two on one
Uneven attacking situation
Two on one describes a situation where two people act together against a single opponent.
In sports, it's a numerical advantage—two attackers facing one defender: They broke away for a two-on-one against the goalie.
The phrase extends to any uneven confrontation: arguments, fights, or competition where one person faces a pair.
- mismatchIncompatible combination
- man advantageNumerical superiority in hockey
- advantageFavorable position or circumstance
- attackAggressive act against another
- hockeyStick-and-goal sport
fast break · counterattack · rush · quick strike · odd man · breakaway · cherry picking · passing · outlet pass · assist · goal · basketball · lacrosse · power play · overload · pressure · defense · scramble
- hockeypuck, hockey, ice hockey, pucks, field hockey
- grapplingsubmission hold, chokehold, wrestling match, arm bar, freestyle wrestling
- fast breakfast break, breakaway, breakaway dunk, outlet pass, run and gun
- sports edgesadvantage, home field, home court, home ice, power play
- numerical disadvantageoutnumbered, shorthanded, undermanned, understaffed, outgunned
- Takedownssingle leg, double leg, arm drag, duck under, foot sweep
numerical fairness/balance
two on oneone on one
Direct between two
mano a mano · head to head · level playing field · equal footing · even-steven