go ahead and try your luck investing in options again; lightning never strikes twice. This saying is based on a long-standing myth, which has been proved to be untrue. Nevertheless, it is so well known it is often shortened, as in the example. [Mid-1800s]
once bitten, twice shy
Once hurt, one is doubly cautious in the future, as in He was two days late last time, so she's not hiring him again-once bitten, twice shy. This seemingly old observation, presumably alluding to an animal biting someone, was first recorded in 1894.
think twice
1. Reconsider something, weigh something carefully, as in I've got to think twice before spending that much on a car. [Late 1800s]
2. not think twice. Take no notice, not worry about, as in She didn't think twice about flying off to Europe with a day's notice. [Mid-1900s]
cheap at twice the price
Extremely inexpensive.
think twice
To weigh something carefully: I'd think twice before spending all that money on clothes.
Common Names:
| Name | Gender | Pronounced | Usage |
|---|
| Seraphina | | - | English (Rare), German (Rare), Late Roman |
| ÁRon | | AH-ron | Hungarian |
| Sejad | | - | Bosnian |
| Irena | | ee-RE-nah (Polish), ee-RAY-nah (Dutch) | Polish, Czech, Slovene, Croatian, Serbian, Dutch, Lithuanian |
| Samar | | - | Arabic |
| Szabina | | SAW-bee-naw | Hungarian |