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seven
(a) quarter of (a given hour in time)
A quarter of an hour (15 minutes) before the named hour in time (e.g., "quarter of six" would mean 5:45). Primarily heard in US. A: "What time does the movie start?" B: "Not until a quarter of eight, so we've got plenty of time!" I thought I'd be home already, but with this traffic, it'll be quarter of before I'm back.
quarter past (a given hour in time)
A quarter of an hour (15 minutes) after the named hour in time. A: "What time does the movie start?" B: "Not until a quarter past eight, so we've got plenty of time!" I thought I'd be home already, but with this traffic, it'll be quarter past before I'm back.
four score and seven years ago
Eighty-seven years ago. (A "score" is a set of 20 items.) The iconic first line of US President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, the speech he delivered at the dedication of the national cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Lincoln gave this speech in 1863—87 years after 1776, the year of the founding of the United States. Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
seven-day wonder
A person or thing that generates interest for only a short amount of time. The band's biggest fear was becoming a seven-day wonder, soon to be forgotten when the next big sound hit the airwaves.
you should know a man seven years before you stir his fire
In interactions with people you don't know well, you should behave with caution and avoid meddling in their affairs. Mother, you don't know Sir Harold well enough to inquire about his personal life. Remember: you should know a man seven years before you stir his fire.
at sixes and sevens
Frazzled or disorganized. The phrase likely originated from a dice game in which rolling a six or a seven was unfavorable. After caring for three sick kids all week, I'm totally at sixes and sevens. I'm at sixes and sevens now that the whole schedule has been rearranged.
be at sixes and sevens
To be frazzled or disorganized. The phrase likely originated from a dice game in which rolling a six or a seven was unfavorable. After caring for three sick kids all week, I'm at sixes and sevens. Now that the whole schedule has been rearranged, I'm at sixes and sevens.
at sixes and sevens
lost in bewilderment; at loose ends. Mrs. Smith is at sixes and sevens since the death of her husband. Bill is always at sixes and sevens when he's home by himself.
in seventh heaven
Fig. in a very happy state. Ann was really in seventh heaven when she got a car of her own. I'd be in seventh heaven if I had a million dollars.
Keep a thing seven years and you'll (always) find a use for it.
Prov. If you keep a seemingly useless thing for seven years, you will supposedly have some occasion to use it during that time. Jill: My mother sent me a four-foot-tall ceramic vase for my birthday. What can I possibly use it for? Jane: Keep it seven years and you'll find some use for it.
a seven-day wonder
Fig. a person or a process supposedly perfected in only seven days. (Sarcastic.) Tommy is no seven-day wonder. It took him 6 years to get through high school!
seven-year itch
a real or imagined longing for other women in a man's seventh year of marriage. Looks like Jack has the seven-year itch. The seven-year itch is just a rumor.
the seven year itch
(humorous) if someone who is married gets the seven year itch, they become bored with their relationship after about seven years and often want to start a sexual relationship with another person He keeps talking about all the women he knew before we were married - I think he's got the seven-year itch.
be at sixes and sevens
(informal) to be confused or badly organized We were at sixes and sevens for about a week after we moved in.
a nine/one/seven-day wonder
someone or something that causes interest or excitement for a short period but is then quickly forgotten His music was derided by an older generation convinced that he was a nine-day wonder.
at sixes and sevens
Confused, disorganized, disorderly, as in We've just moved in, and the office is still at sixes and sevens, or The new college admissions tests were poorly explained, leaving the students at sixes and sevens . This ancient term is thought to come from a game of dice in which throwing a six or seven had a particular significance. The name of the game has been lost, but most likely betting on such a throw was very risky, denoting disorder and confusion. [Late 1300s]
in seventh heaven
In a state of bliss, as in John was in seventh heaven when the director praised his speech. Used figuratively since the early 1800s, this term alludes to the dwelling place of God in highest of the seven concentric spheres that surround the earth in the system recognized by both Muslims and ancient Jews.
seven-seven-three-aitch
and 773H n. hell. (This is based on the printed word HELL rotated 180 degrees. Jocular.) What the seven-seven-three-aitch is going on around here?
seven-year itch
n. a real or imagined longing for other women in a man’s seventh year of marriage. Looks like Jack has the seven-year itch.
twenty-four, seven
and 24-7 mod. all the time, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. He’s always at home, 24-7!
at sixes and sevens
In a state of confusion or disorder.
at sixes and sevens
In complete disorder. The most likely source of the phrase is an old dice game called hazard, in which to bet on cinque and sice (from the French words for “five” and “six”) was particularly risky business. Anyone who did so was considered careless or confused. English-speaking players misheard or chose to pronounce cinque and sice as “sixes and sevens.”
Common Names:
| Name | Gender | Pronounced | Usage |
|---|
| Nielsen | | ['nilsən] | |
| Meirion | | - | Welsh |
| Angelika | | ahn-GE-lee-kah (German), ahn-ge-LEE-kah (Polish) | German, Polish, Slovak, Czech |
| Parris | | PER-is, PAR-is | English (Rare) |
| Mason | | MAY-sən | English |
| Ji-Eun | | jee-uwn | Korean |