What Expression Has Your Number?

Number three in our series for Number Nuts: Numerous numeral English expressions. I have a friend who deliberately mispronounces the expression “One fell swoop,” which means essentially that something was quickly disarmed. She says instead, “One swell foop,” and means, “That was fun; let’s try it again!”? I like her attitude.

There are more than 100 common English expressions about numbers. Consider just the number two. When faced with a problem, we might

• be of two minds (undecided)
• share our two cents (opinion)
• know a trick or two for solving it
• be able to put two and two together to solve it, or
• seek the aid of another person because two heads are better than one.

Below are a dozen more upbeat expressions with numbers in them. Share what they have meant in your life.

Describe a skill that’s as easy for you “as one-two-three.”

Talk about a time when you were given service or had an experience “that was second to none.”

Name an occasion when someone you know deserved “3 cheers” for an accomplishment. What was it and did you cheer?

Describe an experience that put you? “in 7th heaven” or? “on Cloud 9.”

Describe what you wore when you once felt “dressed to the nines.”

Who is someone for whom you would go “the whole nine yards”?

Describe a proud achievement. When did you feel “10 feet tall”?

Talk about a time when life took a turn for the positive “at the 11th hour.”

What is something that’s “a dime a dozen” (cheap and plentiful) but that you are grateful to own?

Did you ever receive “15 minutes of fame”? What was the occasion?

Did you ever “bat a thousand” (a baseball expression for great success) when you accomplished a goal you had worked hard for? What was the accomplishment?

Describe a time when you felt “like a million dollars.”

Can you think of others?

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Kathy Laurenhue, M.A, C.H.P., is the creator and CEO of Wiser Now, Inc., dedicated to fostering wellbeing in people of all ages through a lighthearted approach. As the author of multiple books and newsletters, dozens of training courses and webinars, and hundreds of trivia quizzes, word games, and discussion exercises, she is eager to expand her reach. Check out the many offerings of her websites beginning with Wiser Now, Inc. She welcomes your feedback at [email protected].?