APAD:12 idioms 2 make Ur writing count + Costco priceSecret

Came across this set of English number idioms and found them funny, interesting and useful.

1. Zero in on
Meaning: to direct all your attention towards one thing

2. It takes two to tango
Meaning: refers to the need for cooperative effort, or describes how a difficult situation or conflict involves two parties who are both responsible for it

3. Three square meals a day
Meaning: three nutritionally complete meals a day – breakfast, lunch and dinner

4. Fire on all four cylinders
Meaning: to operate as powerfully and effectively as possible

5. Five-finger discount
Meaning: refers to taking an item from a shop without paying for it

6. At sixes and sevens
Meaning: in a state of confusion or disarray

7. Seven-day wonder
Meaning: someone or something that generates interest for only a short amount of time

8. Behind the eight ball
Meaning: describes someone who is at a disadvantage in a difficult situation and is unlikely to escape it

9. On cloud nine
Meaning: describes someone who is extremely happy and excited

10. Ten a penny
Meaning: refers to something so common that it has become worthless

11. At the eleventh hour
Meaning: at the last possible moment

12. A dime a dozen
Meaning: refers to things that are plentiful, common or of very little value

- Source with examples:
https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/lifestyle/article/3194936/12-english-number-idioms-make-your-writing-count

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I only knew a few of these idioms before, eg. #2, #4, #9 and #11.  Back to the time when we started thinking movining back to Victoria, the very first house I saw (online) and liked was a cloud nine house: outside the city and up on the hillside with a big piece of land full of mature trees, very green and like a house in a fairytale.  A year later when we were house hunting in Victoria, just out of curiosity, I have tried to find the house but couldn't find it. So it might be a fairytale.
 

Bonus: Costco price number secret

 

 

所有跟帖： 

• I only know #2&12 -瓷善家- ♀ (0 bytes) () 08/21/2024 postreply 08:29:02

• U knew 2 b4, now U know them all ;-) -最西边的岛上- ♀ (0 bytes) () 08/21/2024 postreply 09:08:09

• Yes learned. Thanks for sharing! -瓷善家- ♀ (0 bytes) () 08/21/2024 postreply 09:58:25

• Idioms sorted for better retention. Good job! -7grizzly- ♂ (0 bytes) () 08/21/2024 postreply 09:25:20

• Thx 7G! ;-) -最西边的岛上- ♀ (0 bytes) () 08/21/2024 postreply 09:27:48

• Noted! Costco price code cracked -移花接木- ♂ (0 bytes) () 08/21/2024 postreply 09:56:40

• yes, victory 4 all! ;-) -最西边的岛上- ♀ (0 bytes) () 08/21/2024 postreply 10:05:28

• 这些idioms 短小精悍。下次到Costco 把这个图带上。 -天边一片白云- ♀ (0 bytes) () 08/21/2024 postreply 16:38:48

• Hahaha, don’t let Costco people see it. :-)) -最西边的岛上- ♀ (0 bytes) () 08/21/2024 postreply 17:30:06

• Why not post it one by one for twelve times? -妖妖灵- ♀ (0 bytes) () 08/21/2024 postreply 19:04:18

• as they are all related & came as a set from the same source -最西边的岛上- ♀ (0 bytes) () 08/21/2024 postreply 19:13:33

• felt it might be more useful to readers this way ;-) -最西边的岛上- ♀ (0 bytes) () 08/21/2024 postreply 19:15:07