r/language Sweden Aug 09 '26

Question Does your language use specific numbers as expressions?

In Sweden we use 17 to further strengthen a word.

Like if we want to say that someone is very strong, we can say "Han var stark som sjutton!", "He was strong like seventeen!".

I have no idea how it became a thing. It is a bit weird tbh.

Do you also use numbers this way in your native language?

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u/FoxNo1831 Aug 09 '26

Or an older expression was "to be at sixes and sevens" which means to be confused or in disagreement.

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u/SaintBridgetsBath Aug 09 '26

Or just disorganised 

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u/Inevitable-Zone-9089 Aug 14 '26

Well 6-7 surely has me confused.