at sixes and sevens

Definition

In a state of confusion.

Etymology

Unknown, though it may have originated from the game of hazard and the Old French cinc (“five”) and sis (“six”), the riskiest numbers to shoot for, which were misheard and folk-etymologized into English as "six" and "seven".

Example Sentences

• "Yet if his majesty our sovereign lord Should of his own accord Friendly himself invite, And say "I'll be your guest to-morrow night." How should we stir ourselves, call and command All hands to work! Let no man idle stand. … For 'tis a duteous thing To show all honour to an earthly king, And after all our travail and our cost, So he be pleas'd, to think no labour lost. But at the coming of the King of Heaven All's set at six and seven: We wallow in our sin, Christ cannot find a chamber in the inn. We entertain him always like a stranger, And as at first still lodge him in the manger."
• "Oh, what a racket! And everything on deck apparently at sixes and sevens. Mail-bags and passengers mixed up in every direction."
• "A few days after the battle started, we abandoned Pa-chung County. The enemy troops were elated and boasted of their victory. In fact, the loss of Pa-chung County was a great setback for us. The local people, seeing our departure, could not help wavering. Even those engaged in the work of the Soviet government were not altogether clear about the strategy of our army. They were at sixes and sevens, and some went to such lengths as to make preparations for the eventuality that the Red Army might back out of northern Szechwan."