two by four

plural two by fours · alternative two-by-four

1. CanadaUSA length of sawn wood of cross section nominally 2 inches by 4 inches (actual dimensions 1½ × 3½ in modern use), most often employed as structural framing lumber (dimensional lumber).

   Moses stood on the Red Sea shore, smotin' that water with a two by four

   (Can we date this quote?), “Linin' Track”, performed by Lead Belly

   1 more example

   Well, Moses stood on the Red Sea shore, And smote the water with a two by four

   1959, “Mary Don't You Weep”, performed by Nat King Cole

2. CanadaUSdatedA small, modest building.

   He'll plan a two by four / But not for me.

   1930, George, Ira Gershwin, “But Not for Me”

3. slangSynonym of Tijuana Bible (“kind of pornographic comic book”).

   […] the movie plot of Superman II, in which Superman and Lois Lane work up to a sexual liaison (which was seen before 1960 only in “two by fours” and similar pornographic comic strips.).

   2008, Barry Schwartz, Abraham Lincoln in the Post-Heroic Era, page 354

   Synonyms: Tijuana Bible