In sixes and seven

[learning101]

Hi all,
I just want to know if I use the idiom correctly in my context:

‘With 3 minutes left, students answer the exam questions in sixes and seven’

or maybe

‘The last three minutes had thrown students in sixes and seven, scribbling down whatever left that was to say in the paper before the exam ended.’

If my use of idiom is incorrect, is there other idiom I can replace without changing the context.

By the way dear administrator, I do not know that I had posted the question twice. Thought the first post was unsuccessful thus the second post. Sorry for inconvenience it caused.

Thank you

 

[emsr2d2]

Hi all,
I just want to know if I have used the idiom correctly in my context.

1. ‘With [STRIKE]3[/STRIKE] three minutes left, students answer the exam questions in sixes and seven.’

[STRIKE]or maybe[/STRIKE]

2. ‘The last three minutes had thrown students in sixes and seven, scribbling down the final answer before the exam was over.’

If my use of the idiom is incorrect, is there another idiom I can replace it with, without changing the context?

[STRIKE]Thank you.[/STRIKE]

Please note my corrections to the rest of your post above.

Unfortunately, you have got the idiom itself wrong, as well as the usage. The idiom is "to be at sixes and sevens". It means to be in a state of complete confusion or disarray. It doesn't mean to panic or to be frantic, which seems to be what you want it to mean in your context. Also, it's generally used to describe a situation, not people.

I can't think of a particularly useful idiom for your context. I'd say something like "With just three minutes left until the end of the exam, the students were frantically scribbling down the final answers".

 

[learning101]

Hi,
Can you give examples of a situation that will throw student into confusion?

 

[emsr2d2]

Hi.
Can you give examples of a situation that will throw students into confusion?

I suppose you could say something like "I sprang a surprise test on my students this morning. They were at sixes and sevens, frantically trying to remember everything I've taught them this week!"

 

[SoothingDave]

I've never heard of this idiom.

 

[emsr2d2]

I've never heard of this idiom.

I wondered if it might be chiefly BrE.

 

[GoesStation]

I wondered if it might be chiefly BrE.

To be at sixes and sevens is unknown in American English.

 

[Rover_KE]

Not any longer.;-)