盛裝打扮

Today on Language Snacks we take a look at the expression dressed to the nines.

Let’s read the dialogue.

A： Do you want to see my wedding photos？

B： OK， let’s have a look. Wow look at you—dressed to the nines！

A： I know. I rented the suit especially for the wedding.

B： Will you rent one for your funeral too？

A： Good idea.

If you go to a party， or perhaps a formal occasion， you may go dressed to the nines， or in other words， smartly dressed in formal clothes. Nobody knows exactly where the expression comes from， although a few hundred years ago， 9 symbolized the best or perfection. A theory I quite like though， is that 9 yards of cloth were needed by a tailor to make a suit.

Whatever the meaning， I’ll be dressed to the nines when I go to my friend’s wedding next weekend.

And that’s it for now—join us again for some more Language Snacks.

Exercises

1. If you are dressed to the nines， how are you dressed？

2. What did the number 9 symbolize a few hundred years ago？

3. How much cloth did a tailor need to make a suit？

4. Where am “I” going next weekend？

Answers

1. Smartly dressed/ formal clothes.

2. The best or perfection.

3. 9 yards.

4. To a friend’s wedding.