There are two types of number idioms in English. First, there are idioms that include a certain number, like two, fifty, two, or even one million. In these idioms, a number is used figuratively to convey nonliteral meaning that is different than the number itself. Then, there are idioms that include the word “number” itself. These types of idioms are commonly used in everyday conversations. Here are number idioms to make your English a million times better.
English Idioms That Use Specific Numbers
A Dime a Dozen: 1. very common and easily found 2. plentiful and of little to no value 3. common and therefore cheap.
A Hundred and Ten Percent: a hundred and ten percent, used as an adverb or adjective, means absolute, extreme, complete, extremely, absolutely, without a doubt, etc.
Back To Square One: to go back to square one means to return to the beginning and repeat something, usually after a plan or effort completely fails; to start over. This idiom is used in the same way as back to the drawing board.
Baker’s Dozen: thirteen of anything, especially bread or pastry items.
Be a 10, to: to be a 10 means the best looking on a scale of 1 to 10; very attractive; exceptionally gorgeous; a perfect woman in terms of look. This idiom is almost exclusively applied to females but can be applied to males.
Behind the Eight Ball: to be in a difficult or awkward situation; to be at a disadvantage; to be out of luck, in a losing position; to be baffled as to what to do or how to proceed.
Break the Fourth Wall: in regards to fiction in theater, television, and film, to break the fourth wall means to break the imaginary barrier that separates the characters and the audience. If a character refers to, acknowledges, or addresses the audience, they are breaking the fourth wall. This may be done intentionally or unintentionally but it is often done intentionally for comedic effect.
Eleventh Hour, at the: when something occurs ‘at the eleventh hour’ it is occurring at the last possible moment, when there is almost no time left and it is almost too late.
Fifty-fifty: fifty-fifty means shared evenly; equal.
Five-finger Discount: an act of shoplifting or stealing from a retail shop.
It Takes Two to Tango: during a difficult situation, disagreement, dispute, etc. two parties are involved and both of them must bear some responsibility and blame for the situation.
Million Times, a: a phrase used to mean, many many times, so many that they cannot be counted; a lot of times; an untold number of times; a ridiculously large number. The idiom ‘a million times’ often refers to something being repetitive or extreme. The idiom is similar to other idioms that exaggeratedly use imaginary large numbers for emphasis.
Nine to Five (9 to 5): nine to five means 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and refers to a standard work day or usual office hours; the hours one works on a regular job; a set work schedule that starts and ends at the same time each day.
On Cloud Nine: to be on cloud nine means to be extremely happy and blissful; euphoric; serenely contented.
See Happy Idioms: 22 English Idioms About Happiness.
Two Cents Worth: to put in one’s two cents (worth) means to give one’s opinion even when it is not asked for. Two cents, when used alone, means simply opinion, especially an unwanted one.
Seventh Heaven, in: to be in seventh heaven means to be extremely happy, blissful, or in a state of ecstasy; to be completely satisfied.
Talk Nineteen to the Dozen: when someone talks nineteen to the dozen they are taking very quickly and incessantly without stopping. Can refer to someone who babbles, or who simply talks a lot, whether or not they talk very quickly.
Ten-Dollar Word: a ten-dollar word is an uncommon, difficult, or word that is used in lieu of a simpler, more common word in an effort to sound more intelligent or important; a big and pretentious word.
Two Can Play at that Game: another person can do the same thing or behave the same way; if you do something bad to someone they can do something bad to you; a wronged person can reciprocate.
Two Left Feet: to have two left feet is to be clumsy or awkward, especially in regards to one’s feet. This idiom is usually used to refer to a person’s inability to dance well.
Two Peas in a Pod, like: when two people are like two peas in a pod they are very similar to one another and have a close resemblance.
Two Pennies to Rub Together, to not have: to not have two pennies to rub together means to be broke; very poor; impoverished.
Umpteen: a made-up number that is used to describe an unspecified large amount of something; too many to count; innumerable; plentiful.
Idioms With the Word Number
By the Numbers: when something is done by the numbers it is done in a precise and orderly sequence that is already determined. The idiom alludes to doing things by rote, or mechanically, according to a laid-out plan, without any thought or creativity; following exact rules.
Got Your (or someone’s) Number: when you have got someone’s number, it means you know their true character or intentions and thereby have an advantage.