Question

Dressed to the Nines wearing fashionable clothing; dressed to attract attention

Accepted Answer

When Ramon came into the gym on the night of the dance, he was dressed to the nines. There are a number of theories about the word "nines" in this idiom that dates back at least to the 18th century. Two possibilities are that nine is a mystical or sacred number in numerology (3 x 3) and represents perfection. Another theory is that the saying comes from an Old English expression "dressed to then eyne" which meant dressed fashionably from your toes right up to the eyes ("to then eyne"). Over time the letter "n" shifted one space to the right and "eyne" became "neyne" and eventually "nines." The saying is sometimes expressed as "dressed to the teeth" or "dressed to kill." Kill means to impress someone, not to murder them.

Idiom	Dressed to the Nines
Example	When Ramon came into the gym on the night of the dance, he was dressed to the nines.
Meaning	wearing fashionable clothing; dressed to attract attention
Origin	There are a number of theories about the word "nines" in this idiom that dates back at least to the 18th century. Two possibilities are that nine is a mystical or sacred number in numerology (3 x 3) and represents perfection. Another theory is that the saying comes from an Old English expression "dressed to then eyne" which meant dressed fashionably from your toes right up to the eyes ("to then eyne"). Over time the letter "n" shifted one space to the right and "eyne" became "neyne" and eventually "nines." The saying is sometimes expressed as "dressed to the teeth" or "dressed to kill." Kill means to impress someone, not to murder them.

Dressed Nines Number Ramon Gym Night Dance Wearing