Two steps forward, one step back 

A method to get high quality women because women will be the ones chasing you, but the attractive ones won’t approach first.

Matt: Hey, how did you have hook up with the hottest girl in the party?
Brad: Simple, I approached her, and she was chasing after me. Two steps forward, one step back.

Two steps forward, one step back by Totally Not ChadTheCat August 20, 2019

one step forward and two steps back 

It is a popular lyric to a song, but sometime used i phrases or as comparisons to things. it's basically taking one step back. and it means, making progress towards something but making less progress rather than more, if that makes sense.
"one step forward < two steps back"

I was trying to finish my math homework, and i did the beginning, but going to that party before finishing was one step forward and two steps back.

one step forward and two steps back by GeeJayy February 22, 2010