two by four

/ˈtuː baɪ ˈfɔːr/
adjective
  1. Made of or relating to a two-by-four piece of lumber.
    • They built a simple two-by-four bench for the garden.
    • She used a two-by-four plank as a temporary shelf.
    • The two-by-four framing was sturdy enough for the small cabin.
  2. Very small or cramped, like a small room or space.
    • The kitchen was so two-by-four that only one person could cook at a time.
    • His office was a two-by-four closet with a desk and a chair.
    • They lived in a two-by-four apartment with barely enough room for a bed.
noun
  1. A piece of lumber that is approximately 2 inches thick and 4 inches wide, commonly used in construction.
    • He bought a stack of two-by-fours to build the frame for the shed.
    • A single two-by-four can support a surprising amount of weight.
    • The carpenter cut the two-by-four to the exact length needed.
What does "two by four" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean