going once, going twice

phrase

Said before closing the bidding for a particular item in an auction, giving other bidders a final opportunity to bid for it.

Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

phrase
  1. Said before closing the bidding for a particular item in an auction, giving other bidders a final opportunity to bid for it.
    1. By extension, indicating that the speaker will take some action if there is no immediate objection.

      Now I'm asking you once again, where's my money? Going once, going twice!” “Wait a minute, Carlos...”

      1977, Lynn Pearson, Out of Work, page 330
      1 more example

      Picked up the last slice of pizza and asked, “Anybody want it? Going once, going twice, the last call for the last slice of pizza!”

      2021, Gary T. Brideau, The Long Way Home, page 111

Origin

Ellipsis of going once, going twice, sold.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

going once, going twice. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/going%20once%2C%20going%20twice

MLA

“going once, going twice.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/going%20once%2C%20going%20twice. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “going once, going twice,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/going%20once%2C%20going%20twice.

Source: going once, going twice on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.