two strikes against

Idioms  

1. Strong factors opposing, as in There are two strikes against her possibility of a promotion. This term comes from baseball, where a batter is allowed three strikes at a fairly pitched ball before being called out; thus, a batter with two strikes has but one more chance to hit a fair ball. The figurative use dates from the early 1900s.

---

Example Sentences

“But Burger hustles down the line and forces a bad throw and then Sheets has a great hit with two strikes against a good pitcher.”

From Washington Times • May 28, 2023

With two on and two strikes against the Riley Adams in the third inning, Scherzer froze in the set position and let the pitch clock tick down to seven before Adams called timeout.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 3, 2023

“He had two strikes against him already,” said Celine Gounder, an infectious-diseases specialist who was on President Biden’s covid advisory board during the transition, referring to Powell’s age and medical condition.

From Washington Post • Oct. 19, 2021

Hill generated two quick outs and then two strikes against Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt.

From Los Angeles Times • May 9, 2018

I have neither, which means I started CHS with two strikes against me.

From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson