Word phrases with numbers

Number Idioms and Expressions! Learn useful expressions and idioms using numbers in English with meaning, ESL picture and example sentences.

Number Idioms and Sayings

List of Idioms Using Numbers in English

• (Do Something) By the Numbers; By the Book
• A million and one
• All in one piece
• And Counting
• At sixes and sevens
• At the eleventh hour
• Back to square one
• Be in seventh heaven
• Be in two minds (about something)
• Cast the first stone
• Dressed up to the nines
• Eighty-Six (v.) (1)
• Eighty-Six (v.) (2)
• Feel like a million dollars
• Get the third degree
• Have one over the eight
• Have one too many
• It takes two to tango
• Kill two birds with one stone.
• Never in a million years
• Nine times out of ten
• Nine-to-five job
• On all fours
• On cloud nine
• One for the road
• Put in one’s two cents
• Six feet under
• Square the Circle
• Stand on one’s own two feet
• Take five
• Ten to one
• Two peas in a pod
• Zero In On

Number Idioms with Meaning and Examples

List of phrases and idioms using numbers with meaning and examples.

Idioms and Sayings about Numbers (A)

A million and one

• Meaning: Very many
• Example: I have a million and one ideas.

All in one piece

• Meaning: Safely
• Example: He got home from the party all in one piece.

And Counting

• Meaning: And the number just mentioned is increasing (or decreasing)
• Example: How many dumplings have you made? – We’ve got two hundred and counting.

At sixes and sevens

• Meaning: Someone is in a state of confusion or not very well organized.
• Example: I’m at sixes and sevens now that the whole schedule has been rearranged.

At the eleventh hour

• Meaning: It happens when it is almost too late.
• Example: I was shocked that they reached an agreement at the eleventh hour after weeks of squabbling.

Idioms and Sayings about Numbers (B, C)

Back to square one

• Meaning: Back to the start
• Example: The project failed, we’re back to square one.

Be in seventh heaven

• Meaning: Extremely happy
• Example: I’ve been in seventh heaven ever since I got engaged!

Be in two minds (about something)

• Meaning: To not be certain about something, or to have difficulty in making a decision
• Example: I’m in two minds about accepting the job.

(Do Something) By the Numbers; By the Book

• Meaning: To follow instructions exactly
• Example: You don’t have to do this totally by the book; if you see small changes that are needed, go ahead and change the procedure.

Cast the first stone

• Meaning: To be the first to criticize or attack someone
• Example: OK,fine, I’ll cast the first stone—that movie was awful!

Idioms and Sayings about Numbers (D, E, F)

Dressed up to the nines

• Meaning: Someone is wearing very smart or glamorous clothes
• Example: I have to be dressed to the nines at this gala tonight — a lot of important people will be there.

Eighty-Six (v.) (1)

• Meaning: Discard, eliminate.
• Example: Our boss approved raises for next year, but the district manager eighty-sixed them.

Eighty-Six (v.) (2)

• Meaning: Throw someone out of a bar or store.
• Example: That guy has had too much to drink, and he’s causing trouble. Eighty-six him.

Feel like a million dollars

• Meaning: To feel great, to feel well and healthy.
• Example: You look like a million dollars in that dress, honey!

Idioms and Sayings about Numbers (G, H, I)

Get the third degree

• Meaning: To be questioned in great detail about something
• Example: My boyfriend isso controlling that I always get the third degree if I goanywhere or see anyone without him.

Have one over the eight

• Meaning: A person is slightly drunk.
• Example: From the way he was walking it was obvious he’d had one over the eight.

Have one too many

• Meaning: Drink too much alcohol
• Example: I can’t drive, I had one too many.

It takes two to tango

• Meaning: You say this when you think that a difficult situation or argument cannot be the fault of one person alone.
• Example: Your son blames mine for their fight at school, but it generally takes two to tango.

