🏹 More Than One Way to Hit the Target 🎯
Definition
“More than one way to reach one’s goal” signifies having multiple approaches or alternatives to achieve an objective. Originating from the practice of archers carrying spare bowstrings, it has evolved to mean having backup plans or options.
Synonyms
- Plan B
- Backup plan
- Fallback option
- Another string to one’s bow
Antonyms
- One-shot deal
- No alternatives
- All eggs in one basket
Related Expressions
- There are more ways than one to skin a cat. 🐱
- Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. 🥚🧺
- Keep your options open.
- Have an ace up one’s sleeve.
Usage in Literature
- Jane Austen: “If one love affair fails, there is always another lover to be had.”
- Anthony Trollope: Known for his novels capturing Victorian society.
Quotable Cliché
“A wise man always has more than one string to his bow.” – old proverb.
Notable References
- John Heywood’s Proverb Collection (1546): The earliest known citation of the proverb. 📚
- Jane Austen’s Novels: “Persuasion” and other works exquisitely portray complexity in social maneuvers.
- Anthony Trollope’s “Framley Parsonage”: A treasure trove for exploring the intricacies of Victorian romance and social climbing.
Fun with Literature 📚
- Books: “Persuasion” by Jane Austen, “Framley Parsonage” by Anthony Trollope.
- Songs: “It’s Not Over” by Daughtry.
- Movies: “Sliding Doors” (1998, a film about second chances and alternate paths).
### Which proverb is synonymous with having multiple backup plans?
- [ ] Actions speak louder than words
- [X] There's more than one way to skin a cat
- [ ] The early bird catches the worm
- [ ] A picture is worth a thousand words
> **Explanation:** "There's more than one way to skin a cat" is synonymous with having multiple backup plans or alternative solutions.
### What’s the original context for "more than one way to reach one’s goal"?
- [ ] Cooking
- [ ] Warfare
- [X] Archery
- [ ] Fishing
> **Explanation:** The term originated from archery, where archers would carry a reserve string – literally having another way to reach their goal.
### Which author's works prominently feature this idiom as a metaphor for lovers?
- [X] Jane Austen
- [ ] J.K. Rowling
- [ ] Mark Twain
- [ ] F. Scott Fitzgerald
> **Explanation:** Jane Austen often used this figuratively in her novels to reflect on the complexities of romance.
### True or False: "Always have a plan B" is an idiom.
- [X] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** True, this is an idiom and commonly advised phrase meaning to always be prepared with an alternative plan.
### Which movie reflects the concept of having alternative paths and plans?
- [ ] Titanic
- [ ] The Matrix
- [X] Sliding Doors
- [ ] The Godfather
> **Explanation:** "Sliding Doors" revolves around alternate realities and different outcomes based on a single switch in the course of events.
In closing, as Lexie Quiver might scribe: “Life is rarely a straight arrow. Equip your quiver with alternative strings and navigate the arcs of life with adept precision.”
Published on October 1, 2023
