Dressed to the Nines
Wouldn’t you want to be dressed to the tens, and not the nines?
HotForWords investigates the origin of Dressed to the Nines.
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Posted on April 5, 2008 · Filed Under Lessons
I can’t say for certain where the “dressed to the nines” comes from, but I believe that this may have originated with numerology. The number 3 has always been associated with good, great, even God and godly. And, as quite often happens in our language, if some is good, more must be better. In other words, if three is great, three threes must be perfect. Ergo 3×3 = 9.. dressed to perfection.
This may also have some root in the magic squares used in ancient numerology where squares were made and filled with numbers for good luck and to make talismans against evil.
Very nicely done! First, regarding “the whole 9 yards,” as I understand it, the reason ammunition was produced in the 27′ sections was that this is what the ammo boxes at the time could hold. Generally, the shots were to be fired in bursts to conserve ammo, but in times of great need, “the whole 9 yards” would be fired at the enemy, requiring a reload of the gun… very dangerous.
9 dates, one kiss before he hasn´t been seen again ?
in WW2 the mustang fighter plane had 9 yards of bullets in each gun and when you gave a target the whole 9 yards it meant you shot all your bullets at it that is the only one i can think of
Dear marina was it because zero was a negative number back in the day and that nine was the hightest whole number?
The whole nine yards, (like balls to the wall,) is an aviation term. The air force used to put out ammuntion for their bomber planes in 27 foot segments. (I’m not sure of the word, but bullets were fed into the machine gun lined up side to side in some kind of line.) If you used all of your bullets on one target, you gave it the whole nine yards.
Hey, your a osu student, me too. er… was.
This is come from Arabic number that’s starts form (0-9). Accourding to the Arabic number the maximum number is “9″. In modern time for perfect number called 10 which is not correct acording to correct math.
Hi Marina,
“dressed to the nines”
In mathematics there are only nine numbers 1-9.
Zero is not a number per se, “before there was a one there was nothing”.
Given this perspective, nine is the highest number.
Perhaps, this is where it comes.
for platonists it is.
that is, it is not “nothing”.
Zero was an unknown concept until the 1700’s because roman numerals were used and there is no provision for space holding in that system ten is X, fifty is L, the last year of the century C. With the adoption of the Hindu-Arabic system which used a dot for space holding thus tens would have been 1• and fifty 5•, if not done exactly 205 written 2•5 could be read as 2.5, or 2 times 5 a significant error either way to say the least.
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Dear Hotforwords,
Why is regardless and irregardless the same word?
And why do we give 3 cheers in celebration?
Hip Hip Hooray
Hip Hip Hooray
Hip Hip Hooray
What’s Hip Hip??
naughty number nine WARNING this video includes a graphic depiction of a pussy.
this one includes a shaved pussy.
My wife say that nine is one of the traditional magical numbers because it is three threes. Three has been a powerful number in many traditions (Judaism, numerology, Wicca, Christianity, Chinese traditions). In those traditions, three threes or nine is often even more powerful.
She’s so smart.
I think number nine means the near thing to the perfection, or 10 when the number has another digit, so you can’t be perfect but you can reach a little bit of perfection…
I know you wanted to know why 9 is important but what about 8. Why do pirates call treasure pieces of 8? Hmm.
I’m gonna take a guess and say the 9’s came about from rateing things on a scale of 1-10. 10 being perfect, since people belive only God can be perfect. it wasas close asyou can get
Hi HFW
My word request is: “Eye Candy”
Thanks,
Kory
I ‘d like to know too
hi, i know you already did ‘hotdog’ but can you do some research on how the term became associated with ‘being a show-off’? thanks
what does the word vagina mean?
educating the youth with the big lebowski.
hi! your show is great.
i’m just wondering what the opening/closing song is, as it is amazing!
thanks!
jenn
I’d like to request you do a lesson on the phoneme ‘ough’. It shows up in English in a number of contexts and in almost all of them it’s pronounced differently. What’s up with that?
though
thought/ought/nought
through/slough
cough/rough/tough
hiccough
clough
I’ve proposed this as well, and someone else has, too. I don’t know if this is a request that can generate a short video, but I’d love to see Marina do it, if it’s feasible.