Idioms and Sayings about Numbers (K, N)

Kill two birds with one stone.

• Meaning: Solve two problems with one move
• Example: I’ll drop you off on the way to work, we’ll kill two birds with one stone.

Never in a million years

• Meaning: Absolutely never
• Example: Never in a million years did I think that I would actually win the lottery!

Nine times out of ten

• Meaning: Almost always
• Example: Nine times out of ten your first choice turns out to be the right one.

Nine-to-five job

• Meaning: A routine job in an office that involves standard office hours
• Example: I wouldn’t want a nine-to-five job.

Idioms and Sayings about Numbers (O, P)

On all fours

• Meaning: You are down on your hands and knees.
• Example: I got down on all fours trying to find my ring in the sand.

On cloud nine

• Meaning: Very happy
• Example: When my mom bought me a computer, I was on cloud nine.

One for the road

• Meaning: Have a drink before leaving
• Example: Let’s have one for the road!

Put in one’s two cents

• Meaning: Say your opinion
• Example: I put in my two cents at the meeting.

Idioms and Sayings about Numbers (S, T, Z)

Six feet under

• Meaning: Dead and buried
• Example: I’m going to be six feet under by 2100.

Square the Circle

• Meaning: Attempt an impossible task
• Example: Matthew is trying to solve the puzzle, but it’s squaring the circle – there is no solution.

Stand on one’s own two feet

• Meaning: To be independent and self-sufficient
• Example: He never left home after high school, so he never learned to stand on his own two feet.

Take five

• Meaning: To take one brief (about five minutes) rest period.To take a short break, about five minutes.
• Example: I’ve been painting all morning, can I please take five?

Ten to one

• Meaning: Something very likely
• Example: Ten to one I’m going to win.

Two peas in a pod

• Meaning: Two people who are very similar in appearance
• Example: They’re like two peas in a pod, of course they’re married!

Zero In On

• Meaning: Focus closely on something; take aim at something
• Example: We’ve had consultants in the factory for two weeks, and they’re zeroing in on our production problems.

Useful Idioms using Numbers in English

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(Number Idioms: 30+ Useful Phrases & Idioms using Numbers)

Last Updated on March 21, 2021

Idioms Using Numbers: Among the various parts of speech in the English language, idioms are a part and this article contains some so that you can enrich your knowledge about it. The article has a group of non-literal phrases that we to describe something else.

Like in other languages, English also has idioms and people use idioms and phrases with numbers quite commonly everywhere.

This article provides a list of idioms with numbers a to z. It defines various idioms with numbers idioms and meaning in detail for your benefit and ease of identifying them.

Enrich your Vocabulary by practicing the English Idioms that are commonly used in everyday conversations and understand their actual meaning.

• Meaning and Examples of some commonly used idioms with numbers

List of Idioms with Numbers

• A million and one
• (A number) short of (something)
• All in one piece
• And counting
• A million dollar question
• A dime a dozen
• A stitch in time saves nine
• As easy as one-two-three
• A million miles away
• At sixes and sevens
• At the eleventh hour
• Bat a thousand
• Be in the seventh heaven
• Be in two minds (about something)
• Behind the eight ball
• Catch 22
• Cast the first stone
• Do (something) by the numbers
• Dressed up to the nines
• Deep six
• Eighty-six
• Feel like a million dollars
• Fifteen minutes of fame
• Fifty-fifty
• Five finger discount
• Five will get you ten
• Four eyes
• Fiver
• Four corners of the earth
• Four leaf clover
• Four letter word
• Forty winks
• Get the third degrees
• Have one over the eight
• Have one too many
• It takes two to tango
• Joe six pack
• Kill two birds with one stone
• Lesser of two evils
• Never in a million years
• Nine-to-five job
• Nine lives
• Nine times out of ten
• On all fours
• On cloud nine
• One for the road
• Of two minds
• Put in one’s two cents
• Queer as a three dollar bill
• Scattered to the four winds
• Seven day wonder
• Six feet under
• Square the circle
• Stand on one’s own two feet
• Take five
• That makes two of us
• Three cheers
• Three strikes
• Twenty-something
• Ten to one
• Two heads are better than one
• Two peas in a pod
• Two wrongs don’t make a right
• Two timer
• Up to eleven
• Whole nine yards
• Wouldn’t touch (something) with a ten-foot pole
• Zero in on

Meaning and Examples of some commonly used idioms with numbers

A million and one

Meaning: It means that someone has plenty of something.

