Let's 'Zero In On' Number Expressions
2023-06-11
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1And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.
2Language is not only made-up of words.
3Numbers are also important to communicating our thoughts.
4So, today, we talk about some common English expressions that use numbers.
5Let's start with zero and the expression to zero in.
6Zeroing in means directing all of your attention on something or someone.
7We often say what that something is.
8For example, the defense lawyers were able to zero in on the testimony of an important witness and find problems with it.
9Here is another example, I know a woman who can zero in on any relationship problem and find a solution.
10This expression can also mean to take aim directly at something.
11For example, when taking a picture, a photographer might zero in on a subject.
12And it is the job of a quarterback in an American football game to zero in on a receiver - the player catching the ball.
13Other words that help to explain the expression to zero in are to focus and concentrate on.
14As verbs, these words both mean to direct your attention on something or someone.
15Now, let's move to the numbers six and seven.
16If something is at sixes and sevens, it is in a state of confusion or disorder.
17In other words, it is all messed up!
18At sixes and sevens may also mean a state of disagreement between two or more people.
19For example, when the manager left without a word the workplace was at sixes and sevens.
20Nobody knew which way was up! (If you don't know which way is up - you are very confused.)
21Word experts say this expression may have started in the 1300s.
22At that time, it meant taking a careless risk.
23Around the middle of the 1600s, the meaning changed to mean a state of confusion.
24Being at sixes and sevens is the opposite of being a ten.
25If something is a ten, it is really great.
26It is perfect or nearly perfect.
27This usage comes from the highest rank on a scale of one to ten.
28For example, on a scale of one to 10 my recent trip to Bangladesh was a ten. I loved every minute!
29Now, let's talk about our last expression: to 86 something.
30If you 86 something, you get rid of it.
31You throw it out, or you don't use it.
32If I pitch an idea to a group and they 86 it, they do not want it and do not plan to use it.
33Experts at Merriam-Webster's online dictionary explain that this expression may have come from 1930s business slang meaning that an item was sold out. Maybe.
34Other experts think the only reason to 86 something means to get rid of it is because 86 rhymes with nix.
35"Nix" means to cancel or get rid of something.
36And that's the end of this Words and Their Stories. Have fun using these number expressions in your next English conversation.
37Until next time, I'm Anna Matteo.
1And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English. 2Language is not only made-up of words. Numbers are also important to communicating our thoughts. So, today, we talk about some common English expressions that use numbers. 3Let's start with zero and the expression to zero in. 4Zeroing in means directing all of your attention on something or someone. We often say what that something is. For example, the defense lawyers were able to zero in on the testimony of an important witness and find problems with it. Here is another example, I know a woman who can zero in on any relationship problem and find a solution. 5This expression can also mean to take aim directly at something. For example, when taking a picture, a photographer might zero in on a subject. And it is the job of a quarterback in an American football game to zero in on a receiver - the player catching the ball. 6Other words that help to explain the expression to zero in are to focus and concentrate on. As verbs, these words both mean to direct your attention on something or someone. 7Now, let's move to the numbers six and seven. If something is at sixes and sevens, it is in a state of confusion or disorder. In other words, it is all messed up! 8At sixes and sevens may also mean a state of disagreement between two or more people. For example, when the manager left without a word the workplace was at sixes and sevens. Nobody knew which way was up! (If you don't know which way is up - you are very confused.) 9Word experts say this expression may have started in the 1300s. At that time, it meant taking a careless risk. Around the middle of the 1600s, the meaning changed to mean a state of confusion. 10Being at sixes and sevens is the opposite of being a ten. 11If something is a ten, it is really great. It is perfect or nearly perfect. This usage comes from the highest rank on a scale of one to ten. For example, on a scale of one to 10 my recent trip to Bangladesh was a ten. I loved every minute! 12Now, let's talk about our last expression: to 86 something. If you 86 something, you get rid of it. You throw it out, or you don't use it. If I pitch an idea to a group and they 86 it, they do not want it and do not plan to use it. 13Experts at Merriam-Webster's online dictionary explain that this expression may have come from 1930s business slang meaning that an item was sold out. Maybe. Other experts think the only reason to 86 something means to get rid of it is because 86 rhymes with nix. "Nix" means to cancel or get rid of something. 14And that's the end of this Words and Their Stories. Have fun using these number expressions in your next English conversation. 15Until next time, I'm Anna Matteo. 16Anna Matteo wrote this story for VOA Learning English. 17_________________________________________________________ 18Words in This Story 19focus -v. to direct attention on something so that it becomes clearer 20concentrate on -v. (phrasal) the direct thoughts to something 21scale -n. a series of numbers meant to rate or show the strength or quality of something 22pitch -v. to talk about something in favorable ways to get people to accept it 23slang -n. special language used by a particular group : an informal nonstandard vocabulary composed of invented words, changed words, and exaggerated or humorous figures of speech 24item -n. an individual thing that is separate from others 25rhyme -v. to have two or more words that end in the same sound 26We want to hear from you. Do you have similar expressions in your language? In the Comments section, you can also practice using any of the expressions from the story. 27We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 28Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.