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[two bits]{n.}, {slang} Twenty-five cents; a quarter of a dollar. •/A haircut only cost two bits when Grandfather was young./ Compare: FOUR BITS, SIX BITS.

[two cents]{n.}{informal} 1. Something not important or very small; almost nothing. •/Paul was so angry that he said for two cents he would quit the team./ •/When John saw that the girl he was scolding was lame, he felt like two cents./ 2. or [two cents worth] Something you want to say; opinion. — Used with a possessive. •/The boys were talking about baseball, and Harry put in his two cents worth, even though he didn’t know much about baseball./ •/If we want your two cents, we’ll ask for it./

[two-faced]{adj.} Insincere; disloyal; deceitful. •/Don’t confide too much in him as he has the reputation of being two-faced./ Compare: SPEAK WITH A FORKED TONGUE.

[two’s company; three’s a crowd] An informal way to express a situation when two people desire privacy and a third one is present. — A proverb. •/Beth and Carl wanted to be alone so when Maggie joined them they said, "Two’s company; three’s a crowd."/

[two strikes against one]{n. phr.}– From baseball. Two opportunities wasted in some undertaking, so that only one chance is left. •/Poor John has two strikes against him when it comes to his love for Frances: first, he is too fat, and, second, he is bald./

[two-time]{v.}, {slang} To go out with a second boy or girlfriend and keep it a secret from the first. •/Joan was two-timing Jim with Fred./ •/Mary cried when she found that Joe was two-timing her./ Compare: DOUBLE-CROSS.

[two to one] See: TEN TO ONE.

[two ways about it] See: NO TWO WAYS ABOUT IT.

[U.F.O.]{n. phr.} Unidentified Flying Object. •/Some people think that the U.F.O.s are extraterrestrial beings of higher than human development who pay periodic visits to Earth to warn us of our self-destructive tendencies./

[ugly duckling]{n.} An ugly or plain child who grows up to be pretty and attractive. •/Mary was the ugly duckling in her family, until she grew up./

[uh-huh] or [um-hum]{adv.}, {informal} Yes. — Used only in speech or when recording dialogue. •/Are you going to the Fair? Uh-huh./ •/We were in Alaska, um-hum, but that was long before the earthquakes./ •/When I asked for an appointment, the nurse said, "Um-hum, I have an opening at four o’clock on Friday."/ Contrast: HUH-UH.

[um-hum] See: UH-HUH.

[unbosom oneself]{v. phr.} To confess one’s personal thoughts or feelings; disclose private information to a confidante. •/Once she was at home with her mother, she unbosomed herself of all her troubles./

[uncertain] See: IN SO MANY WORDS(2). or IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS.

[uncle] See: SAY UNCLE also CRY UNCLE.

[under] See: CUT THE GROUND FROM UNDER, GO UNDER, OUT FROM UNDER, SNOW UNDER.

[under a bushel] See: HIDE ONE’S LIGHT UNDER A BUSHEL.

[under a cloud]{adj. phr.} 1. Under suspicion; not trusted. •/Joyce has been under a cloud since her roommate’s bracelet disappeared./ •/The butcher is under a cloud because the inspectors found his scales were not honest./ 2. Depressed, sad, discouraged. •/Joe has been under a cloud since his dog died./

[under age]{adj. phr.} Too young; not old enough; below legal age. •/He could not enlist in the army because he was under age./ •/Rose was not allowed to enroll in the Life Saving Course because she was under age./ Contrast: OF AGE(1).

[under arrest]{adj. phr.} Held by the police. •/The man believed to have robbed the bank was placed under arrest./ •/The three boys were seen breaking into the school building and soon found themselves under arrest./

[under construction]{adv. phr.} In the process of being built or repaired. •/It is a good idea to take the train to work while the expressway is under construction./

[under cover]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} Hidden; concealed. •/The prisoners escaped under cover of darkness./ •/He kept his invention under cover until it was patented./ Compare: UNDER WRAPS.

[under false colors] See: SAIL UNDER FALSE COLORS.

[under fire]{adv. phr.} Being shot at or being attacked; hit by attacks or accusations; under attack. •/The soldiers stood firm under fire of the enemy./ •/The principal was under fire for not sending the boys home who stole the car./

[under lock and key]{adv. phr.} Secured; locked up; well protected. •/Dad keeps all his valuables under lock and key./

[under one’s belt]{adv. phr.}, {informal} 1. In your stomach; eaten; or absorbed. •/Once he had a good meal under his belt, the man loosened his tie and fell asleep./ •/Jones is talkative when he has a few drinks under his belt./ 2. In your experience, memory or possession; learned or gotten successfully; gained by effort and skill. •/Jim has to get a lot of algebra under his belt before the examination./ •/With three straight victories under their belts, the team went on to win the championship./

[under one’s breath]{adv. phr.} In a whisper; with a low voice. •/The teacher heard the boy say something under his breath and she asked him to repeat it aloud./ •/I told Lucy the news under my breath, but Joyce overheard me./

[under one’s hat] See: KEEP UNDER ONE’S HAT.

[under one’s heel]{adv. phr.} In one’s power or control. •/If one marriage partner always wants to keep the other person under his or her heel, it is not a happy or democratic arrangement and may lead to a divorce./