one-two

American  

[wuhn-too] / ˈwʌnˈtu /

noun

1. Also called one-two punch.  Boxing. a left-hand jab immediately followed by a right cross.

2. Informal. any strong or effective combination of two people or things.

   The old one-two of a good passer and a good receiver is the best way to win football games.

3. Fencing. a type of attack made up of two movements.

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adjective

1. employing or suggesting a one-two; with one major or powerful thing or person combined with or following another.

one-two British  

noun

1. boxing a jab with the leading hand followed by a cross with the other hand

2. soccer another term for wall pass

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Etymology

Origin of one-two

First recorded in 1800–10

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

one-two

More recently, the S&P 500 suffered through a lost decade during the 2000s, hurt by the one-two punch of the dot-com bubble bursting, and, later, the 2008 financial crisis.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 17, 2026

Romell Glave declared "total domination" for Great Britain after leading team-mate Jeremiah Azu to a sensational European 100m one-two for the hosts, 24 hours after Amy Hunt's triumph in the women's event.

From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026

The one-two punch was a bright spot for HBO Max, the home of both programs, and the platform with the most nominations overall at 122.

From Barron's ● Jul. 8, 2026

The one-two acquisition punch would propel the Ellison family to top-tier moguls with influence over CNN, CBS News, HBO, Turner Classic Movies and two historic Hollywood studios.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2026

I heard feet pounding up the stairs, in a one-two rhythm that signaled Maggie’s arrival to the second floor.

From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen

Related Words

• blow
• jab
• shot
• slap
• stroke