Example: She came up with a million and one ideas for her excuse.

(A number) short of (something)

Meaning: This idiom is said euphemistically of someone mentally unstable or deficient; less than something part of a whole

Example: There is a slice of bread less than the loaf.

All in one piece

Meaning: to do something safely

Example: He got home from the trekking trip all in one piece.

And counting

Meaning: It means that the number mentioned before is increasing or decreasing.

Example: How many plates have you made? We have got two hundred and counting.

A million-dollar question

Meaning: a question that is very important and difficult to answer. It is sometimes used ironically.

Example: The million-dollar question is whether he should choose his former opponent as his current mate.

A dime a dozen

Meaning: It is used to describe something that is abundant and is very cheap.

Example: These glass cups might look very expensive, but trust me, they are a dime a dozen.

A stitch in time saves nine

Meaning: It means a prompt decision now will prevent problems later on.

Example: You can consider getting your car repaired now before you are stranded. After all, a stitch in time saves nine.

As easy as one-two-three

Meaning: It means that something is straightforward or easy.

Example: These equations are as easy as one-two-three! You ought to do them by yourself.

A million miles away

Meaning: It means noticeably distracted or lost in thought.

Example: Of course you don’t remember about the signature; you were a million miles away the entire time!

At sixes and sevens

Meaning: It means that someone is in a state of confusion and is not organized.

Example: I am at sixes and sevens now that the trip has been rescheduled and rearranged.

At the eleventh hour

Meaning: It means that someone or something has happened almost too late.

Example: I was shocked that they reached an arrangement at the eleventh hour after weeks of fighting.

Bat a thousand

Meaning: It means that someone has a perfect record.

Example: I’m batting a thousand this week to get an A in my exam.

Be in the seventh heaven

Meaning: It describes someone who is extremely happy about something.

Example: She has been in the seventh heaven ever since she got engaged.

Be in two minds (about something)

Meaning: It means that someone is not certain about something or has difficulty drawing up a conclusion.

Example: I’m in two minds about doing the internship.

Behind the eight ball

Meaning: It describes a challenging situation or at a disadvantage. An eight ball is the ball that we are supposed to hit into the pocket at last, but if the player hits it prematurely, the player will lose. Hence it is something that has to be avoided.

Example: If we don’t leave early tomorrow, we will be behind the eight balls, and I doubt we will be able to reach the mountain top by dusk.

Catch 22

Meaning: It refers to a problematic situation in which a person is denied the only solution due to the inherent circumstances.

Example: The acting business is caught 22 with no work unless you have an agent and no agent unless you have worked.

Cast the first stone

Meaning: This idiom means that someone is the first to criticize or attack someone.

Example: Well, let me be the first to cast the first stone. That movie was terrible.

Do (something) by the numbers

Meaning: It means that you have to follow the instructions exactly.

Example: You need not do this by the numbers, but if you see that you are stuck, you can go ahead and follow the instructions.

Dressed up to the nines

Meaning: It means that someone is wearing something to look glamorous and smart.

Example: He has to be dressed to the nines at this gala tonight

Deep six

Meaning: to get rid of something or discard something.

Example: The legislators voted to deep-six the current government program.

Eighty-six

Meaning: it means to discard or eliminate something or someone.

Example: The boss approves for raises next year, but the district manager went ahead and eighty-sixed them.

