Rate this phrase:0.0 / 0 votes

one step forward, two steps back

A situation in which progress is more than offset by adverse developments.

Etymology:

  • Derived from the idiom "two steps forward, one step back", which originates with an anecdote about a frog in a well.
684 Views
“

We got all the roofing removed but the chimney was damaged and we discovered that some rafters had to be replaced. One step forward, two steps back. Or maybe three.

Collection   Edit    

Submitted on September 01, 2009

Translation

Find a translation for the one step forward, two steps back phrase in other languages:

einen Schritt vorwärts, zwei Schritte zurück

yksi askel eteenpäin, kaksi askelta taaksepäin

céim amháin chun tosaigh, dhá chéim siar

porro unum gradus, duo gradus retro

Um passo para frente, dois passos para trás

ett steg framåt, två steg tillbaka

Select another language:

  • - Select -
  • 简体中文 (Chinese - Simplified)
  • 繁體中文 (Chinese - Traditional)
  • Español (Spanish)
  • Esperanto (Esperanto)
  • 日本語 (Japanese)
  • Português (Portuguese)
  • Deutsch (German)
  • العربية (Arabic)
  • Français (French)
  • Русский (Russian)
  • ಕನ್ನಡ (Kannada)
  • 한국어 (Korean)
  • עברית (Hebrew)
  • Gaeilge (Irish)
  • Українська (Ukrainian)
  • اردو (Urdu)
  • Magyar (Hungarian)
  • मानक हिन्दी (Hindi)
  • Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Italiano (Italian)
  • தமிழ் (Tamil)
  • Türkçe (Turkish)
  • తెలుగు (Telugu)
  • ภาษาไทย (Thai)
  • Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
  • Čeština (Czech)
  • Polski (Polish)
  • Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Românește (Romanian)
  • Nederlands (Dutch)
  • Ελληνικά (Greek)
  • Latinum (Latin)
  • Svenska (Swedish)
  • Dansk (Danish)
  • Suomi (Finnish)
  • فارسی (Persian)
  • ייִדיש (Yiddish)
  • հայերեն (Armenian)
  • Norsk (Norwegian)
  • English (English)

Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to one step forward, two steps back

one too manyone thousandone to talkone thing led to anotherone swallow doesn't a summer makeone step at a timeone twoone step aheadone swallow doesn't make a summerone sidedone strike and you're outone must fight the beast of brutality, …one swallow does not make a summerone never knows

How to pronounce this phrase?

Discuss this one step forward, two steps back phrase with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add this one step forward, two steps back definition to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "one step forward, two steps back." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 22 Dec. 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/one-step-forward,-two-steps-back_5847>.

    Powered by CITE.ME Cite.Me

    We need you!

    Help us build the largest human-edited phrases collection on the web!

    Quiz

    Are you a phrases master?

    »
    All's fair in love and ____________.
    A war
    B combat
    C might
    D peace

    Browse Phrases.com

    #ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