at sixes and sevens

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

six /sɪks/   n. [countable]

1. a cardinal number, five plus one.
2. a symbol for this number, as 6 or VI.
3. a set of this many persons or things.

adj. [before a noun]

4. amounting to six in number.

Idioms

5. Idioms at sixes and sevens, in disorder or confusion.

sixth, adj., n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

six  (siks), n. 

1. a cardinal number, five plus one.
2. a symbol for this number, as 6 or VI.
3. a set of this many persons or things.
4. Games a playing card, die face, or half of a domino face with six pips.
5. [Cricket.] a hit in which the ball crosses the boundary line of the field without a bounce, counting six runs for the batsman. Cf. boundary (def. 3).
6. Automotive an automobile powered by a six-cylinder engine.
7. Automotive a six-cylinder engine.
8. at sixes and sevens:
   • in disorder or confusion.
   • in disagreement or dispute.

adj. 

9. amounting to six in number.

• bef. 900; Middle English six, sex, Old English siex, syx, seox, sex; cognate with Dutch zes, Low German ses, German sechs, Old Norse sex, Gothic saihs, Latin sex, Greek héx, Sanskrit ṣaṣ

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

six / sɪks/ noun

1. the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
   See also number1
2. a numeral, 6, VI, etc, representing this number
3. something representing, represented by, or consisting of six units, such as a playing card with six symbols on it
4. Also called: six o'clock six hours after noon or midnight
5. Also called: sixer a stroke in which the ball crosses the boundary without bouncing
6. the six runs scored for such a stroke
7. a division of a Brownie Guide or Cub Scout pack
8. at sixes and sevens ⇒ in disagreement
9. in a state of confusion
10. knock someone for six ⇒ to upset or overwhelm someone completely; stun
11. six of one and half a dozen of the other, six and two threes ⇒ a situation in which the alternatives are considered equivalent

determiner

1. amounting to six: six nations
2. (as pronoun): set the table for six

Etymology: Old English siex; related to Old Norse sex, Gothic saihs, Old High German sehs, Latin sex, Greek hex, Sanskrit sastha