have two strings to one's bow

verb

To have another means or expedient kept in reserve in case the current one fails.

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Meanings

verbhave two strings to one's bow (third-person singular simple present has two strings to one's bow, present participle having two strings to one's bow, simple past and past participle had two strings to one's bow)

present singular third person has two strings to one's bow · participle present having two strings to one's bow · participle past had two strings to one's bow · past had two strings to one's bow

  1. To have another means or expedient kept in reserve in case the current one fails.
Cite this entry
APA

have two strings to one's bow. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/have%20two%20strings%20to%20one's%20bow

MLA

“have two strings to one's bow.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/have%20two%20strings%20to%20one's%20bow. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “have two strings to one's bow,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/have%20two%20strings%20to%20one's%20bow.

Source: have two strings to one's bow on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.