Hi.. You are beautiful and your voice is so sultry!!!! OK……these words aren’t spelled exaclty the same but sound the same….HOW ABOUT>>>>>>SEMEN and SEMINARY OK??? One is man’s sperm the other is where men go to learn to preach??? ROSE
Dear “Hot For Words”: Since your bio says that you are originally from Russia can you tell us the origin of the word RUSSIA?
I’d like to know the origin of the word GOTHIC. I believe it has to do with the area of my famiy’s ancestral origins in southern Sweden, known as Västergötland (land of the western Goths). Historically the Goths left Sweden in the first century AD, migrated south, through what is today Poland and eventually sacked Rome in 476 AD. They later retreated back to their original homeland in Sweden between the two big lakes of Vännern and Vättern.
What about the pair of words “saloon” and “salon”
Are they from similar origin?
If so, how did the western bar turn into a beauty shop?
I have no idea of why the nuber nine is that important, but when i studied maths at HS my teacher taught me that… 9.999…(periodic) EQUALS EXACTLY to 10.
I can’t remember the demonstration, but if there’s anyone out there who can explain it pls reply this comment. I would like to know it once again.
In the meantime i’ll think of it too, perhaps i can manage reminding it…
Deragor,
What you’re thinking of is something called “limits.” 9.9999 does not actually equal exactly 10, but the difference is so miniscule that it is considered 10 anyway. It’s just something used in Calculus a whole term full.
The number 9 is not that important haha. The same concept can be used from 10.0001, which can be equal to 10. This is how you find the location of a hole in a graph, using the positive and negative side of a number, such as 10. You just take calculations from 9.999 and 10.0001 and the number that they approach is your limit.
Edit*
The 9.999 is the negative side of 10 and 10.0001 is the positive side of 10.
Just to prevent any confusion.
I don’t think so…
I mean, i wasn’t that bright at maths, but i remember the demonstration had nothing to do with limits.
I remember that it ended something like this:
9.99…=10 > 9+0.99…=9+1 > 0.99…=1!!!
But the problem is that the starting point must be demonstraded too…
Bah, language is better…
Yeah what you’re saying does not have anything to do with limits, but it’s with the limit idea that that 9.99 =10
hmm I just read your comment again…and I’d have to say I dont truly understand that math you just did xD
9.99… should equal to 9+0.99…
3/9 + 3/9 + 3/9 =.333 repeating + .333 repeating + .333 repeating = .9999 repeating.
Since 3/9 + 3/9 + 3/9 = 9/9, and 9/9=1, then
.9999 repeating = 1
Another way:
there is no representation of any number closer to 1 than .9999…
if you add anything to it, it would be greater than 1, e.g.,
.9999999999…. + .00001 =1.0000099999….
no matter how far you go out to put the 1, you wind up with a sum greater than 1. So if there is nothing you can add to .9999….that is less than 1, then .9999… must be the same as 1
it is a definitional thing really, due to the limitations of the decimal system of representation.
Symbolically, the number nine has great significgance in that it is the number three, the number of perfection (as in with the holy trinity) squared, symbolizing ultimate perfection. Or something. Dante used nine heavily in his works, and it’s found in religious and mythological symbolism heavily for that.
Marina,
You go girl!
Alright…not a word but a phrase…how come so many young people use the phrase…”and what not”…and usually improperly…it’s starting to drive me bonkers!
Isawelvisatwalmart,
I think it’s just another way to say “whatever”
That icecream cone was so soggy and whatever.
or~
That icecream cone was so soggy and what not.
But of course “what not” can’t be used as frivolously as “whatever”.
Hey Marina,
Dobrey utro!! Just joined and wondering about my name - “Godsmack”. I know what it means, but why?? Xarosego Dnja!!
godsmack rocks.
well said
Here’s a chicken or the egg question…”Bug.” Did the noun or the verb come first? For example: Those pesky little things flying around are really bugging me, lets call them “bugs.” Or “Those bugs are really annoying, they are bugging me!” One plays off the other…but I wonder which came first??
I really like that one
I wish Marina would do your idea.
Science answered the chicken and the egg question. The egg came first. Seriously. Mutations and DNA variations associated with evolution are why.
