Phrase guide

think twice

verb · 2 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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To reconsider, use judgement; to proceed with caution or thought.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • Think twice before you go, since it could be dangerous.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

consider and reconsider carefully

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Think twice before you have a child

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: consider, debate, moot, turn over, deliberate

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Cantonese: 三思 (saam3 si1) — to reconsider, use judgement
  • Chinese: 三思 (zh-min-nan) — to reconsider, use judgement
  • Chinese Mandarin: 三思 (sānsī, sànsī) — to reconsider, use judgement
  • Czech: rozmyslet se — to reconsider, use judgement
  • Finnish: harkita tarkkaan — to reconsider, use judgement
  • Finnish: miettiä tarkkaan — to reconsider, use judgement
  • Finnish: harkita kahdesti — to reconsider, use judgement
  • Finnish: miettiä kahdesti — to reconsider, use judgement
  • French: y regarder à deux fois — to reconsider, use judgement
  • Italian: pensarci due volte — to reconsider, use judgement
  • Portuguese: pensar duas vezes — to reconsider, use judgement
  • Spanish: pensar dos veces — to reconsider, use judgement
  • Spanish: tentarse la ropa — to reconsider, use judgement
  • Vietnamese: nghĩ tới nghĩ lui — to reconsider, use judgement