Feel like a million dollars

Meaning: It means that someone is feeling great, physically and otherwise.

Example: You look like a million dollars in that dress!

Fifteen minutes of fame

Meaning: It means that someone has short-lived publicity.

Example: The fifteen minutes of fame will do you no good if you want a long-lasting career.

Fifty-fifty

Meaning: It is something that is shred or borne equally.

Example: We have a fifty-fifty chance of winning the competition.

Five finger discount

Meaning: It means to shoplift.

Example: You will get caught if you keep using your five-finger discount, you will end up in jail.

Five will get you ten

Meaning: It means that the chances are good that something will be a success.

Example: Five will get you ten that he is having an affair with his secretary.

Four eyes

Meaning: It is a mocking term for someone who wears glasses.

Example: Hasn’t four eyes shown up to class? He is always late.

Fiver

Meaning: It means that something represents a loss

Example: The loss of more pocket is not the one to trust.

Four corners of the earth

Meaning: It means the areas that are the farthest reaches

Example: I have traveled to the four corners of the earth to collect the medallion.

Four-leaf clover

Meaning: It means that something that is traditionally thought to be lucky and rare.

Example: You found a four-leaf clover? Wow, today is your lucky way!

Four letter word

Meaning: It refers to some slang since many of them start with four letters.

Example: Jim is suspended from school after the teacher heard him shout many four-letter words.

Forty winks

Meaning: To take a nap or a brief sleep

Example: If you have a baby for the first time, you will suddenly have to operate on forty winks at a time.

Get the third degrees

Meaning: It means to get interrogate or questioned intensely or thoroughly by someone.

Example: He got the third degree from the police regarding the crime.

Have one over the eight

Meaning: It means that a person is slightly drunk.

Example: From the way, he was walking and talking, it was obvious that he had one over the eight.

Have one too many

Meaning: It means that someone drank too much alcohol.

Example: I cannot drive since I have had too many drinks.

It takes two to tango

Meaning: When someone says this idiom, they think that a difficult situation or an argument cannot be the fault of only one person.

Example: His son blames mine for their fight at school, but I know it takes two to tango.

Joe six-pack

Meaning: an ordinary man or a blue-collar worker

Example: The Joe six-pack went to the bat after work.

Kill two birds with one stone

Meaning: It means that someone can solve two problems with one move.

Example: If I drop the parcel on the way to work, I can kill two birds with one stone.

Lesser of two evils

Meaning: This idiom means that something or someone is the less offensive or undesirable among the options.

Example: Both candidates are not well-liked, but she is shown to be the lesser of the two evils.

Never in a million years

Meaning: When someone never says in a million years, they mean never.

Example: Never in a million years did I think that I could become an actress!

Nine-to-five job

Meaning: It describes a routine job in an office with the standard office hours.

Example: He said that he would never do a nine-to-five job.

Nine lives

Meaning: It is used to refer to a person who has survived despite having a near encounter with death or some disaster.

Example: I cannot believe that he survived after his parachute did not open mid-air; he must have nine lives!

Nine times out of ten

Meaning: It means almost always.

Example: Nine times out of ten, the first person you think is who is right for the job usually is.

On all fours

Meaning: It means that you are down on all your hands and knees.

Example: I had to go down on all fours to find my ring in the mud.

On cloud nine

Meaning: It means that you are very happy.

Example: I was on cloud nine when my mom bought me a computer.

One for the road

Meaning: It means to have a drink before leaving.

Example: Before we leave, let’s have one for the road.

Of two minds

Meaning: to be unable to decide or be certain about something or having two opinions about something

Example: I am of two minds about hiring him. Though he has a nice resume, he doesn’t have much experience.

Put in one’s two cents

Meaning: It means that you are asking someone to state their opinion.

Example: I am ready to put in my two cents at the meeting.

Queer as a three dollar bill

Meaning: Something that is completely obvious that something is fake or not genuine.

