What Does The Phrase "To The Nines..." Mean? Where Did It Originate?
I have a friend that says "it was packed to the nines!!!" or "she was dressed to the nines" Is it like a grade scale?
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There are a number of theories here, and apparently no widely accepted single one on the origin of the phrase.
Some think in modern times that it is mostly used as a rating scale (1-10), meaning 99999... Infinitely as close to perfect as possible. Other theories have ranged from originating from Old English, "dressed to the eyes", which apparently would have been expressed as "to then eyes"-- but there are some problems with dates or origin there.
It seems there is no definitive answer, but here is a website where you can read some of the other theories.
To the Nines
Some think in modern times that it is mostly used as a rating scale (1-10), meaning 99999... Infinitely as close to perfect as possible. Other theories have ranged from originating from Old English, "dressed to the eyes", which apparently would have been expressed as "to then eyes"-- but there are some problems with dates or origin there.
It seems there is no definitive answer, but here is a website where you can read some of the other theories.
To the Nines
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It is used to indicate perfection - the highest standards. There are many thought about this phrase. It was in use in 18th Century. For more information about 'to the nines' visit the following link.
To The Nines
To The Nines
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