two-to-one

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

The pawnbroker's sign of three balls.

Register: slang

Examples

“A pawnbroker!” cried Dick, with a loud laugh; whereupon the two-to-one lady blushed up to the eyes and whispered to her friend, “How could they know us?”

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “two-to-one” mean?

The pawnbroker's sign of three balls.

Is “two-to-one” formal or informal?

two-to-one is generally slang.