have a second string to your bow

have a second string to (one's) bow

To have another way to accomplish something. At least you have a second string to your bow, since you can always contact your aunt if the recruiter from HR doesn't call you back. I wanted you to finish college so that you'd have a second string to your bow if your professional football career was short-lived. Don't worry about me, I have a second string to my bow—I can always pick up freelance work if I get laid off.

See also: bow, have, second, string, to

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

have a second string to your bow

have an alternative resource that you can make use of if the first one fails. British

This is a metaphor from archery; related expressions include have several strings to your bow and add another string to your bow. Second string can also be used on its own to mean simply ‘an alternative resource or course of action’.

See also: bow, have, second, string, to

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