two/three strikes against somebody/somethingAmerican EnglishAmE a condition or situation that makes it extremely difficult for someone or something to be successful 某人/某事处于十分不利的地位;某人/某事很难获得成功 Children from poor backgrounds have two strikes against them by the time they begin school. 贫困家庭的孩子在入学时便处于劣势。
two/three strikes against somebody/something• For the younger pilots, I had two strikes against me before I even began that were impossible to overcome.• Generally, unless batters have two strikes against them, Bosley doesn't want them to swing at high strikes.
→ two/three strikes against somebody/something at strike2(1)