# third string

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/third-string
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Of a decidedly lower quality or condition.

## Examples

- This is a third string attempt at fixing the broken chair.
- The team lost their best players, so they had to rely on third string substitutes to finish the season.
- The critic dismissed the director's latest film as a third string production that lacked the depth and technical polish of his earlier work.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.