Do “Hmong”
i think that “to the nines” refers to divinities that are more ancient than the Muses. it is well known that Ancient Egyptian religion often had deities that were associated in trinities of two different types father-mother-child (Osiris-Isis-Horus being one such trinity) and also parent-brother-sister (Atum-Shu-Tefnut is an example).
Ancient Egyptian (Old Kingdom) religion was not unified. each city had its own favorite local trinity. attempts to unify the country are reflected in the creation of systems to incorporate local gods. so there are ogdoads (groups of 8, 4 male-female pairs) and enneads (groups of 9). eventually the Egyptians settled on groupings of gods in nines as the most satisfying.
the most importan of these enneads was that of Heliopolis which strongly influenced the Greeks. the Greeks used ennead as a translation of the Egyptian term pesedjet. the important neo-Platonic Greek philosopher Plotinus’s major work was written in Alexandria Egypt and titled “The Enneads” for instance.
so i think that the origin is very ancient. to be fit in some way “to the nines” of “for the nines” means to be fit for the highest deities.
i wonder if this is worthy of a B+?
oh yes, i forgot to add that in the contemporary Baha’i religion nine is retained as a symbol of sacred completeness.
I would really like to know where the word giddy comes from. When you say you are giddy about something ( something makes you giddy) or you say giddy up to a horse. Where do we get this?
hey Marina were does the word Kraken come from.
OK, then!
Since there has been soooooo much S.*.*.T. over your use of the word “S.*.*.T.” in conjuction with butterfly, I had a thought.
Your mission is to cut through all the S.*.*.T. and find the origin of the word S.H.I.T.
theboss
Where did the word cocktail come from? I need to know for striking up a conversation.. Dinosaurs just isn’t doing it for me!
Would the saying ‘ Cat of nine tails ‘ have anything to do with dressed to the nines? - otherwise, am with prospero811……..
A ‘cat of nine tails’ is a short whip with nine cords on it, sometimes with metal barbs on the end, it was a common form of punishment on naval ships
sounds nasty!
so re-thinking a little so if, dressed UP to the nines, would this have any relation to CLOUD NINE? being UP high in the sky!
Hi,
I’ve had several ideas for lessons but I’ll start with one:
I’d like to know where the use of surnames in expressions comes from.
Like “John Doe”, “Average Joe” or “Dick and Jane”
You probably won’t be able to do all of them in the same video but I thought I’d ask anyway.
Thank you.
kindly tell me about origin of the word _(deja vu)
your fan
nabeel naeem
pakistan
french for “already seen”
My dear teacher, blond haired little boys are often said to be “tow headed”. What is the origin of this description? Does this also apply to girls? Such as, “My dear teacher is a lovely and vivaciously tow headed educator.”
To the nines she was dressed
With tattoos on her breast
Of round eggs in a nest
My hand I did there rest
Her tolerance to test
My fingers were her guest
The round eggs I caressed
Those tattoos were the best
I was very much impressed
But she thought me a pest
This girl from Bucharest
Even so I was blessed
(Me, a guy from the West)
To have explored her chest
I’d say, the reason people say 9 is because that is the best you can get to perfect, and no one is perfect, so It’s similar to your best for yourself. (I say this from a 9/10 scale or 99/100 or even 90/100 It’s still really nice, but not perfect)
May I say Marina, you looked truely scrumptious today. But you always do, so I can’t believe you haven’t yet investigated the word scrumptious. Your dear student Coulat awaits with eager anticipation.
Dressed to the nines comes from long ago, when seats farthest from the stage cost a pence, and the seats closest to the stage cost 9 pence.
Mathematically, in any number system, the highest digit can be used to represent perfection. 9.999999 etc. = 10
.99999 etc. = 1.0
1/9 = .11111 etc.
2/9 = .22222 etc.
3/9 = .33333 etc.
…
9/9 = .99999 etc. = 1
0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 You see, 9 is the highest digit in our base 10 number system. So 9 is really as high as you can go.
99.99999 etc. = 100
It is not just an approximation, but exactly equal. This is because of the limitations of representing a number system in a finite number of digits. If we were using base 64, as the Babylonians did, then we would say dressed to the >>>, or whatever symbol they used to represent the 63rd digit.
9.999∞ would never completely approach 10. So how could it ever successfully equal 10? Question not a comment.
No, it is exactly equal. The illusory discrepancy appears because of the base ten number system. By definition 9/9 = 1. But 9/9 also equals .9999 ad infinitum.
When you calculate in a higher base, you get a more precise physical answer for the same number of digits. This is why the Babylonians measured the square root of 2 closer than the Egyptians did, or so I have read, because they used base 64 instead of base 10.
I suck at math, but if 9.9999 has an infinite amount of 9’s after it, making it infinite then how can an infinite number be equal to 10 which is finite? If I recall high school math this 9.999=10 is a calculus thing. Calculus, which also postulates that all straight lines are actually arcs on an infinitely larger circle. And to calculate the arc on such curves demands that there actually be two points on the same curve coming around again that are so close together that they are conveniently one point. Kind of the same way calculus says that π or 3.14∞ is conveniently 3.14 even though their not. I remember my prof. saying, “for all intents and purposes” a lot to simply explain the approximations. I have yet to find support for my recollections. I am trying. Most however support your argument. You may be 9.999% correct but if I find .000∞1 your fucked.
What we are talking about here are repeating decimals, not irrational numbers. Repeating decimals can be represented as a fraction, thus 3/9 = .33333 repeating. These are just two representations of the same number.
What is interesting is that if you follow the series, 9/9 = .9999 repeating, but of course 9/9 also equals 1 by definition. This is the only point I want to make you think about. The discrepancy is a conceptual one and comes about by the limitations of any decimal system itself.
What you mean to talk about are limits and limit theory, which was invented after calculus was already in use for some time, as a theoretical explanation for it. It is not necessary to use limits in this case because all we are talking about is the symbolic representation of a particular kind of fraction.
You should also remember that mathematics is a science and as such it is based on assumptions and reasoning. Most of mathematics uses the axiomatic method. In number theory, this involves reducing assumption to the fewest possible number. A theory based on fewer assumptions is considered better than one that has more. However, it is all theoretical. It is unfortunate that high school math is taught in such a dogmatic way.
You are welcome to try to find .000∞1 of course. However, it is not a question of approximation but of the representation of a fraction in decimal notation.
0.999…=1?
In a decimal system, which is based on 10 digits, 0 through 9, you can never exactly reach 1 by getting close to it. So if you are approaching the number 1 from the bottom, there will always be another ….9 to add on. These nines would stretch to infinity. In other words, by any calculating algorithm, you cannot get exactly one unless you define it at such. So we can safely define .9999 repeating as the same as unity. There is no decimal representation of something between .999 repeating and unity.
The higher the number base, the closer would be the approximation. If the number base were infinite, then there would be no difference, however, then nothing would repeat anyway. There would be no need for digits. This is why I say that the apparent discrepancy is only a logical one, one based on the fact that in any decimal like system, decimal being based on 10 of course, there is always a minimum separation which comes to be represented by a repeating decimal.
In fact, when you see a repeating decimal you know that you are dealing with a rational number, one that can be represented by the ration of two whole numbers. 3/9 = .3333333 repeating, for example.
3/9 is finite but it has an infinite decimal representation. It is the same thing as 9/9 = .9999 repeating = 1. Of course, if you use a calculator and divide 9 by 9 the answer will come out as 1 because this is the way the calculator is designed, programmed.
But do this, add 3/9 + 3/9 + 3/9 =.333 repeating + .333 repeating + .333 repeating = .9999 repeating. Since 3/9 + 3/9 + 3/9 = 9/9, thus
.9999 repeating = 1. QED.
When you deal with numbers, it is important to understand that they are only logical constructs. There is a whole course and field of number theory. I took on course on that once with a funny old professor who made the seven of us sit in the front row, where we were subjected to occasional drops of spittle while he lectured.
Form a practical statistical viewpoint, whenver you get a result of a limited number of trials where the ration is greater than .99 or even .9 for a small sample size, if we assume a binomial distribution, then we should suspect that the true population value of our sample estimate is in fact unity. Getting a series of decimal nines should make you suspicious that the true value may be one. This is why intuition is still important.
