Number Idioms: 30+ Useful Phrases & Idioms Using 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.

Idioms Using Numbers | Image

Useful Idioms using Numbers in English

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