two strings to one's bow



two strings to one's bow

More than one means of reaching an objective, as in Louise hasn't heard yet, but she's got two strings to her bow-she can always appeal to the chairman . This expression alludes to a well-prepared archer, who carries a spare string in case one fails. [Mid-1400s]
See also: bow, string, two

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Yishmeray-Biblical Hebrew
Finnbarr-Irish
LibbieLIB-eeEnglish
CarrieKER-ee, KAR-eeEnglish
Alenka-Slovene
ÁKi-Ancient Scandinavian, Icelandic