Phrase guide

once a woman, twice a child

proverb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • General-American, Received-Pronunciation: /ˌwʌn(t)s‿ə ˈwʊmən ˌtwaɪs‿ə ˈt͡ʃaɪld/
  • rhymes with -aɪld

1

proverb

Meaning 1

A woman is born as a child, grows to adulthood, and consequently enters old age, when she deteriorates and reverts to a childlike state.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: rare

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From once a man, twice a child.