Inspired by the Linda Ronstadt Tumbling Dice thread earlier.....

Does anybody know the meaning/origin of the phrase "I'm all sixes and sevens and nines"?

From poking around on the 'net, I suspect it has some astrological basis, but I wasn't able to find anything definitive.

WMiller Wrote:
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> Inspired by the Linda Ronstadt Tumbling Dice
> thread earlier.....
>
> Does anybody know the meaning/origin of the phrase
> "I'm all sixes and sevens and nines"?
>
> From poking around on the 'net, I suspect it has
> some astrological basis, but I wasn't able to find
> anything definitive.


It is a reference to "craps"---dice game.

Jeez. I'm emabarassed for not being able to at least make that connection! Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

Okay craps players, get me the rest of the way there. I know that 7 is bad unless made on your initial roll. I don't think there is anything special about 6 or 9.

I get the feeling that Sweetcharmedlife could help me out here, but he's in Reno!

[www.crapshero.com]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-02-24 00:34 by Rialb.

I think it could possilby be a british expression.
Ive heard it used as a response to "How Are You?" "Oh, Im sixes and sevens.."

[www.answers.com]:

to be 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 that case, Im often in a state that can be described as Sixes and Sevens.

Me too--lol I never heard of that expression before, interesting.

But the name of the song is "Tumbling Dice" and there is the "lone crap shooter" line.

yeah, I think the lyrics have a ddoulbe meaning and are pretty clever despite how mick has slagged them. He said something like "THe lyrics are crap"

pull yourselves together - it's a brilliant idiom to use! even the etymology fits!
it's from a dice game! and it means confusion! and he threw in the nine as well to prove it!
it's rock & roll crap-shootin poetry! now go and put it on and turn it up way loud!


"What do you want - what?!"
- Keith

with sssoul Wrote:
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> pull yourselves together - it's a brilliant idiom
> to use! even the etymology fits!
> it's from a dice game! and it means confusion! and
> he threw in the nine as well to prove it!
> it's rock & roll crap-shootin poetry! now go and
> put it on and turn it up way loud!


LOL--you got it!

Btw--I think the lyrics are excellent.

Well, there is the phrase "dressed to the nines", so maybe he combined both.

He may be frazzled, but he's looking good!

Ok. Off to Keno's page.

I feel fat.

It can also mean that you don't have exact change, or enough money to cover your bets

Jumpin'JackFrash Wrote:
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> It can also mean that you don't have exact change,
> or enough money to cover your bets


I didnt know that, but it definetley makes sense and fits the song.

>> It can also mean that you don't have exact change,
> or enough money to cover your bets <<

interesting - but what can mean that? to be at sixes and sevens?
or to be sixes sevens and nines?

I f*cking LOVE tumbling dice. When I hear it, i have to listen to that majestic, genius guitar intro a few times.

The groove is just perfect, I love the backing vocals, charlies drums, especially the fill he does during the outro, when it starts up again. It is perhaps my favourite stones song, and i just start swaying, moving, grooving whenever I hear it. I LOVE THE STONES!!!!

Anyway... back to the topic!

_____________________________________________________

What's your favourite flavour?...........Cherry Red!!

I like any phrase which combines six and nine!

It can also refer to your phone, as a way to help make it easier for someone to remember. As in my phone number is 'all sixes and sevens and nines."

Or maybe guitar amplifier settings.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-02-25 22:43 by schillid.

The number of fingers and toes he has.

Maybe it's something that two hydraulic engineers would say to one another while they're reading pressure gauges in the control room of a power plant.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-02-25 23:25 by schillid.

ryanpow Wrote:
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> yeah, I think the lyrics have a ddoulbe meaning
> and are pretty clever despite how mick has
> slagged them. He said something like "THe lyrics
> are crap"


never got that. i think TD is a lyrical masterpiece - check that. a masterpiece, "thru and thru"

Totally agree--up there with all the truly great Stones lyrics.

Unfortunately, that list has not been added to in recent efforts.

Very true. i'm trying to think of the last lyrical masterpiece . . .any thoughts?

Forty Niks Wrote:
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> Very true. i'm trying to think of the last lyrical
> masterpiece . . .any thoughts?


Highwire ? Sex Drive ?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-02-26 06:19 by Erik_Snow.

Erik_Snow Wrote:
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> Forty Niks Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Very true. i'm trying to think of the last
> lyrical
> > masterpiece . . .any thoughts?
>
>
> Highwire ?

Hmmm.........nice enough song, but "masterpiece"?

I suppose the more telling thing is that you went back 15 yrs.

good call, sir snow. though i think 'masterpiece' might be taking it a bit too far. i think i'd have to go back all the way to waiting on a friend. (i find that one very moving. then again, i also cried in the devil wears prada)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-02-26 06:20 by Forty Niks.

Gee Nik, I didn't see that movie, but I did read the book and I am having a difficult time recalling any tear-inducing moments. I did think the book was pretty funny in a "chick-lit" kind of way.

As for the lyrics--I was thinking Some Girls era--though I thought the lyrics for Undercover were pretty cool.

Well, one have to find the golden path between being too honest and being too diplomatic, I thought 15 years was OK.
Stones have done some great songs after Highwire and Sex Drive, but "masterpiece-lyrics"....hmmm, I dunno.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2007-02-26 06:43 by Erik_Snow.

No room for diplomacy--feel free to state your opinion--I do not think we have to worry about offending Mick--lol