Have you ever seen someone so well - dressed that they look ready to walk onto the red carpet ? To describe someone who ’s gone all out , position on their finest apparel to make a stylish belief , you might say they havedressed to the nine .
But what does this set phrase imply and where does it come from ?
‘Dressed to the Nines’ Meaning
When someone is lop to the nines , they ’re in their finest , most polished clothing . This phrase suggests they ’re wear the absolute best they have , whether for a special event or just to impress .
It does n’t mean they ’re simply neat or put - together ; instead , they ’re sharp in their appearance , with every detail thoughtfully select . From head to toe , they ’re direct for panache perfection .
One famous lesson of people dressed to the nines is the Met Gala , where celebrities jade extravagant clothing to fit a idea .
Origins of the Phrase ‘Dressed to the Nines’
The origins of " snip to the nines " are murky . One commonly repeated account suggest a connectedness to the nine muse of ancient Greece , who inspired creative thinking and beauty . Being " prune to the nine " could suggest at embody all the grace and civilisation these nine muses — including Clio , Thalia and Calliope — represented .
It could also be in reference to another group of nine , the Nine Worthies , which are part of pagan and Jewish account .
One very tenacious theory links the phrase to military uniforms , where " line up to the club " bring up to soldiers in delicately smart uniforms quick for inspection .
In Scottish verse , formulate like " bonny lines " and " the whole nine yards " come out , which some believe partake the same precept of get all out . There ’s also the theory that the phrase was at one period heard falsely .
But despite these frequent attempt to connect the dots , none of the supposed explanations stands out as the definitive origin . The troublesome number nine has leave room for debate . This set phrase in all likelihood grew out of several cultural influence rather than one clear origin .
3 Examples of ‘Dressed to the Nines’ in Everyday Conversation
The phrase " attired to the ennead " point up in conversations whenever someone ’s look extra svelte or quick for a special function . Here are some examples of how to utilise it :
We make this article in conjunctive with AI applied science , then made sure it was fact - ascertain and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor in chief .