Example: The Company claims that they can double out money within the month, but it is obvious that the whole thing is as queer as a three-dollar bill.

Scattered to the four winds

Meaning: Something that is dispersed across a wide area.

Example: Our family has been scattered to the four winds, and now the kids are in different states.

Seven day wonder

Meaning: A person or something that generates interest for only a short time.

Example: The band’s fear is that they will become a seven day wonder and be soon forgotten when the next big hit comes.

Six feet under

Meaning: It means that someone is dead and has been buried.

Example: We are all going to be six feet under if the boss finds out what we did!

Square the circle

Meaning: It means to attempt an impossible task.

Example: Perry is trying to solve the puzzling but it is like squaring the circle!

Stand on one’s own two feet

Meaning: It means that someone is being independent and self-sufficient.

Example: Since he never left home after high school, he never learnt to stand on his own two feet.

Take five

Meaning: It means to take a brief rest of about five minutes.

Example: We can take five then get back on with the painting job.

That makes two of us

Meaning: It is used to mean that one has the same feelings or thoughts as someone else.

Example: I also believe in them. That makes two of us.

Three cheers

Meaning: It means to give three shouts of joy or approval to someone or for something.

Example: At long last, the week has come to an end; three cheers for the weekend!

Three strikes

Meaning: two aspects of someone or something that keeps them or it from being entirely successful

Example: He has got two strikes against him and has only one chance left.

Twenty-something

Meaning: Someone who is in their twenties or is aged between twenty.

Example: I don’t remember Shila’s age, but she is twenty-something.

Ten to one

Meaning: It refers to something that is very likely to happen.

Example: I can feel that I am going to win ten to one.

Two heads are better than one

Meaning: it means that when we work as a team things, are done better and faster.

Example: When we went to the camping trip we understood that two heads are better than one.

Two peas in a pod

Meaning: If you say two peas in a pod you mean that two people are very similar in appearance or otherwise.

Example: They look like two peas in a pod. Are they married?

Two wrongs don’t make a right

Meaning: It means that seeking revenge for a hurtful or deceitful action is not an appropriate method to resolve a conflict.

Example: Just because he insulted you does not mean that it is ok for you to start a rumour about him, but two wrongs don’t make a right.

Two timer

Meaning: It refers to someone who is unfaithful or a deceiver.

Example: Don’t trust the two-timer, her is not trust worthy.

Up to eleven

Meaning: It means something is to an intense or at an extreme degree.

Example: Some of the best nights we had were the time we spent aimlessly driving up to eleven.

Whole nine yards

Meaning: It means the entirety of what is possible or available

Example: Shelly went the whole nine yards to get the best toppings for the ice cream bar.

Wouldn’t touch (something) with a ten-foot pole

Meaning: It means that something is so bad that it is best to engage with it.

Example: You might think that he is attractive but I wouldn’t touch him with a ten-foot pole since he is a creep.

Zero in on

Meaning: It means to focus closely on something or to take an aim at something.

Example: We have has consultants and worker in the factory for two weeks and they are zeroing in on our production situation.

Today I am going to present to you a group of idioms and phrases to look at; one thing that all of these phrases have in common is there are numbers in them. To make learning these new idioms/phrases more fun, why don’t you try and guess what numbers go into the idioms/phrases below.

Here is a hint: The numbers go in order from smallest to largest, starting from the top of the list going down.

Give it a try!

A. all in ______ piece
B. to kill _____ birds with ____ stone
C. to have _____ left feet
D. to give a high ______
E. _____ times out of ______
F. to divide ______
G. to feel like a ______ dollars

Alright, here is another hint, here are the numbers: 1, 2, 5, 9, 10, 50-50, 1,000,000 – two number are used more than once.

Where do you think these numbers go in the phrases above?

Ready for the answers?

