# "Three Strikes and you're out" for different numbers **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 19, 2021, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-strikes-and-youre-out-for-different-numbers/946810 "2021-07-19T10:58:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CardboardBoxx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardboardboxx/32/7079_2.png) [@CardboardBoxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CardboardBoxx)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2021, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-strikes-and-youre-out-for-different-numbers/946810/1 "2021-07-19T10:58:50Z")
Three Strikes and you’re out is a commonly used metaphor for a situation where you get 2 warnings then consequences on the 3rd event. Getting a yellow card is a good metaphor for if you only get 1 warning. Any good similar metaphors for alternate numbers of warnings? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2021, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-strikes-and-youre-out-for-different-numbers/946810/2 "2021-07-19T12:12:30Z")
It’s not exact but “Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me” is close. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2021, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-strikes-and-youre-out-for-different-numbers/946810/3 "2021-07-19T20:40:58Z")
‘One more time’ [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/dgM9V3lEZvE/maxresdefault.jpg "Hancock (2008) - Call Me A\*\*hole One More Time Scene (4/10) | Movieclips") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgM9V3lEZvE) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2021, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-strikes-and-youre-out-for-different-numbers/946810/4 "2021-07-19T20:42:18Z")
And there’s the thing about cats having nine lives, which seems sort of related. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2021, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-strikes-and-youre-out-for-different-numbers/946810/5 "2021-07-19T21:14:29Z")
Zero tolerance for no warnings at all. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2021, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-strikes-and-youre-out-for-different-numbers/946810/6 "2021-07-19T21:14:36Z")
[Danny Vermin](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iD7QYQZg34) ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2021, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-strikes-and-youre-out-for-different-numbers/946810/7 "2021-07-19T21:18:54Z")
Either I have missed “That’s ball three” or the lack of it is evidence that very few Americans have ever seen a need for an idiom for “three warnings and then consequences”. Yeah, I know, it doesn’t work as well as Three strikes and you’re out … But couldn’t you imagine a drill sergeant getting all up in a recruit’s face and yelling “That’s ball three! One more and I walk all over you!” ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2021, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-strikes-and-youre-out-for-different-numbers/946810/8 "2021-07-19T21:27:29Z")
Actually, wouldn’t it be “one more and you can get away SCOTT FREE! NO CONSEQUENCES” for Ball 4? 3rd strike and you’re out (in jail); 4th ball and you walk (on base- just what you wanted) ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2021, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-strikes-and-youre-out-for-different-numbers/946810/9 "2021-07-19T21:30:05Z")
Yeah, that’s why I sad it doesn’t actually work as well. The recipient has to be the pitcher, or the whole out team, and the consequence is having a minor repercussion. And since you’re the batter in the much more used expression it’s no wonder it’s never caught on. Although I think the relative rarity of “three warnings and a consequence” systems might also be a factor. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2021, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-strikes-and-youre-out-for-different-numbers/946810/10 "2021-07-19T23:15:09Z")
Except for the good old “I’m going to count to three AND THEN…” ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2021, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-strikes-and-youre-out-for-different-numbers/946810/11 "2021-07-20T04:00:00Z")
“51 more mistakes and you’re out of cards, Buster!” ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2021, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-strikes-and-youre-out-for-different-numbers/946810/12 "2021-07-20T05:55:40Z")
Once is an accident, twice is a coincidence, three times is a pattern. Another: Toss a coin to choose. If your inner self then says “Let’s go for two out of three”, you’ll know that you’ve already decided. And: Just wait 'til your father gets home" always worked for me. ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2021, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-strikes-and-youre-out-for-different-numbers/946810/13 "2021-07-20T12:28:03Z")
In boxing the ref will count to 10 (or is it an 8 count?) before declaring that the person is knocked out. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2021, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-strikes-and-youre-out-for-different-numbers/946810/14 "2021-07-20T12:35:03Z")
Well, in a case where you get 3 warnings, you could say, “Four balls and you take a walk!” (as in out the door)