ESL Blogs

I know you guys are counting the series, and thinking when this will end. So lets us count together, shall we?

Did You Know? series:-

1. Did You Know?  2. Did You Know? - Continuation   3. Did You Know - Another Continuation   4. Did You Know - Not Another Continuation!   5. Did You Know? - Gosh! Will it Never Ends?   6. Did You Know? - Oh No! Not Another One!   7. Did You Know? - Here Comes Another One!  8. Did You Know? - Another One?

1. Baker's dozen

Baker's dozen simple means thirteen, or sometimes but rarely fourteen. The origin of this phrase can be traced back to the medieval time practice by the bakers who normally gave an extra loaf for customers that bought a dozen loaf. It was believed that many societies throughout histories believed that it was easy for bakers to cheat their customers by selling them than what they were getting. Since bread was the primary source of food for most medieval societies, they took this matter very seriously. Therefore various punishment had been given out to bakers to be found cheating their customers, from the ancient Egypt, Babylon to Britain. The punishments were severe such as nailing their nails to the bakery door, chopping baker's hand, and fines. Therefore, in order to avoid of being seen as cheating their customers, most bakers would put an extra loaf in their dozen.

2. A Dime A Dozen

A dime a dozen means anything that is very cheap and abundant in quantity, or something easily acquired. A dime was first produced from 89.24 percent silver and 10.76 percent copper. However, the Coinage Act 1965 changed the composition of a dime. It was now 75 percent copper and 25 percent nickels. This composition made it cheaper to produce the dime. It was said due to the cheaper cost of producing the dime, thus, it was minted in millions and made everyone able to have it. Another source said it was referring to the ordinary things that could be bought cheaply, i.e. with just a dime. 

3. Sixes and Sevens

The idiom "sixes and sevens" means the state of confusion or disorder, or disagreement between two parties. The origin of this idiom can be traced back at the medieval Europe. It was said that the most popular game was "Hazard" which involved the outcome from the roll of a dice. A foolish may bet on a roll of a five and six,  known as “setting on cinque and cice” (from the French words for five and six). The entire fortune could be loss with just one toss. Over time, the expression became "to take a great risk" and "cinque and cice" became "six and seven".

By 16th Century, Shakespeare used "six and seven" as "in great confusion" in his Richard II. By 18th Century, "sixes and sevens" became the standard form and it carried the meaning of "in stubborn disagreement".

4. Catch 22

Another interesting phrase which often being used is "catch 22". Catch 22 means a no-win situation or a paradox in which an attempt to escape makes escape impossible. It was said that the origin of the phrase was from a book "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller which was published in 1961. The paradox was represented as a trap that confined US Air Force in logical term. It was like, "a chicken and egg" situation, or "heads, I win, tails you lose" scenario.

5. Eighty Six

This idiom simple mean a certain item is no longer available. It also mean, to throw away. This idiom seemed related to restaurant business. The Phrase Finder listed three possibilities of the origin of this idiom.

- From Chumley's Bar and restaurant at 86 Bedford Street in Greenwich Village NYC.

- A reference to article 86 of the New York state liquor code which defines when bar patrons should be refused service.

- From Delmonico's Restaurant in New York City. Item number 86 on their menu, their house steak, was often unavailable during the restaurant's early years."

 I am sure there's another numerical idioms out there. But my mind just drew blank at the moment. LOL