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to disregard; to ignore; to forget to perform (a duty); to shirk; to abandon
institute
will
neglect
conserve
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why do you say " be at sixes and sevens?"



 
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why do you say " be at sixes and sevens?" #1 (permalink) Tue Oct 23, 2007 2:47 am   why do you say " be at sixes and sevens?"		  
I thank you all answering me.
In your conversation, there are some expression like "be in mess, be at sixes and sevens".

Would you please explain me the origination of "sixes and sevens"?
I am dying to know.

thanks in advance.
sean kang
Enedle
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sixes and sevens #2 (permalink) Tue Oct 23, 2007 8:57 am   sixes and sevens		  
Hi,

I've found this explanation. The meaning of the expression is to be in a state of confusion:
Quote:
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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why do you say " be at sixes and sevens?" #3 (permalink) Thu Oct 25, 2007 20:56 pm   why do you say " be at sixes and sevens?"		  
I thank on your considerable answer.
it is always clean for me to understand your answer.
appreciate all of you.
Enedle
I'm new here and I like it ;-)


Joined: 08 Mar 2007
Posts: 20
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