“An Arrow in the Quiver”

Written By Henry

IVE — “LOVE DIVE”

💭 Meaning

“An arrow in the quiver” refers to additional skill, resource, or strategy available to use when needed, i.e., one of several options or strengths someone has at their disposal.

✍️ Examples

  • Henry told his students that a strong extracurricular résumé is just one arrow in the quiver; the essay still has to do the heavy lifting.

  • Knowing how to code became another arrow in Henry's quiver when he started building tools for his consulting business.

  • A compelling personal anecdote is a great arrow in the quiver for any college essay, but it can't replace genuine reflection.

📜 Origin

The phrase comes from archery, where a quiver holds multiple arrows, giving an archer options depending on the situation. Having “another arrow in the quiver" meant having a backup or additional resource ready if the first attempt missed the mark. The phrase moved into everyday English by extension, used metaphorically to describe having multiple skills, tools, or strategies ready to draw on, which is especially valuable when one approach alone isn't enough.

 
Henry
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