What does 6 to 1 half a dozen to the other mean?

Definition of it’s six of one, half (a) dozen of the other US, informal. —used to say that one does not see any real difference between two possible choices.

Where did half a dozen come from?

The expression comes from the fact that half a dozen is an expression that means six. The idiom six of one, half a dozen of the other came into use in the 1700s. The earliest known use of the expression occurred in a journal kept by a British naval officer, Ralph Clark, in 1790.

What is the origin of do it up brown?

DO IT UP BROWN – “Do something well; do it to one’s satisfaction. In England the phrase has had the meaning of deceive or take in. Either way, it carries the implication of doing something thoroughly and probably comes from the roasting of meat, yielding a brown color that is the result of thorough cooking.

What’s the meaning of half a dozen?

six
Definition of half a dozen : six half a dozen eggs.

Where does the phrase sixes come from?

The term at sixes and sevens goes back at least to the 1300s. Originally, the phrase was rendered on six and seven, and referred to a dice game where throwing on a six or seven meant risking one’s entire fortune. Until the 1600s, on sixes and sevens meant to take a careless risk.

What’s a horse a piece?

“A horse apiece”, meaning “six of one, half a dozen of the other,” comes from an old dice gambling game to describe a draw. This is part of a complete episode.

What does the phrase a horse a piece mean?

“A horse apiece” means, as you supposed, “more or less equal” or “six of one, half dozen of the other.” Field researchers for The Dictionary of American Regional English (DARE) first heard “a horse apiece” in 1980, but the phrase is undoubtedly much older.

What does do her brown mean?

DO UP BROWN – 1. To swindle, victimize, trounce, or defeat (someone) thoroughly. 1824 in Partridge. He is said to be “cooked,” or “done brown” and “dished.” 2. To do (something) thoroughly, excellently, or perfectly.

Do it up brown definition?

do it up brown in American English informal. to do thoroughly. When they entertain, they really do it up brown. See full dictionary entry for brown.

What is the origin of dozen?

Etymology. The English word dozen comes from the old form douzaine, a French word meaning “a group of twelve” (“Assemblage de choses de même nature au nombre de douze” (translation: A group of twelve things of the same nature), as defined in the eighth edition of the Dictionnaire de l’Académie française).

How much is 5dozen?

60 eggs are in five dozens.