at sixes and sevens
In a state of confusionIn a state of confusion.
Meaning
2 senses(Commonwealth, Ireland, UK, idiomatic)In a state of confusion.
völlig durcheinander sein
в беспоря́дкеv besporjádke, вверх дномvverx dnom
(Commonwealth, Ireland, UK, idiomatic)Of (groups of) people: in a state of disagreement or dispute.
sich in den Haaren liegen, über Kreuz sein, völlig uneins sein
Translations
6 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 2
Origin
From earlier set all (and other forms) on six and seven, from Middle English setten al atFrom earlier set all (and other forms) on six and seven, from Middle English setten al at (or setten the world on) sixe and sevene (“to risk everything, take a chance”), probably a variant—either an exaggeration or mishearing—of setten on cynk (“number or throw of five on a die”) and sys (“number or throw of six on a die”), referring to the two highest throws and thus the riskiest bets on the dice in dice games.
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