Today on Language Snacks we take a look at the expression dressed to the nines.
Let’s listen to the dialogue.
A: Do you want to see my wedding photos?
B: OK, let's have a look. Wow look at you - dressed to the nines.
A: I know. I hired the suit especially for the wedding.
If you go to a party or perhaps a formal occasion you may go dressed to the nines, or in other words, smartly dressed in formal clothes. Nobody knows exactly where the expression comes from, although a few hundred years ago, 9 symbolised the best or perfection. A theory I quite like though, is that 9 metres of cloth was needed by a tailor to make a suit.
Whatever the meaning, I’ll be dressed to the nines when I go to my friend’s wedding next week.
And that’s it for now – join us again for some more Language Snacks. You’ve been listening to English Online – the podcast for English learners in China.
Exercise
1. If you are dressed to the nines, how are you dressed?
2. What did the number 9 symbolise a few hundred years ago?
3. How much cloth did a tailor need to make a suit?
