two twos

English

Alternative forms

two-twos, twotwos

Etymology

In early use attested in Irish contexts and works by Irish authors; likely spread to the Caribbean by Irish indentured servants who migrated to the West Indies (see Irish Caribbean on WikipediaWikipedia ). Then spread further by Jamaican immigrants to Canada and the United Kingdom.

Pronunciation

Audio (US): (file)

Noun

two twos pl (plural only)

(originally Ireland, now chiefly Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago) A very short time; a jiffy.
- 1911 September, T. Scott Anderson, “Fox, Grouse, and Salmon”, in The Badminton Magazine, volume 33, number 194, page 325:
  Never mind appearances; it's performance and accomplishment we're going for, and within two twos we shall have done two-thirds of the feat.
- 1922 February, James Joyce, “[Episode 13: Nausicaa]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company, […], →OCLC, part II [Odyssey], page 347:
  The slight contretemps claimed her attention but in two twos she set that little matter to rights.
- 1960, Samuel Selvon, “Calypsonian”, in Andrew Salkey, editor, West Indian Stories, London: Faber and Faber, page 113:
  They begin to work on the song, and One Foot so good that in two twos he fix up a tune. So Razor Blade pick up a empty bottle and a piece of stick, and One Foot start beating the table, and is so they getting on, singing this new calypso that they invent.
- 2016, Helen Dunmore, Exposure, London: Hutchinson, →ISBN, page 264:
  At last, the taxi comes. It's a decrepit Jowett driven presumably by Joe, who must be at least sixty. In no time he has stowed bags and suitcases into the boot and the back of the car. If the little 'un sits on Lily's knee, they'll be off in two twos.

Adverb

two twos (not comparable)

(MLE, MTE) Suddenly, right then, presently.
Two twos the mandem gave this likkle yute a deafaz.
- 2007, “4 O'Clock” (track 20), in The Chupa Chups Mixtape‎^[1], performed by Bashy:
  Two twos one yout start swearing / Then one of them South youts bottled him up on the floor, then after that... yeah the ravers just aired him
- [2017 July 9, Eul Basa, “The Ultimate Guide To Toronto Slang For Everyday Situations”, in Narcity‎^[2], archived from the original on 2023-01-22:
  Two-twos / Quickly and unexpectedly. / Ex. / We was messin' around in her room and two-twos her dukes showed up.]
- 2018 September 21, “CRB Check” (track 3), in TEN10‎^[3], performed by Chip:
  Had a good girl she told me lies as well / Two twos I started telling lies as well
- 2020 March 27, “ROOF” (track 9), in Before Love Came to Kill Us‎^[4], performed by Jessie Reyez:
  I got nothing to lose / Two twos, I'm outtie