What does sixes and sevens and nines mean? At sixes and sevens is an idiom that has been in the English language for approximately nine hundred years, though the meaning has changed. The idiom at sixes and sevens means in a state of complete disarray and confusion, in a complete mess.
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What does at sixes and Sevens mean?
at sixes and sevens in a state of total confusion or disarray. This phrase originated as gambling slang and may be an alteration or corruption of Old French cinque (five) and sice (six), these being the highest numbers on dice.
What does “to the Nines” mean?
· “At sixes and sevens” is a British expression. Bassically it means “at odds” (if that isn’t too much of a Britishism). I thik the “nines” comes from the expression “dressed to the nines” which most usually means dressed extremely smartly.
Why is Bill always at sixes and Sevens?
What does sixes and sevens and nines mean? At sixes and seven. The idiom at sixes and sevens means in a state of complete disarray and confusion, in a complete mess. At sixes and sevens may also mean a state of disagreement between two or more people. 😳😐😀 Click to see full answer. Just so, what does at sixes and nines mean?
Why are things in disorder at sixes and Sevens?
at sixes and sevens in a state of total confusion or disarray. This phrase originated as gambling slang and may be an alteration or corruption of Old French cinque (five) and sice (six), these being the highest numbers on dice.
What does 6's and 7's mean?
confused or disorganizedphrase [usually verb-link PHRASE] If you say that someone or something is at sixes and sevens, you mean that they are confused or disorganized. [informal] The government is at sixes and sevens over the issue of domestic security.
Where does the term 6's and 7's come from?
The term at sixes and sevens goes back at least to the 1300s. Originally, the phrase was rendered on six and seven, and referred to a dice game where throwing on a six or seven meant risking one's entire fortune. Until the 1600s, on sixes and sevens meant to take a careless risk.
What does George mean when he says at sixes and sevens?
George means the idiom when he says 'we're at sixes and sevens here'. "At sixes and sevens" is an idiom in English that is used to represent a situation of bewilderment and uncertainty. The phrases are used in a sentence to express when the speaker is in doubt and confusion.
What does the phrase sixes and eights mean?
Six and eight is London Cockney rhyming slang for a state of agitation or nervousness (state).
What is the meaning of can't cut the mustard?
To cut the mustard is “to reach or surpass the desired standard or performance” or more generally “to succeed, to have the ability to do something.” For instance, Beyoncé really cut the mustard in her new song.
What does nineteen to the dozen mean?
to speak rapidly and without stoppingDefinition of talk nineteen to the dozen : to speak rapidly and without stopping He showed us around the house while talking nineteen to the dozen.
What does the phrase sixes and sevens mean Class 11?
disorderly or frazzledThe phrase “at sixes and sevens” means disorderly or frazzled. For example, “The newly rearranged schedule has put me at sixes and sevens.” Hence, Option C is correct.
What does the idiom feeling under the weather mean?
Indisposed, unwellIndisposed, unwell: “The day after the big party, Jay had to call in sick, saying he was feeling under the weather.”
What does kick the bucket mean?
When you kick the bucket, you die. Kick the bucket is an extremely informal way to describe death.
Where does the meaning hit the hay come from?
The term 'hit the hay' is believed to have originated in 1903, when The Oakland Tribune reported that “Sam Berger, the Olympic heavyweight…was sleepy and he announced that 'he was going to hit the hay. '”
What does dressed to the nines mean?
to perfection; just rightAnswer: The phrase "dressed to the nines" is just a specific application of the Scottish phrase "to the nine " The earliest written evidence of this phrase appeared in the late 18th century in the poetry of Robert Burns. Its meaning is "to perfection; just right."
What does "sixes and sevens" mean?
Confused, disorganized, disorderly, as in We've just moved in, and the office is still at sixes and sevens, or The new college admissions tests were poorly explained, leaving the students at sixes and sevens . This ancient term is thought to come from a game of dice in which throwing a six or seven had a particular significance. The name of the game has been lost, but most likely betting on such a throw was very risky, denoting disorder and confusion. [Late 1300s]
What does it mean when someone is at six and seven?