Okay, take a look at these idioms/phrases and their definitions below, with examples.

on the one hand – something that is said when speaking about two different facts or two opposite ways of thinking or ideas.
For example: On the one hand, I’d like to save my money for a long vacation, but on the other hand, I really want to go out with my friends each weekend.  I don’t know what to do.

all in one piece – to be safe; to arrive safe or without damage
For example: After the long flight home, we finally arrived, tired, but all in one piece.

to kill two birds with one stone – to solve two problems at one time, with a single action
For example: If we go to the grocery store and the bank on our trip out we will kill two bird with one stone and be done with our weekly errands.

nine times out of ten – usually; happening almost always
For example: Nine times out of ten I do my homework; the one time I didn’t the teacher called on me and I didn’t know the answer.

to give (a) high five – to slap somebody else’s hand above your hand; the number in this phrase comes from the fact that you have five fingers
For example: The players were giving high-fives all around after the game. or  I gave my brother a high five after he graduated.

to divide fifty-fifty – to divide in two even halves
For example: There was only one piece of cake left, so we divided it fifty-fifty and each ate half.

two left feet – an inability to dance or to be clumsy in general
For example: My boyfriend never dances with me at parties because he says he has two left feet.

to feel like a million dollars – to feel great or amazing
For example: When I heard I got the promotion I had been waiting for, I felt like a million dollars.

Last question of the post, which of these idioms do you think is represented by the picture at the beginning of this post?

11 number idioms

Take a look at these idioms; they all use numbers. Read through the 11 idioms ranging from 1 to 11 and then try the quiz:

One-horse town

This idiom is used to describe a town or village that is very small; it has a small population. The image is that nothing ever happens in the town; it is boring and quiet.

‘I grew up in a one-horse town. I moved away at the first chance I had.’

Two left feet

To have two left feet means that you have terrible coordination in your movements and terrible balance. You would be a bad dancer or footballer.

‘Don’t ask me to dance, I have two left feet!’

Two’s company; three’s a crowd

This idiom is used to mean that two is the best amount of people to go somewhere — three people is too many. It is usually used when a boyfriend and girlfriend want to do something together without anyone else.

‘I don’t think I’ll come to the cinema with you and your new girlfriend because two’s company and three’s a crowd.’

On all fours

When you are on all fours you are crawling on your hands and knees like a baby.

‘I got down on all fours trying to find the coin I had dropped.’

Take five

When we take five we take a short break. The five refers to five minutes, so we’re taking a 5 minute break.

‘I’m tired of walking, let’s take five.’

At sixes and sevens

We use this British English expression when are confused or in a state of disorder.

‘The government were at sixes and sevens over what to do about the unemployment rate.’

Seventh heaven

To be in seventh heaven means to be  very, very happy about something

‘She was in seventh heaven when she watched her favourite band play live.’

Pieces of eight

This phrase is used to describe money. Pieces of eight were old Spanish coins. The coin was worth eight reales. You might hear this expression in historical pirate movies.

«In Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End the Pirate Lords must meet together by presenting the ‘Nine Pieces of Eight’.»

On cloud nine

Like seventh heaven, this expression is used when someone feels very happy because of something great that has happened to them.

‘She’s been on cloud nine since since her boyfriend proposed to her.’

Perfect ten

A perfect ten is used to describe something that couldn’t get any better — it is already perfect.

‘Have you heard the new Madonna record? I love it. I think it’s a perfect ten!’

At the eleventh-hour

This idiom is used when something happens at the last possible moment just before the deadline or end.

‘The prisoner was saved from execution at the eleventh-hour by the state governor.’

Link: Body Idioms

• I was on cloud ___ when I heard that my wife was pregnant.
  
• Don’t go there, it’s a real ___ horse town.
  
• My team scored the winning goal in the ___ hour. The game was just about to finish.
  
• I took dancing lessons because I have ___ left feet.
  
• He was in ___ heaven when he found out that he had been promoted.
  
• That’s enough work for now. Everyone take ___.