When I taught statistics, I used to give hand out the statistics on the racial composition of those executed in the US for rape, which only occurred in the US South, from 1924 to 1964 (the year the Supreme Court banned executions for a while. These numbers do not include lynching of course). The proportion in most cases was greater than .9 or over 90% Black. Hmm…Could it be that they only executed Black men? Now Texas had a lower number, .84, but this I reasoned was because the Texans threw in a few Mexicans as well. The percentage was also closer to unity in the Deep South than in the Border States. Even though, we do not measure exactly 100%, it is still possible to see that this was a racially dichotomous application of justice, i.e., a form of racial bias.
I threw this last bit in there to give this discussion some social significance.
Howdy горÑчедлÑÑло в,
Yet another word request to add to the pile!
“Used frequently to declare a story involving known characters as fitting in with the existing storylines, it also describes a musical piece where multiple copies of the song are played concurrently but with a regular offset.”
“What is canon.”
“Yes for $200. And the bonus followup question worth $400, provide the etymology of the word.”
“Hmm… I’d like to use one of my lifelines. I’d like to call Marina.”
So the two common uses of “canon” seem to have nothing obvious in common, and it looks like there may me a number of other meanings for this word to boot. Where does this word come from and how did it get so many meanings? Could the word actually have multiple etymologies, with the different meanings coming from different sources? And is “etymologies” even a word?
And for YOUR bonus question, name the three TV shows alluded to in my little pop culture references above.
Thanks!
PS. if you go on Red Eye again, make absolutely sure you don’t go on with Carrie Keagan (whom is also a past guest). What with the two of you broadcast simultaneously, there would be alot of melted TV sets being replaced across the continent.
Marina, why do they call things that people are scared of “Phobia’s”
Inquiring minds want to know ? Zippy
Ok, I have a word for you Marina. I’ve always wanted to know the origin of the word meme (Pronounced meem).
It is defined as:
“A unit of cultural information, such as a cultural practice or idea, that is transmitted verbally or by repeated action from one mind to another.”
It looks like it might be greek coming from the work mimēma meaning to immitate.(maybe where we get the word mime also?)
Thats my best guess, but I’m not exactly a philologist.
———————–
And with the nines thing, maybe this will help:
The hebrews referred to 9 as the symbol of ‘immutable’
truth because when you multiplied a number by 9 and added the digits of your answer together, it always equaled 9. For example 2*9=18, 1+8=9
In accordance with the truth theme, scholars of the Bible classify the number nine as a number of judgement.
Others beleive that the number 9 symbolizes perfection because it is the highest single digit number.
Many Chinese temples are built around a concept of a magic square which is based on the number 9.
the word meme was used by Richard Dawkins in his book the Selfish Gene. Your right that he based it on the greek mimeme. The concept is or was very popular among the pseudo avant-garde. I recall discussing the subject in the counter culture corner of the coffee shop. In my opinion the concept behind memes encourages a better understanding of culture transmission. Memes as a social theory is shallow, lacks rigor, fails to produce anything verifiable, does not improve on existing social theory. Memes are merely analogy taken to the extreme and analogy does not imply truth. I was fascinated by the concept of memes but realized its limitations. There are numerous other social theories that have been used which are much more effective models of social organization and function. However they are often more complex and demand increased effort to understand and apply. In addition they require more coffee during cafe discourse.
Hey Marina, my conclusion is that “Nines” is an Acronymous word.
It describes that a person has a perfect look.
Here is what “Nines” really means.
Neat
Impeccable
Nevertheless
Elegant
Semblance
Dress to the neat impeccable nevertheless elegant semblance.
Ps. Whatever you grade me, i want to see my report card in my email.
Kisses~!
Не, никто не знает наверняка
I believe that dastheboss is close. The number 3 is biblical. It signifies the most of the most. Just like how in the english language we have, good, better and best. That is like the number three. When ever you see something repeated three times that signifies that it is of importance, great importance. So I believe that the number nine is a repetition of three, three times. So, it’s like the UBER-most important or something.
I was taught that when studying the Bible, 3 is the number of manifestation. The belief that saying a demonds names 3 times will cause it to manifest springs from this. Also if you read scholarly accounts of hauntings, people often report hearing 3 knocks when no is there to knock. That is the beginning of the haunting, supposedly.
Word suggestion:
There has been a lot of caucusing lately, and that got me to wondering about the word “caucus”. Where does it come from? … and is it related to the word caucasian?
