two strikes
One more out
Two strikes describes being one mistake or failure away from serious consequences—elimination, punishment, or loss of opportunity.
The phrase comes from baseball, where a batter with two strikes will be out if they miss or foul off the next pitch.
He's already got two strikes against him with the parole board.
Having two strikes against you suggests starting from a disadvantaged position.
- baseballBat-and-ball team sport
- at batHitter's turn
- countReckon a total
- pitchFrequency of sound
- foulOffensive or illegal
foul ball · batter · out · swing · strikeout · plate · umpire · fastball · whiff · zone · mound · warning · final warning · labor · union · walkout · picket · negotiate
- pitch countsfull count, pitcher's count, three balls, no balls
- baseballbaseball, bat, pitchers, catchers, pitcher
- sports idiomsdrop the ball, throw in the towel, slam dunk, out of left field, level playing field
- battingbatting, batter, batsman, bat speed, batting average
two strikesclean record
Absence of prior offenses
fresh start · blank slate · good standing · second chance · new beginning
two, twos, twice, twin, twins, twinned, twain, twelve, twenty