THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE
At sixes and sevens
Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.
01 / UNDERSTAND
Meaning in plain English
Confused or badly organised.
02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT
The expression in a sentence
- We were at sixes and sevens after the office move.
03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Quick idiom quiz
Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.
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Can you recall the expression?
Complete the example using the expression from this lesson.
We were ________ after the office move.
Show the answer
At sixes and sevens — Confused or badly organised.
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Make it yours
Write one sentence using “At sixes and sevens” about your own life.
Check your sentence
Does your sentence match this meaning?
Confused or badly organised.
Compare: We were at sixes and sevens after the office move.
Check the spelling and how the expression fits the sentence. Your example can be different.
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GO DEEPER
More ways to understand and use it
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When to use it
Use this informally when a group, place or situation is in a muddle. Cambridge labels it old-fashioned in US English.
More examples in context
- With three versions of the timetable, everyone was at sixes and sevens.
- The kitchen was at sixes and sevens while we prepared two meals at once.
Usage note
Keep both numbers plural: sixes and sevens. It describes confusion, not a score or a precise number of things.
A short conversation
A: Why has nobody started the meeting?
B: We are at sixes and sevens because two invitations gave different times.
A: I will send one clear update.
One more practice question
Which team is at sixes and sevens?
A. A team confused about who should do each task.
B. A team following a clear plan smoothly.
Check your answer
A. Unclear responsibilities leave the team confused and disorganised.
Related lessons
Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.