 #2 (permalink) Tue Oct 23, 2007 8:57 am sixes and sevens |
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Hi,
I've found this explanation. The meaning of the expression is to be in a state of confusion:
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The story, more common and very widely believed, traces it (the expression) back to a dispute between two of the ancient livery companies in the City of London.
These companies, trade guilds, grew up from the latter part of the twelfth century as associations to protect their members’ interests. (They were called livery companies because members had the right to wear a distinctive costume or livery.) There was a lot of squabbling with other guilds about precedence in the early days. One especially troublesome dispute concerned the Merchant Taylors Company, whose members were tailors, and the Skinners Company, whose members controlled the trade in furs. In 1484 the then Lord Mayor, Sir Robert Billesden, settled the dispute in a judgement of Solomon by ruling that the two companies should alternate between the sixth and seventh positions in successive years, a ruling still in force. This might seem to settle the matter. What could be clearer? The two companies were permanently at sixes and sevens with each other. |
Alan
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Alan
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