{"id":3794,"date":"2022-05-18T16:07:45","date_gmt":"2022-05-18T16:07:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/?p=3794"},"modified":"2022-05-18T16:07:50","modified_gmt":"2022-05-18T16:07:50","slug":"two-down-one-to-go-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/two-down-one-to-go-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"Two Down One to Go \u2013 Meaning, Origin and Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you looking for a way to say you\u2019re moving onto the final stage of a competition? You could use the saying \u201ctwo down, one to go<\/em>\u201d to describe your progress. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.<\/p>\n

Meaning<\/h2>\n

The expression \u201ctwo down, one to go<\/em>\u201d means that you have successfully achieved or taken care of two targets or goals.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It means that you are moving onto the final phase of a project or task, and your prospects for taking out the third look good.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a motivating statement designed to inspire the person with good luck in the third phase of the task.<\/p>\n

Example Usage<\/h2>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s two down and one to go. I never thought this game would be so easy. Do you think I\u2019m ranking on the world leaderboard yet?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, that\u2019s two down and one to go. Then we have the entire project finished and ready for presentation tomorrow morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s two down and one to go. These pizzas are huge, and I don\u2019t know if we will finish all of this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll I can say is that\u2019s two down and one to go. Then it\u2019s time to hit the road for spring break. I can\u2019t wait for some sand, sun, surf, and fun!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s two down and one to go, but I don\u2019t know if getting the third will be as easy as the first two. Let\u2019s hope our experience pays off here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTwo down and one to go, Marvin. We\u2019re almost at the end of the workouts for the week, don\u2019t give up on me now, buddy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\" \"\"<\/p>\n

Origin<\/h2>\n

The expression \u201ctwo down, one to go\u201d comes from golf. Each golf course has a set number of holes with a \u201cpar\u201d number attached, saying how many strokes it should take the player to finish the hole.<\/p>\n

If players were going to finish in a \u201cbirdie score,\u201d they would often need three stokes to get the result. So, they would say \u201ctwo down and one to go\u201d when they were close to achieving the feat.<\/p>\n

An example of the phrase pertaining to its golf origins comes from the Des Moines Daily News, in a piece published in June 1919, where it appears as follows.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn defeating Walker Jr., youthful star from Staten Island was pushed to the utmost reaching the final hole of the day with the youngster two down, one hole to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

There is other evidence suggesting it has a tie to baseball. The Olean Evening Herald published a review of a recent game in June 1922, where the saying appears as follows.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe visiting Stars again tied the score in the seventh with two down and one to go.\u201d<\/p>\n