can anyone explain the phrase "sixes and seven"?

Answer 1

There are two old stories that try to explain this. One tries to find it in the King James Version of the Bible; Job 5:19 has “He shall deliver thee in six troubles; yea, in seven shall no evil touch thee”, a couplet that makes no sense to us today and which doesn’t seem to link to any known use of the expression. The other story, more common and very widely believed, traces it back to a dispute between two of the ancient livery companies in the City of London.

These companies, trade guilds, grew up from the latter part of the twelfth century as associations to protect their members’ interests. (They were called livery companies because members had the right to wear a distinctive costume or livery.) There was a lot of squabbling with other guilds about precedence in the early days. One especially troublesome dispute concerned the Merchant Taylors Company, whose members were tailors, and the Skinners Company, whose members controlled the trade in furs. In 1484 the then Lord Mayor, Sir Robert Billesden, settled the dispute in a judgement of Solomon by ruling that the two companies should alternate between the sixth and seventh positions in successive years, a ruling still in force.Therefore the two companies were permanently at sixes and sevens with each other.

However Geoffrey Chaucer uses it in a quote “to set the world on six and seven”)in his Troilus and Criseyde, dated about 1375. There are several other examples in the following century, which show that Chaucer was making use of an expression already well known (to the extent that he didn’t feel the need to explain it). The appearance in Chaucer was rather more than a century before the dispute between the guilds was settled, so can’t have been created as a result of it.

We can’t be absolutely sure of where the phrase comes from, but the most probable explanation is that it arose out of an old game of dice called hazard, in which one’s chances of winning were controlled by a set of rather arbitrary and complicated rules. It is thought that the expression was originally to set on cinque and sice (from the French numerals for five and six). These were apparently the most risky numbers to shoot for (“to set on”) and anyone who tried for them was considered careless or confused. Later, the number words shifted to their modern values as a result of folk etymology among individuals who knew no French and misheard the words. The link with the game (and the original French words) must by then have been severed, or perhaps it was a joke, as seven is an impossible number to throw with one die. The change may also be linked to the sum of the new numbers being thirteen, long considered unlucky.

Answer 2

We stated because the Jesus competition at our close by 6 flags that.... by way of ways, what's up with that? My pal's fiance is the county sheriff on the breaking point of stated leisure park and he says their police calls TREBLE throughout the time of the time of the Jesus weekend thingy.... and by no ability purely better human beings calling, he's had 2 rapes and a homicide for the length of those weekends, and that is a few element he receives perchance as right now as each and every 5-6 years the position he's....

Answer 3

YES I CAN, it involves my school in an indirect way. it may have come from a dispute between the Merchant Taylors' and Skinners' Livery Companies. The two, which were founded in the same year, argued over sixth place in the order of precedence. After more than a century, it was decided that at Easter, the companies would swap between sixth and seventh and feast in each others' halls

Answer 4

If you are referring to "At sixes and sevens with you?"

Aren't these Cole Porter lyrics?

Actually, in attempting to answer the question, I myself drew a total blank on the actual song this phrase comes from?

I hate that!

I believe it means dinner seating's in the popular "Pal Joey" type supper clubs in the Deco era?

Answer 5

It is used to describe a state of confusion or disarray. Most likely, the term derives from a complicated dice game called "hazard". It is thought that the expression was originally "to set on cinque and sice" (from the French numerals for five and six). These are the riskiest numbers to shoot for (“to set on”), and anyone who tried for them was considered careless or confused.

Answer 6

6's & 7's

Answer 7

The one's that sit and do nothing and the one's that look back, criticise, spell all the risks and impossibilities.
6's &7's

Answer 8

As I understand the term, it means 'mixed up' as in 'confusions' ~ where there are 'odds - as in 'odd numbers' when trying to unscramble or resolve something.


Sash.

Answer 9

all mixed up.......I'm all sixies and sevenses