If any unit on idioms is going to have a sequel it should be those based on numbers. After all, while there are not exactly “countless” examples of such expressions in English, there are a lot. Here are a few more of our favorite idioms from numbers:
At First Sight
As you might expect, this expression is used to describe what you think or feel immediately after you see something for the first time. “Love at first sight” is a related expression used to describe that instant connection some people seem to feel when meeting someone for the first time. In general, though, you can just remember that your initial impression about “at first sight” was probably correct!
On Second Thought
This idiom is almost the opposite of “at first sight” because it describes what happens when people change their minds about something after careful consideration. While “at first sight” is an instant (maybe even emotional) reaction, “on second thought” is based more on thoughtful reconsideration. “On second thought,” for example, “idioms might not be so hard!”
Of Two Minds
To be “of two minds” is to have mixed or uncertain feelings about a subject. If you are having difficulty making a choice between two competing options because both seem equally good – or bad! – then you are probably “of two minds” about it.
Six of One, Half a Dozen of the Other
Not that being “of two minds” is always a bad thing. After all, sometimes the choices you are presented with really are equal. If so then you understand the expression “six of one, half a dozen of the other” even if you have never heard it before. A little explanation will prove that this one looks harder than it really is. Because a dozen is the same as 12, half a dozen is the same as six – which means that, as you might have guessed, someone who offers you “six of one, half a dozen of the other” is really offering you the same thing!