twofer

Ret's Word of the Day
A happy Mosotho man in a library, wearing a Basotho blanket and holding a book in his hand.
/ˈtuː.fɚ/
[ TOO-fer ]
🔊 Hear it on YouGlish

Definition

The meaning: A twofer is a deal or situation where you get two things for the price or effort of one.

La signification: Le mot anglais twofer désigne une offre où l’on obtient deux choses pour le prix ou l’effort d’une seule. Par exemple, une entrée de théâtre qui donne droit à deux places est un twofer.

Note: C’est un terme familier souvent utilisé dans les promotions ou dans un sens figuré pour signaler un double avantage.

Word Analysis

French synonyms
» Deux pour le prix d’un
» Offre jumelée
» Avantage double

A: Tu veux dire que le livre et l’audiobook sont inclus ?
B: Exactement, c’est un vrai twofer !

English synonyms
» Double deal
» Two-in-one
» Bonus combo
» Bogof (buy one get one free)

A: We got dinner and a free concert!
B: Nice, a total twofer.
    

Dialogue

Jordan: "You bought one ticket and got the second free?"
Alex: "Yeah, it was a total twofer—can't beat that deal!"
    

Etymology

Origin: The word twofer originated in American English as a contraction of "two for one", particularly in entertainment promotions like Broadway shows. It became popular in the mid-20th century.

Audience

The term "twofer" is mainly used in informal English, especially in American marketing, advertising, and casual conversation.

When to use: Use it when talking about getting double value or benefit. For example: "This course is a twofer—you improve your English and learn public speaking!"

Dictionary Meaning

The Free Dictionary says that it is slang, and is "Something that one is able to get for free upon purchasing another; a two-for-one item. A colloquial shortening of "two for (one)." Here's a provided example of use:
"Here, do you want this? They were selling twofers the other day. "

News Snippet

"My wife had decided that a dinky little ID card would be more convenient than the green book, so to get a twofer for the price of one trip we went together. I was due for an update anyway."

Read the full article at the Daily Maverick

Extra! Extra!

For a fun and engaging exploration of our word of the day, watch the following…

Video Lesson One

Video Lesson Two

WordReference

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» English⇄French–Explore translations and linguistic nuances
» Synonyms⇄Antonyms–Contextual variations, etc.

Common Idioms & Expressions Related to "Twofer" and Double Value

Killing Two Birds with One Stone(1)
To accomplish two tasks with a single action or effort.

Example: "By cycling to work, I save money and stay fit—killing two birds with one stone."



Double Whammy(2)
Usually refers to two negative effects, but can also mean two impacts at once – sometimes positive.

Example: "A raise and fewer hours? That’s a double whammy in a good way!"



Two for the Price of One
A direct idiom related to deals where two items are offered for the cost of one.

Example: "These shoes were a two for the price of one deal—couldn’t resist."



Buy One, Get One Free
A standard retail phrase often abbreviated as BOGOF, offering two products for the price of one.

Example: "They had a buy one, get one free deal on all books."



Two-in-One
Describes a single product or situation that performs two functions or offers dual benefits.

Example: "This shampoo and conditioner is a handy two-in-one."



Bonus Perk
Refers to an extra benefit or reward that comes unexpectedly with something else.

Example: "The free upgrade was a bonus perk of booking early."



Get More Bang for Your Buck
To receive greater value or results for the money or effort spent.

Example: "Streaming services give you more bang for your buck than cable."



Score a Deal
To get a good bargain or unexpected benefit.

Example: "I scored a deal on two pairs of jeans for €30."



Hit the Jackpot
To receive a major benefit or unexpected reward – sometimes used figuratively.

Example: "With that promotion and bonus, she really hit the jackpot."



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