Hey! I came across the idiom “stand on your own (two) feet.” But I’m not sure whether the option with “two” or without it is more common. Could you help me figure it out pls?
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Answers · 5
2
I'd agree. It sounds much more natural with 'two'. It even sounds a bit weird to me without it, as if it's meant literally somehow. Google ngrams supports this too. With 'two' is far more common.
2
Hi! Native English speaker here! I have only ever heard it said WITH "two." Of course, it's not grammatically incorrect to say it without, but I think the "two" is included for emphasis and to strengthen the idiom's meaning. To sound most natural, I would always include the "two," but maybe someone from a different English-speaking region might have a different opinion.
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