six

at sixes and sevens in a state of total confusion or disarray.

☞ This phrase originated as gambling slang and may be an alteration or corruption of Old French cinque (five) and sice (six), these being the highest numbers on dice. The idea of risking all your goods on the two highest numbers led to the idea of carelessness and neglect of your possessions and eventually to the development of the phrase's current meaning.

2008Guardian The countries of the European Union have been at sixes and sevens in their relations with Moscow.

hit (or knock) someone for six affect someone very severely; utterly overwhelm someone. British informal

☞ In this expression, six stands for six runs, referring to a hit in cricket which sends the ball clear over the boundary of the playing area for a score of six runs.

six feet under dead and buried. informal

☞ Six feet is the traditional depth of a grave.

six of the best: seebest.

six of one and half a dozen of the other used to convey that there is no real difference between two alternatives.