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单词 sixes and sevens
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sixes and sevens
5. In phrases with six and seven, sixes and sevens, etc., originally denoting the hazard of one's whole fortune, or carelessness as to the consequences of one's actions, and in later use the creation or existence of, or neglect to remove, confusion, disorder, or disagreement.The original form of the phrase, to set on six and seven, is based on the language of dicing, and is probably a fanciful alteration of to set on cinque and sice, these being the two highest numbers. Subsequent variations arise from the use of at for on, of or for and, of other verbs in place of set, and of the plurals sixes and sevens; the latter became the standard form in the 18th cent. To illustrate the development more clearly, the chief types are here grouped in separate paragraphs.
ΚΠ
(a)
c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde iv. 622 Lat nat this wrechched wo thyn herte gnawe, But manly set the world on sexe and seuene.
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. xvi. 188 I shall and that in hy, Set all on sex and seuen.
1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) I. 654 Quha..settis all his thrift on sax and sevin.
1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes f. 267v There is a prouerbe, omnem jacere aleam, to cast all dyce, by which is signified, to sette all on sixe & seuen.
1601 J. Weever Mirror of Martyrs sig. Biv I'm in a wood,..Yet o're my head a threatning Rocke still hingeth..; Twixt wood and rocke, I stand on six and seauen.
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues at Desesperade Iouër à la desesperade, to set his whole rest, or set all on sixes, and seuens.
(b)1535 G. Joye Apol. Tindale sig. F.iiijv Yet had he leuer marre and destroy al, and (as they saye) set all at six and seuen, then he wolde haue suffred the translation of this one word resurrection to haue taryed & aboden the iugement of cristis chirche.1596 T. Nashe Haue with you to Saffron-Walden sig. E Old Laertes..caring for all other things else, sets his owne estate at sixe and seauen.1607 T. Walkington Optick Glasse To Rdr. I haue set all at six and seuen, and I intend by the Muses favour happilie to go on.1622 T. Jackson Judah 56 To become cold, carelesse, and negligent, set all at six and seven.(c)1583 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Serm. on Deuteronomie cxxxvi. 833 Not to runne and scratch for other mens goods, as if they were left at sixe and seuen.1592 R. Greene Repentance sig. C3v Then left I her [sc. my wife] at six or seuen, who went into Lincolneshire, and I to London.1648 T. Hill God's Preparations 19 Do not let things lie at six and sevens..any longer.1670 G. Havers tr. G. Leti Il Cardinalismo di Santa Chiesa ii. i. 127 They leave things at sixes and sevens.1726 J. Swift Cadenus & Vanessa 37 The Goddess..Left all below at six and seven.1785 F. Grose Classical Dict. Vulgar Tongue Left at sixes and sevens, in confusion, commonly said of a room where the furniture, etc. is scattered about, or of a business left unsettled.1829 W. Scott Jrnl. 12 July (1941) 94 I was sick of the labour by two o'clock and left several of my books and all my papers at sixes and sevens.1854 A. E. Baker Gloss. Northants. Words II. 236 He's gone away in such a hurry, he has left everything at sixes and sevens.(d)1597 T. Beard Theatre Gods Iudgements ii. xlvi. 459 He let the affaires of his kingdome run at sixe and at seuens.a1610 J. Healey tr. Cebes' Table in tr. Epictetus Manuall (1636) 151 She doth nothing with discretion, but hurleth all about at six and seven.1678 V. Alsop Melius Inquirendum ii. viii. 317 The worship of God lying at sixes, and sevens, the Government of the Church meer Anarchy.1712 J. Arbuthnot John Bull Still in Senses i. 8 His Affairs went on at sixes and sevens.1784 R. Bage Barham Downs I. 345 It was owing to the Six-and-seven way of going on of things in the heathen world.1809 B. H. Malkin tr. A. R. Le Sage Adventures Gil Blas IV. xii. vii. 414 The affairs of the treasurer..are all at sixes and sevens.1863 N. Hawthorne Our Old Home I. 228 The line of a railway..puts all precedent things at sixes-and-sevens.1887 Times (Weekly ed.) 2 Sept. 15/3 [These] differences..have for a long time kept society in Sofia at sixes and sevens.(e)a1704 T. Brown Acct. Conversat. Liberty of Conscience in Duke of Buckingham Misc. Wks. (1705) II. i. 126 His zeal swallowing up his Concern for his Family, things were run to sixes and sevens.1782 E. Blower George Bateman II. 126 If I was to go from home..every thing would soon go to sixes and sevens.1846 Mrs. Carlyle in New Lett. (1903) I. 219 With her departure everything went to sixes and sevens.
extracted from sixadj.n.
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