In old english to let means to restrain or hinder. Like in tennis when they say let ball. Refering to the net restraining the ball. In some King James version Bibles they still have the old english word. It makes it sound like they’re telling you to misbehave.
side burn
can you tell us the origin of “side burn”. thank you.
side burns comes from General Burnsides of the Civil War era.
the ch has the kkkkkk sound why ?
I would appreciate it !
Thank-you
PJ DA DJ 63
PS… Could you please do i in a red bikini for me
and let me know ahead of tie so i can watch it
thank-you a fan who might not
have long you are smokin
pjdadj63, here’s hoping your wish is granted by Marina.
I’d like to request a chronological list of all the old videos. All us Johnny-come-lately’s have to piece together what comes after what in an alphabetical list, and I begin to fear I will never know the reason behind the unique identifiers for eleven and twelve.
There used to be a video listing like that on this site. Each video was listed chronologically by number. I just checked, and all I could find was the alphabetical listing. That’s very useful, but I see your point. When I discovered hotforwords, I watched all the videos chronologically, and it was amazing to see how Marina’s style evolved and how the graphics became more and more sophisticated. If the video listing is just eluding me, perhaps Marina can point you in the right direction. If it truly is no longer available, perhaps it can be reinstated.
roachmeistercom, ask and you shall receive.. I just made up a chronological list for you.. go here:
http://www.hotforwords.com/chronological-list/
Early stuff is rough
Well!
Instant gratification. Just what I like!
Thanks, I will enjoy this.
“The whole nine yards” refers to nine cubic yards of concrete poured from a truck.
I read the U.S. had planes in wwII that had strands of bullets nine yards long. Giving them the whole nine yards meant spending all your rounds on one target at one time. Besides the first dump trucks were 6 cubic yards, they didn’t make the 9 yard and 12 yard trucks till much later.
I would say 9 is great as in cloud 9 but I think 10 would b perfect as in a rating. I can’t wait for the report card even I’m naughty or nice
Examples:
Pants & Panties
Scissors
Buttocks
Jeans, though in French the singular form is used: un jean.
suites were sold with a pair of pants because they would wear out before the jacket. Buttocks refers to both ass cheeks, one has a left buttock and right buttock. No idea about scissors.
this is just a complementary remark.
they’re called pluralia tantum (latin, ‘plural only’), the opposite are singularia tantum (latin, ’singular only’).
It’s usually because they’re made up of two parts, or designed to be used with double things, like legs for panties. In any case, they recall the idea of “double, simmetrical or split in two”.
Pluralia Tantum, in latin, were different, since they also referred to cities (many ppl, plural idea) or small islands.
Nine is a card of completion (so is Ten, but we’ll get to that). Like the Hermit, who connects to the nines, it is a card where something is finished and the person in turn steps back to look on what he’s done, earned, or gained. Nines are among the most powerful cards, usually granting the Querent what it is they, like the Hermit, are seeking.
Logan is that yu?
You have to look quickly due to Logan’s Run…
Hi,
I’m a new member. I’m a french comics drawer and I’m an Hotforwords addict…
So, I don’t know about the “9″ solution, but in France, instead of “Dressed to the nines” we’re saying “être sur son 31″ (To be on his 31″. Another number for the same meaning.
But don’t ask me why, I really don’t know… ;o)
Thanks a lot Marina… Love from France !
Bibul
Has Paolo Eleuteri Serpieri published any new graphic novels in the Druuna series? I have Clone, which came on the heels of La planète oubliée. I also have number 4 in the series Les Aventures de Jérôme Moucherot. Is number 5 out yet? I realize that Serpieri is not French, but his series is very popular in France, as I’m sure you are well aware. Il y a de plus en plus de Français sur ce site, et je suis content de les voir. (Ah, la grammaire vient de révéler que je suis un homme !) Enjoy the site, Bibul.
Hello.
I don’t think Serpieri published any album of Druuna since a lot of years. Only draws compilations, sketches and all this stuff. No number 5 yet for Boucq’s “Jérome Moucherot”. I love this site, it’s really interesting even for a french
. I like ethymologie and pretty girls. This site is a dream for me (and a lot of people I think).
Content de rencontrer un amateur de BD sur un site anglophone…
Bibul
About the last book of Serpieri.
