He was two ways.

[LeighLeigh]

Hi, I came across this expression(being two ways) while reading a short novel and am not really sure about its meaning.

That is, he was fun at the dinner table and of diminishing fun elsewhere. He was a positive bore on the beach where he would leave whatever companion he was with (he was two ways) and take his good slinky body after strange gods such as arose from the glittering sea.

Does this mean this "he" is bisexual? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[suzi br]

I’m guessing with you that bisexual fits but in many years of reading about LGBT matters I have never seen that phrase before.

How old is this short novel?
Who wrote it?

 

[entangledbank]

I think there are similar expressions like 'go both ways' that mean being bisexual, but I also have never seen 'was two ways'. However, it makes sense in that context.

 

[LeighLeigh]

I’m guessing with you that bisexual fits but in many years of readying about LGBT matters I have never seen that phrase before.

How old is this short novel?
Who wrote it?

Thank you for your answer! It's written in 2000 by Muriel Spark. I believe it's her last short novel.

 

[LeighLeigh]

I think there are similar expressions like 'go both ways' that mean being bisexual, but I also have never seen 'was two ways'. However, it makes sense in that context.

Thank you for your answer!

 

[suzi br]

Thank you for your answer! It's written in 2000 by Muriel Spark. I believe it's her last short novel.

Hmm, not very old. Maybe a Scottish phrase? I don’t know.