What is the origin of the saying dressed to the nines?
The phrase is said to be Scots in origin. The earliest written example of the phrase is from the 1719 Epistle to Ramsay by the Scottish poet William Hamilton: The bonny Lines therein thou sent me, How to the nines they did content me.
What does dolled up to the nines mean?
phrase. If you say that someone is dressed up to the nines or dressed to the nines, you mean that they are wearing very smart or elegant clothes. [informal] See full dictionary entry for nine.
What does Dressed to AT mean?
To a T. Meaning. Exactly; properly; precisely.
Why do we say to the T?
“To a T” or “to a tee,” meaning “exactly, precisely, perfectly” is an older expression than you might think, dating all the way back to the late 17th century (“All the under Villages and Towns-men come to him for Redress; which he does to a T,” 1693).
Why do we say Bob’s your uncle?
In 1887, British Prime Minister Robert Gascoyne-Cecil appointed his nephew Arthur James Balfour as Minister for Ireland. The phrase ‘Bob’s your uncle’ was coined when Arthur referred to the Prime Minister as ‘Uncle Bob’. Apparently, it’s very simple to become a minister when Bob’s your uncle!
What is the 9 slang?
Various websites that monitor teen slang have taken notice of a mostly text-based form of communication via the number nine, where code 9 or CD9 means, essentially, that parents or authority figures are watching the conversation.
What is the meaning of 40 winks?
: a short sleep : nap.
What does dressed to the T’s mean?
to a T to a tee or to a tee. phrase. You can use to a T or to a tee to mean perfectly or exactly right. For example, if something suits you to a T, it suits you perfectly.
Is it to the T or to the tee?
to a T to a tee You can use to a T or to a tee to mean perfectly or exactly right. For example, if something suits you to a T, it suits you perfectly. If you have an activity or skill down to a T, you have succeeded in doing it exactly right.
Why do we say Heavens to Betsy?
Origin of Heavens to Betsy The origins of this expression are unclear. It may have originated sometime between the years 1850 and 1914. Heavens to Betsy is another variation of the phrase for Heaven’s sake, which began as a euphemism for what some considered the blasphemous for God’s sake and for Christ’s sake.
What does a 99 mean in texting?
Summary of Key Points. “Parent Stopped Watching (see also 9)” is the most common definition for 99 on Snapchat, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.
What does 9 mean in math?
9 is the highest single-digit number in the decimal system. That is, if any natural number is multiplied by 9, and the digits of the answer are repeatedly added until it is just one digit, the sum will be nine: 2 × 9 = 18 (1 + 8 = 9)
What does I haven’t slept a wink mean?
A wink is when you close and open one of your eyes very quickly once – usually to show friendliness or that you are having a joke with someone. It’s also a verb – to wink. Feifei: So, if you say ‘I haven’t slept a wink’ it means that you’ve had so little sleep, your eye didn’t even close once!
What is the meaning of call it a night?
: to go home or go to bed at the present time I’m exhausted. I’m calling it a night.
What does to the t’come from?
The original form ‘to a T’ is an old phrase and is first recorded in James Wright’s satire The Humours and Conversations of the Town, 1693: “All the under Villages and Towns-men come to him for Redress; which he does to a T.”
What does fits me to a tee mean?
to a T to a tee You can use to a T or to a tee to mean perfectly or exactly right. For example, if something suits you to a T, it suits you perfectly. If you have an activity or skill down to a T, you have succeeded in doing it exactly right. [informal]
Where does the expression Bob’s your uncle?
“Bob’s your uncle” is a way of saying “you’re all set” or “you’ve got it made.” It’s a catch phrase dating back to 1887, when British Prime Minister Robert Cecil (a.k.a. Lord Salisbury) decided to appoint a certain Arthur Balfour to the prestigious and sensitive post of Chief Secretary for Ireland.
