Dressed up to the Nines for Sixes and Sevens?

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Quito Quito - 10 Jan 2004 03:51 GMT

Part of the song "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina" says

"All you will see is a girl you once knew,
although she's dressed up to the nines -
for sixes and sevens with you."

What does "dress up to the nines for sixes and sevens" exactly mean?
Does it mean doing more than one can?

Thanks!

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Robert Lieblich - 10 Jan 2004 03:58 GMT

> Part of the song "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina" says
>
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> What does "dress up to the nines for sixes and sevens" exactly mean?
> Does it mean doing more than one can?

There are two separate phrases involved. As to each, Google is your
friend:

<http://alt-usage-english.org/excerpts/fxdresse.html>
<http://www.quinion.com/words/qa/qa-nin1.htm>

<http://home.t-online.de/home/toni.goeller/idiom_wm/id53.htm>
<http://www.bartleby.com/59/4/atsixesandse.html>
<http://www.quinion.com/words/qa/qa-six1.htm>

How exactly these phrases are supposed to fit the song lyric is
beyond me, but your intepretation is far off the mark.

Signature

Bob Lieblich
AKA Googleman

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Quito Quito - 11 Jan 2004 05:54 GMT

Thank you and others very much for provding the links and other explanations.

Roland

> <http://alt-usage-english.org/excerpts/fxdresse.html>
> <http://www.quinion.com/words/qa/qa-nin1.htm>
> <http://home.t-online.de/home/toni.goeller/idiom_wm/id53.htm>
> <http://www.bartleby.com/59/4/atsixesandse.html>
> <http://www.quinion.com/words/qa/qa-six1.htm>

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John Dean - 10 Jan 2004 15:02 GMT

> Part of the song "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina" says
>
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> Thanks!

The actual lyrics are ''... *at* sixes and sevens''

So Evita is all dolled up (dressed to the nines) but at odds/in conflict
with the Argentine people (at sixes and sevens)
--
John 'And she gets too hungry for dinner at eight' Dean
Oxford
De-frag to reply

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DE781 - 10 Jan 2004 19:55 GMT

Quito:

>Part of the song "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina" says
>
>"All you will see is a girl you once knew,
>although she's dressed up to the nines -
>for sixes and sevens with you."

If you wanna download the song, and make sure it's a *good* version, get the
"Miami Remix". It's the one that the radio played when the song first came
out, back in the day.

>What does "dress up to the nines for sixes and sevens" exactly mean?
>Does it mean doing more than one can?

In Madonna's case, it probably means going out an hoing it up.

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Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2004

Dressed up to the Nines for Sixes and Sevens?