OCTOBER 2006
 Hello!
Now that we’re including number puzzles in our repertoire of puzzles, I’ve been noticing how many times numbers crop up in our everyday expressions.
Back to square one means back to the beginning, or starting again. It may have come from snakes and ladders or hopscotch.
To be very happy is to be on cloud nine. This comes from a meteorological ten-part classification of clouds in which the ninth cloud was next to the highest, and appears as a glorious white mountain in the sky.
To be in a state of confusion is to be at sixes and sevens. One possible explanation is that it came from a dispute in England between the Merchant Taylors' and Skinners' Livery Companies about who would take sixth place in order of precedence. In 1515 they decided to take it in turns and at Easter, the companies would swap between sixth and seventh and feast in each others' halls.
In seventh heaven is to be in a state of ecstasy. Seven has been a lucky number since ancient times and is mentioned many times in the Bible, eg God built the world in seven days. In the Catholic faith there ar seven deadly sins and seven sacraments. Nearly all ancient religions adopted this number. The Egyptians had seven gods, Muslims seven heavens, Parsees seven angels and Persians seven sacred horses.
Happy puzzling!
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