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number-phrases

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August 14, 2002, 05:36
shufitz
number-phrases
Yesterday, upon hearing Laura Bush referred to as the "First Lady", I thought about such phrases where number is a key part. There seem to be quite a few. To leave room for others, I'll limit myself to "two to a customer": smile

first lady: spouse of the US president
seventh heaven: the most blissful part of heaven (from Dante?)

Who's next?
August 14, 2002, 06:13
arnie
The fourth estate

Thomas Carlyle referred to the three estates who were identified as running the country: the priesthood, the aristocracy and the commons. To these he added a fourth: newspapers.

three sheets in the wind

Drunk. A "sheet" is what landlubbers would call a rope. If a sailing ship has three sheets left flapping, it would be difficult to sail, and veer about unsteadily, in the same manner as sailors after an evening's R & R.
August 14, 2002, 06:14
Morgan
Eleventh hour reprieve - At the last minute, you get a second chance

Does this count? Even though there isn't a specific number, it indicates a number:
To the NTH degree - I can hear my dad saying this when he is fed up with something!
August 14, 2002, 15:02
shufitz
fifth column - a clandestine subversive organization working within a country; an enemy in your midst