None of us know what we should be doing. The home side were at sixes and sevens in the first half. Note: Two origins have been suggested for this phrase. The first is from a dice game, and the second is from a dispute that arose between two of the guilds or craft organizations in medieval London about who was to go sixth and who seventh in the annual procession through the city. The dispute was resolved by the guilds taking turns, and this still happens today.
Where did the phrase "I'm at sixes and sevens" come from?
Frazzled or disorganized. The phrase likely originated from a dice game in which rolling a six or a seven was unfavorable. After caring for three sick kids all week, I'm totally at sixes and sevens. I'm at sixes and sevens now that the whole schedule has been rearranged.
What does "sixes and sevens" mean?
Confused, disorganized, disorderly, as in We've just moved in, and the office is still at sixes and sevens, or The new college admissions tests were poorly explained, leaving the students at sixes and sevens . This ancient term is thought to come from a game of dice in which throwing a six or seven had a particular significance. The name of the game has been lost, but most likely betting on such a throw was very risky, denoting disorder and confusion. [Late 1300s]
What does it mean when someone is at six and seven?
None of us know what we should be doing. The home side were at sixes and sevens in the first half. Note: Two origins have been suggested for this phrase. The first is from a dice game, and the second is from a dispute that arose between two of the guilds or craft organizations in medieval London about who was to go sixth and who seventh in the annual procession through the city. The dispute was resolved by the guilds taking turns, and this still happens today.
Where did the phrase "I'm at sixes and sevens" come from?
Frazzled or disorganized. The phrase likely originated from a dice game in which rolling a six or a seven was unfavorable. After caring for three sick kids all week, I'm totally at sixes and sevens. I'm at sixes and sevens now that the whole schedule has been rearranged.
What is the highest number on a dice?
This phrase originated as gambling slang and may be an alteration or corruption of Old French cinque (five) and sice (six), these being the highest numbers on dice. The idea of risking all your goods on the two highest numbers led to the idea of carelessness and neglect of your possessions and eventually to the development of the phrase's current meaning.
What does "at sixes and sevens" mean?
meaning and origin of the phrase ‘at sixes and sevens’. The phrase at sixes and sevens means in a state of total confusion or disarray. Based on the language of dicing, the phrase was originally to set (all) on six and seven. It denoted the hazard of one’s whole fortune, or carelessness as to the consequences of one’s actions.
What does it mean to set all on six and seven?
According to a popular explanation, to set (all) on six and seven is an alteration of another phrase , to set (all) on cinque and sice, which meant to gamble on the highest numbers, and figuratively to behave recklessly. For example, the Scottish chronicler and poet William Stewart (floruit 1499-1541) wrote, in The Buik of the Croniclis of Scotland ...
What is a nick to five?
Five is a nick to five, six and twelve are nicks to six, seven and eleven to seven, eight and twelve to eight, and nine to nine. If the caster “throws out” by throwing aces, or deuce, ace (called crabs), he loses.
What is the main number in dice?
The player or “caster” calls a “main” (that is, any number from five to nine inclusive). He then throws with two dice. If he “throws in,” or “nicks,” he wins the sum played for from the banker or “setter.” Five is a nick to five, six and twelve are nicks to six, seven and eleven to seven, eight and twelve to eight, and nine to nine. If the caster “throws out” by throwing aces, or deuce, ace (called crabs), he loses. When the main is five or nine the caster throws out with eleven or twelve; when the main is six or eight he throws out with eleven; when the main is seven he throws out with twelve. If the caster neither nicks nor throws out, the number thrown is his “chance,” and he keeps on throwing till either the chance comes up, when he wins, or till the main comes up, when he loses. When a chance is thrown, the “odds” for or against the chance are laid by the setter to the amount of the original stake.
What does "pips on die" mean?
The pips on a die, and later on playing cards, used to be numbered in an approximation to French: ace (which is still used in card-playing), deuce, trey (both of which have persisted), quatre, cinq (ue) and sice. According to a popular explanation, to set (all) on six and seven is an alteration of another phrase, to set (all) on cinque and sice, which meant to gamble on the highest numbers, and figuratively to behave recklessly. For example, the Scottish chronicler and poet William Stewart (floruit 1499-1541) wrote, in The Buik of the Croniclis of Scotland (1535):
