two /tuː/► SEE ALLbe in two minds about sth/about doing stha day, moment, etc. or twofall between two stoolsfor two pinshave two left feetin two shakesin a couple of shakesit takes two (to do sth)(there are) no two ways about itnot have two brain cells, pennies, etc. to rub togetherone or twoput in your two pennyworth/penn’orthput two and two togetherput/stick two fingers up at sbstand on your own two feetthat makes two of ustwo can play at that gametwo heads are better than onetwo sides of the same cointwo wrongs don’t make a righttwo’s company (, three’s a crowd)a bird in the hand is worth two in the bushbe like a dog with two tailsnot care/give a hoot (about sb/sth)kill two birds with one stoneknow a thing or two (about sb/sth)the lesser of two evilsthe lesser evilyour/sb’s number twotwo/ten a pennyserve two mastersone step forward, two steps back(as) thick as two short plankscan/could teach/tell sb a thing or two (about sb/sth)cut both/two ways ●be in two ˈminds about sth/about doing sth (BrE) (NAmEbe of two ˈminds about sth/about doing sth) be unable to decide about sth下不了决心；踌躇不决◆I was in two minds about leaving London; my friends were there, but at the same time I really wanted to work abroad. 我决定不了要不要离开伦敦：我的朋友都在那儿，但同时我又真的很想去国外工作。●a ˈday, ˈmoment, etc. or twoone or a few days, moments, etc.一两天（或一会儿等）◆May I borrow it for a day or two? 这个我能借一两天吗？●fall between two ˈstools (BrE) not be successful, acceptable, etc. because it is neither one thing nor another两头落空；两边不讨好◆The book falls between two stools. It’s neither a love story nor a crime story. 这本书既不是言情小说，也不是犯罪故事，两头不沾边。●for two ˈpins (old-fashioned, BrE) used to say that you would like to do sth, even though you know that it would not be sensible恨不得，巴不得（虽然这样做不明智）◆I spend so much money on this car. For two pins I’d sell it. 我在这辆车上花了这么多钱，我恨不得把它给卖了。●have two left ˈfeet (informal) be very awkward in your movements, especially when you are dancing or playing a sport（尤指跳舞或运动时）举止笨拙，笨手笨脚◆I’m a hopeless dancer. I’ve got two left feet. 我的舞跳得可烂了，总是笨手笨脚的。●in two ˈshakes●in a couple of ˈshakes ( in two ˌshakes of a ˈlamb’s tailold-fashioned) (informal) very soon很快；马上◆I’ve just got to make a phone call. I’ll be with you in two shakes. 我还要打个电话，马上就来。●it takes ˈtwo (to do sth) ( it takes two to ˈtango) (saying) used to say that sth cannot be the fault or responsibility of one person alone一个巴掌拍不响；双方都有责任◆You’ve only heard his side of the story. It takes two to have an argument, you know. 你只听了他的一面之词。要知道，一个人是吵不起架的。◆The company is ready to sign the agreement now, but it takes two to tango and the negotiations may continue for several days yet. 现在公司已经准备签署协议，但是单凭一方还不行，所以谈判可能还要持续几天。●(there are) no two ways aˈbout it (informal) used for saying that there is only one possible way to consider a particular situation or fact事实如此；不可能有其他的看法◆There are no two ways about it — these sales figures are terrible! 事实明摆着的，销售业绩太糟糕了！●not have two brain cells, pennies, etc. to rub toˈgether (BrE, informal) be very stupid, have no money, etc.非常愚蠢；十分贫穷◆How can they afford a new car? They haven’t got two pennies to rub together. 他们怎么有钱买新车呢？他们穷得叮当响。●ˌone or ˈtwoa few少数；一两个◆We’ve had one or two problems — nothing serious, though. 我们遇到了一两个问题，但都不严重。●put in your two ˈpennyworth/ˈpenn’orth (BrE) (NAmEput in your two ˈcents’ worth) (informal) give your opinion about sth, even if other people do not want to hear it发表意见（即使别人不想听）◆I expect you’ve already made up your mind, but I’ll put in my two pennyworth anyway. 我想你已经作出了决定，但我还是想谈谈我的看法。◆The public will get a chance to put in their two cents’ worth at a public hearing. 民众将有机会在听证会上发表自己的意见。●put ˌtwo and ˌtwo toˈgetherguess the truth from what you see, hear, etc.根据所见所闻推断；根据现有情况判断◆He’s inclined to put two and two together and make five(= make an incorrect guess from what he sees, hears, etc.). 他爱捕风捉影，听风就是雨。●put/stick two ˈfingers up at sb (BrE, informal) form the shape of a V with the two fingers nearest your thumb and raise your hand in the air with the back part of it facing sb, done to be rude to them or to show them that you are angry用手背向某人做出 V 形手势（以示侮辱或生某人的气）◆He must have been furious — he stuck two fingers up at them and walked out of the room. 他肯定气坏了。他朝他们竖起两根手指，然后走出房间。●stand on your own two ˈfeetnot need the help of other people; be independent自立；独立自主◆I left home to show my parents that I can stand on my own two feet. 我离开了家，向父母证明我可以自立了。◆Isn’t it about time you learned to stand on your own two feet? 你是不是到了该学会自食其力的时候了？●that makes ˈtwo of us (informal) I agree with your opinion; I am in the same situation我同意；我也一样◆‘I think he’s behaving very badly.’ ‘That makes two of us.’ “我认为他很不像话。”“我同意。”◆‘I’m bored with this job.’ ‘That makes two of us.’ “我烦透了这份差事。”“我也是。”●ˌtwo can play at ˈthat game (saying) used when you threaten to behave as badly, etc. as sb has just behaved towards you（表示要进行报复）这一套你会我也会◆‘He told the boss that you were going home early every day.’ ‘Oh did he? Well, two can play at that game. I think I’ll tell the boss about him coming in late every morning.’ “他跟老板说你每天都早退。”“哦，是吗？好吧，这一套他会我也会。我就去告诉老板他每天早上都迟到。”●two heads are better than ˈone (saying) two people who are trying to solve a problem together achieve more than one person who works alone人多力量大；两个人的智慧总比一个人强●two ˌsides of the same ˈcoinused to talk about two ways of looking at the same situation看待事物的两种角度；同一事物的两面◆According to some people, great opportunity and great danger are two sides of the same coin. 在有些人看来，好机会也就意味着大风险，这不过是一枚硬币的两面罢了。●two ˌwrongs don’t make a ˈright (saying) used for saying that it is wrong or useless to harm sb because they have harmed you两个错成不了一个对；冤冤相报永无休止◆Don’t be stupid! You want to hurt him just because he hurt you! Two wrongs don’t make a right, you know. 别傻了！因为他伤害了你，你就想伤害他！要知道，他错了，你不应再错。OPPan eye for an eye (and a tooth for a tooth)●two’s ˈcompany (, three’s a ˈcrowd) (saying) two people, especially two lovers, are happier alone than within a group of three两人成伴，三人不欢◆‘Do you want to come with us?’ ‘I don’t think so. Two’s company…’ “你想跟我们一块儿去吗？”“不了。两人是伴儿，三个人就…”●a bird in the ˌhand is worth two in the ˈbush (saying) it is better to be satisfied with what you have got than to lose it trying to get sth more or better一鸟在手胜过二鸟在林；奢求不如实得●be like a dog with two ˈtailsbe extremely happy非常高兴◆‘Is he pleased about his new job?’ ‘He’s like a dog with two tails!’“他对新工作满意吗？”“他高兴坏了！”●not care/give a ˈhoot (about sb/sth) ( not care/give two ˈhoots (about sb/sth)) (informal) not care at all毫不在乎◆I don’t care two hoots about having money, as long as I’m happy.我根本不在乎有没有钱，只要活得开心就行。●kill two birds with one ˈstonemanage to achieve two aims by doing one thing一石二鸟；一箭双雕；一举两得◆If we have to go to Manchester for the meeting, then let’s visit Auntie Joan on the way there. We can kill two birds with one stone.如果我们要去曼彻斯特开会，可以顺路去看看琼阿姨，这样就一举两得了。●know a thing or two (about sb/sth) (informal) know a lot about sb/sth from your own experience对…很了解；见多识广◆After ten years as a teacher, I know a thing or two about how children learn.执教 10 年后，我很清楚孩子们如何学习。◆‘How much do you know about computers?’ ‘Oh, I know a thing or two.’“你对计算机有多少了解？”“非常精通。”●the ˌlesser of two ˈevils●the ˌlesser ˈevilthe less unpleasant of two unpleasant choices两害相权之轻者◆Neither candidate seemed capable of governing the country. People voted for him as the lesser of two evils.这两位候选人看起来都无力管理好国家，大家投他的票是两害相权取其轻。●your/sb’s number ˈtwo (informal) the second most important person in a company, an organization, etc.（公司、组织等中）第二重要的人，二把手，二号人物◆Brian Jones is the new number two at the ministry.布赖恩 ∙ 琼斯是该部新上任的二把手。●two/ten a ˈpenny (BrE) (NAmEa ˌdime a ˈdozen) very cheap or very common, and therefore not valuable多得不值钱；廉价而易得◆In the small towns on the coast, lobsters are two a penny.在海滨小镇，龙虾十分便宜。◆Finding a job will be difficult. History teachers are ten a penny at the moment.找工作太难了，现在历史老师遍地都是。●serve two ˈmasters (usually used in negative sentences通常用于否定句) support two opposing parties, principles, etc. at the same time一仆二主；同时支持两党／两派／两种对立原则等◆Government ministers are not allowed to work for private companies as nobody can serve two masters at once.政府部长不得为私营公司工作，因为没有人能同时侍奉两主。ORIGINThis expression comes from the Bible.这个表达法源于《圣经》。●one step ˌforward, two steps ˈback (saying) used to say that every time you make progress, something bad happens that means that the situation is worse than before进一步，退两步◆Trying to get the law changed has been a frustrating business. It’s a case of one step forward, two steps back.为修改这条法律作了努力，但结果很令人沮丧，完全就是在进一步，退两步。●(as) thick as two short ˈplanks (informal) ( (as) thick as ˈshit⚠, slang) (BrE) (of a person人) very stupid极其愚蠢；笨得要死◆Because she’s a model, people assume she’s as thick as two short planks, but she isn’t.就因为她是个模特，人们都以为她肯定很蠢，其实并不是那样。OPP(as) bright as a buttonNOTEThick is the opposite of thin and can also mean ‘stupid’ in informal language. * thick 是 thin 的反义词，非正式场合使用时也可表示“愚蠢的”。●can/could teach/tell sb a ˈthing or two (about sb/sth) (informal) be able to help sb, or teach sb how to do sth, because you have more experience（因为有更多经验而）能帮点忙，能教某人一些东西◆He thinks he knows a lot about farming, but old Bert could teach him a thing or two.他以为自己对种田所知甚多，但是老伯特会给他上点课的。●cut both/two ˈwayshave an effect both for and against sb/sth是把双刃剑；产生正反两种效果◆Banning imports of cars could cut both ways: other countries may ban the import of cars produced here.禁止进口汽车是一把双刃剑：其他国家同样可以禁止进口这里出产的汽车。