the old one-two

the old one-two (punch)

1. Two quick punches delivered to one's opponent in rapid succession, one coming from each hand. The boxer's put his opponent in a daze with a flurry of punches, then brought him down to the mat with the old one-two. The guy refused to leave us alone, so I gave him the old one-two and shut him up for good.
2. Two actions, events, strategies, people, etc., that work in combination to deliver a very effective or powerful result. The two lawyers have become the one-two punch of the firm, bringing a perfect combination of abilities to tackle any case. The storm is predicted to bring the old-one two—devastating winds and a deluge of rainfall.
See also: old
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

the old one-two

1. n. a series of two punches delivered quickly, one after another. Tom gave Bill the old one-two, and the argument was ended right there.
2. n. any destructive assault on an idea, thing, or person. I gave his proposal the old one-two. Next time he will be better prepared.
See also: old
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • old one-two
  • draw first blood
  • a waiting game
  • waiting game
  • shoot the lights out
  • more by luck than judgment
  • (some number of) games in hand
  • be level pegging
  • box
  • boxed
References in periodicals archive
THE OLD ONE-TWO Goal scorers Jordan Owens and Paul Heatley celebrate going 2-0 up on Saturday
LEE MILLER insists he and Ryan Hardie are ready to give Livingston's rivals the old one-two now that they've teamed up again.
ENGLAND'S dream of a 3-0 whitewash is still bang on course after Ben Stokes and Adil Rashid hit Sri Lanka with the old one-two.
Welsh trainer Ron Harris lands the old one-two at Wolverhampton
The old one-two WASPS laboured badly through a third quarter which was played almost exclusively in their half, and badly needed a spark to reignite their attack and secure the third try which would clinch the result.
* THE OLD ONE-TWO: Town striker Jordan Rhodes climbs high above the Brentford defence to put his side ahead and, below, repeats the feat with his second goal of the 4-0 win which moved Town up to fifth in the League I table * COOL AS YOU LIKE: Lee Novak lobs home his eighth goal of the season in the excellent victory at Griffin Park
He did not look particularly sharp, maybe as a consequence of the strengthening work he did over the winter, but then again he did execute the old one-two with his brother and from then on may have been happy to mark and wait for another day.
The big man in red couldn't have done a better job than But the uniformed staff played the old one-two, giving me hot, fresh chips GRAHAM YOUNG
Forget about the old one-two punch: foundation and powder.
Yet credit unions are on the receiving end of the old one-two punch between unintended consequences at the fore and an uppercut of being loved to death.
OFF AND RUNNING: Skipper Stiliyan Petrov launches a Villa raid FOOT UP: Michael Brown comes under pressure from Gabby Agbonlahor FIRING LINE: Villa's Steve Sidwell tries to get in a shot MY BALL: James Milner hangs on to possession THE OLD ONE-TWO: Villa goalscorers James Milner and Gabby Agbonlahor are all smiles at Villa Park
Findlay gives it the old one-two, first by hitting Davey with punchy questions about how he knows so much about her son--and then dancing away before the boy's nerves snap.
Jim Braddock (Russell Crowe) teaches daughter Rose (Ariel Waller) the old one-two; inset, Russell with wife Danielle
First, there was the restricted space Everton gave them to work in, then a couple of quick fire goals - the old one-two - that yanked the stuffing out of them.
High-tech had advertising directors feeling low in February as the Consumer Electronics and Computer Stores categories of the Retail ROP Index gave them the old one-two -- with each registering a double-digit percentage decline compared with the same month a year earlier.