Phrases.com »

Phrases related to: one step forward, two steps back Page #5

Yee yee! We've found 4,526 phrases and idioms matching one step forward, two steps back.

Sort:RelevancyA - Z
keep one on one's toesTo keep one attentive, active, busy or alert.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
one for all and all for oneEveryone in the a group should act for the benefit of the group, and the group should act for the benefit of everyone in the groupRate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
put one's money where one's mouth isMore generally, to take an obvious stake in the truth of a claim that one is making.Rate it:

(5.00 / 2 votes)
when one door closes, another one opensAlternative form of when one door closes, another opens.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
keep one's cards close to one's chestTo avoid revealing one's thoughts, circumstances, or plans.Rate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
have one's head up one's assTo be oblivious to the real state of things, from either stupidity or stubbornness.Rate it:

(2.00 / 1 vote)
put one's pants on one leg at a timeTo be a normal person.Rate it:

(2.00 / 2 votes)
with one's dick in one's handIn a state of being unprepared, powerless, or idle.Rate it:

(2.00 / 1 vote)
have one's mind about oneTo be composed or lucid.Rate it:

(1.00 / 1 vote)
all of one's taste is in one's mouthAlternative form of all one's taste is in one's mouthRate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
all one's eggs in one basketDevoting all of one’s resources to one thing.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
all one's eggs in one basketInvesting heavily in just one area.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
all one's taste is in one's mouthOne lacks good taste in aesthetic or cultural matters.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
cut one's coat according to one's clothLive according to your means.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
have one's wits about oneTo remain calm, composed, or aware.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
have one's work cut out for oneTo face a large task or project.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
it takes one to know oneThe person criticizing is as bad as the person being criticized.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
one by oneIndividually in succession; one at a time.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
one could do it in one's sleepSaid of something that can be done very easily.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
one must fight the beast of brutality, to defend one’s stance on neutralityWhen war is thrust upon a nation by another belligerent nation, a neutral nation suffers a dilemma of the collective state conscience.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
one's bark is worse than one's biteThe individual acts threatening but is relatively harmless.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
one's got to do what one's got to doA person must do what he or she feels obliged to do.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
one's heart in one's mouthvery scaredRate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
put all one's eggs in one basketRather than diversifying.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
put one through one's pacesTo test several or all functions or training of a person, animal, machine, etc.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
put one through one's pacesTo direct a horse to walk, canter, trot, etc.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
put one's foot in one's mouthTo misspeak; to say something embarrassing or wrong.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
put one's money where one's mouth isTo make or take a bet.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
put one's trousers on one leg at a timeTo be a normal person.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
takes one to know oneA childish retort to a negative accusation, implying the accuser shares the faultRate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
wear one's heart on one's sleeveTo be extremely transparent, open, or forthright about one's emotion or what is in one's heart; often when this is said, it is said when it is more than the listener wants or needs to hear about it--so it is often said in a negative way or with a negative connotationRate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
when one door shuts, another one opensAlternative form of when one door closes, another opens.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
with one's jaw in one's lapastonished, amazedRate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
back-cloth starAn actor who stands upstage, forcing the other actors to face him and turn their backs to the audience, in order to gain more attention to himself.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
bare backRiding a horse without a saddle.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
be glad to see the back ofTo be glad to get rid of someone; to be glad someone has left.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
bring backTo reenact an old rule or law.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
but, satisfaction brought it backa common rejoinder to "curiosity killed the cat"Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
circle backTo revisit a topic, concept or idea after having put it on the back burner; to return to a place or locationRate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
dial backTo reduce; to restrain.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
Eyes in the Back of Your HeadTo be able to imagine and feel what is happening behind or outside of one's field of visionRate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
have someone's backTo be prepared and willing to support or defend (someone).Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
hold backTo act with reserve; to contain one's full measure or power.Rate it:

(5.00 / 5 votes)
in through the back doorTo introduce a measure in a way which one's opponents will not notice.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
look backTo look behind oneself.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
Straw that Broke Camel's BackOne last mistake leading to previous calamity or trouble, not able to bear more than one’s capacity,Rate it:

(5.00 / 3 votes)
walk backUsed other than as an idiom: see walk, back.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
you scratch my back and i'll scratch yoursIf you do me a favor then I will do you a favor; quid pro quo.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
kick backTo relax.Rate it:

(4.83 / 6 votes)
put backTo return something to it's original place.Rate it:

(4.78 / 9 votes)

We need you!

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

Alternative searches for one step forward, two steps back:

Quiz

Are you a phrases master?

»
He's a real penny __________
A pincher
B pusher
C fiddler
D hussler

Browse Phrases.com

#ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