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What Does Last But 2 Mean?

Published in Positional Terminology 2 mins read

"Last but 2" refers to the item or position that is two places before the very last one in a sequence, group, or series. It identifies the third-to-last item.

Understanding the Phrase

The phrase "last but 2" is a common idiomatic expression used to pinpoint a specific position counting backward from the end. It follows a similar pattern to "last but one" (meaning the second-to-last) or "last but three" (meaning the fourth-to-last). Essentially, "but" in this context means "except for" or "excluding," implying how many items you skip from the end to reach the desired position.

Consider a series of items:
Item 1, Item 2, Item 3, Item 4, Item 5

  • The last item is Item 5.
  • The last but one (or second-to-last) item is Item 4.
  • The last but 2 (or third-to-last) item is Item 3.

This pattern helps to precisely locate an item's position relative to the conclusion of a sequence.

Practical Examples

To illustrate its meaning, let's look at various scenarios:

  • In a Line: If five people are standing in a queue:
    • Person 5 is the last.
    • Person 4 is the last but one.
    • Person 3 is the last but 2.
  • In a Race: If a race has 10 finishers:
    • The 10th place finisher is the last.
    • The 9th place finisher is the last but one.
    • The 8th place finisher is the last but 2.
  • In a List or Series: Imagine a list of tasks to complete:
    • Task 1, Task 2, Task 3, Task 4, Task 5.
    • If Task 5 is the final task, Task 3 is the last but 2.

Positional Reference Table

The following table clarifies the common "last but X" expressions:

Phrase Meaning Equivalent Position (from End)
Last The final item 1st
Last but one The item immediately before the last 2nd
Last but 2 The item two places before the last 3rd
Last but three The item three places before the last 4th
Last but four The item four places before the last 5th

Understanding these phrases helps in clearly communicating positions within ordered groups, whether referring to people, items, or events.