Have a nice day,
http://www.bdselection.com/php/index.php?rub=pages bd&id_bd=9423
JL
Michael Caine was dressed to kill. Angie Dickinson should stay off of elevators.
Dear marina I am not reciving an email when a new word is posted.
hi, i have a few requests:
1) out of the woodwork
2) over the hill
3) hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliaphobia (fear of long words)
3) sweating like a pig, since pigs don’t sweat much / at all
and i’ll 2nd strange034’s request for “strange”
and fyi, ‘ghoti’ is pronounced ‘fish’
gh as in rough,
o as in women,
ti as in station.
Do you also have a small beard? (A goatee)
If so, that would make you a barbel, and a barbel out of water would be a barbarian?
OK
i have a request
this one is good
why do they call the boss of something “the big cheese”
i mean, who would want to be called cheese?
Chucky?
I always heard it as the head honcho, never the big cheese.
As for “big cheese,” I always heard it as the big scheme to get something, to steal you can say. Much like how Jerry in the cartoon show always tries to steal the cheese, the “big cheese” can be like that grand plan that is simply unrefusable.
I have one for you. Where does the phrase “Spick and Span” come from and why does it mean when something is very clean? Thanks for all the effort you put into your lessons!!
I want to request the word “ass”. How did it go from referring to a donkey to a person’s buttocks?
Well, in French, ass/donkey is âne. So if you see a couple of sexy ladies who are “dressed to then ânes” you can truly say they are dressed to the asses!
Maybe someone just made up the phrase dressed to the nines and it stuck. Sometimes i make up sayings and they stick. lol. Like for instance. I got tired of using the word cool so instead of saying hey that shirt is cool i say that shirt is RAW. lol. Its dumb maybe someone was just like Dang girl you dressed to the nines tonight!! haha. I dont know. Here is my word i want you to figure out marina or phrase. idk. It is the bomb, or Da bomb. That would be a good one.
I know the whole nine yards is a refrence to concrete a cement truck holds nine yards of concrete and when you buy cement you need to buy the whole nine yards even if you don’t need that much.
I would like to request the word “strange”
You are right about concrete trucks payload being nine yards and that is where the saying came from as far as I know, however, You can get ten yards delivered in todays modern trucks (at least the company I deal with) and you can certainly don’t have to order all nine yards in one delivery. They charge you a delivery fee for smaller loads under six yards in some cases. It depends upon the company you are dealing with and what your relationship with them is.
hi teach,
i gotta say teach u really do have alot of mistakes when makin’ videos. Does THE CAT HAVE YOUR TOUNGE?
Well, after searching for quite some time, I am deciding to sit this one out since 99.999999999….of most Etymologists can’t decide on the true meaning and have been disagreeing with each other for almost 189 years. Great lesson! It is always a pleasure!!!
Luvs
Something bad happened to me today.
I don’t want to talk about it but it DID lead me to think up THIS SAYING. So I guess it wasn’t totally bad.
out of the blue
what is the origin of the phrase. I’m fairly certain we haven’t done it.
If anyone can explain it to me, that’d cheer me up!
Or can anyone tell me the origin of
cat got your tongue
“Out of the blue” refers to the sky.
So something totally random, or out of the blue, is so random it’s as if it fell out of the sky.
Is that about right?
The full saying is “like a bolt out of the blue” and it means something totally unexpected as you would not expect to be on the receiving end of a thunderbolt if there was a clear blue sky overhead.
um… I looked up, “nines” on the online etymology dictionary and it states, “No one seems to consider that it might be a corruption of to then anes, lit. “for the one (purpose or occasion),” a similar construction to the one that yielded nonce (q.v.).” So, would it be “dressed to then anes” or “dressed for the occasion”?
Word origin request:
STEREO (like dual-channel sound)
&
STEREOTYPE (like an oversimplified view of a group)
Thanks.
Hello Marina, first I wopuld like to say how much I enjoy your teachings, and that your picture on the cover of dress to the nines reminds me of Cleopatra. You always dress to the nines in my book. Congrats on your website and hope your doing well.
Love you
It begins to look as if there is such a cloud of superlatives relating to the number nine that it just got drafted for the job.
That’s my final answer.