Expressions with numbers from 1 to 10.

Understanding a native English speaker means knowing certain colloquial expressions. Even if we know many words and can put them into a sentence because we have learned a series of grammatical rules that allow us to know how to construct them, that is not enough.

A language is a living entity, which changes and evolves according to the society and the environment in which we live. New words are added and others are dropped.

Spoken English is made up of expressions that often do not have a literal translation in Spanish but are widely used in any type of context and are important to know.

In this case we have focused on expressions that have as a common feature the numbers from one to ten.

1. ONE
From day one. That happens ever since the very beginning.
If you want this project to be successful you must work hard from day one.

Got it in one! You guessed!
Don't tell me, you've lost your keys again.
Got it in one.

2. TWO
Put two and two together. Guessing what’s happening after seeing or hearing something.
All you have to do is to put two and two together, and you'll know what happened between them.

That makes two of us. We are both in the same situation.
I didn't understand anything the teacher said. That makes two of us.

3. THREE
On the count of three. After I’ve counted one, two, three.
On the count of three, whoever knows the answer can raise their hand.

Three cheers for…! To shout three times to show approval or congratulate someone.
Three cheers for our coach!

4. FOUR
On all fours. With your hands and knees on the ground.
His leg was injured, so he had to go on all fours to reach the phone and call an ambulance.

The four corners of the Earth / world. Everywhere in the world.
The pandemic has spread to the four corners of the Earth.

5. FIVE
Give me five. To ask someone to hit their open hand against your hand in order to celebrate something.
You are a finalist now! Give me five!

Take five. To have a break.
We've been working hard. What about taking five?

6. SIX
Knock / hit somebody for six. To make someone feel shocked or upset.
Having to close his business down knocked him for six.

At sixes and sevens. Disorganized, being a mess.
I left the kids alone just for half an hour and when I came back the house was all at sixes and sevens.

7. SEVEN
Be in seventh heaven. Extremely happy.
She was in seventh heaven when she could hold her new born baby in her arms.

24/7. All the time.
Our business offers a 24/7 service where our clients can make any enquiries.

8. EIGHT
Have one over the eight. To have drunk a bit too much.
You shouldn't drive. You've had one over the eight.

Behind the eight ball. At a disadvantage.
We need to win the match or we’ll be behind the eight ball.

9. NINE
Nine times out of ten. Nearly always.
When your partner tells you "we need to talk", nine times out of ten that means bad news.

Be dressed up to the nines. To wear formal clothes because you are attending a special event.
At the Oscars gala, everyone is dressed up to the nines.

10. TEN
Ten to one. It is very likely for something to happen.
Ten to one he will have forgotten to bring the tickets.

To be ten a penny. When something is so common that it’s no longer special or unusual.
A few years ago there were hardly any take away restaurants but now there are ten a penny.

If you know other expressions that contain numbers in English, put them in the comments.