Language is not only made-up of words . Numbers are also important to communicating our thoughts . So , today , we talk about some common English expressions that use numbers . Let's start with zero and the expression to zero in . Zeroing in means directing all of your attention on something or someone . We often say what that something is . For example , the defense lawyers were able to zero in on the testimony of an important witness and find problems with it . Here is another example , I know a woman who can zero in on any relationship problem and find a solution . This expression can also mean to take aim directly at something . For example , when taking a picture , a photographer might zero in on a subject . And it is the job of a quarterback in an American football game to zero in on a receiver – the player catching the ball . Other words that help to explain the expression to zero in are to focus and concentrate on . As verbs , these words both mean to direct your attention on something or someone . Now , let's move to the numbers six and seven . If something is at sixes and sevens , it is in a state of confusion or disorder . In other words , it is all messed up ! At sixes and sevens may also mean a state of disagreement between two or more people . For example , when the manager left without a word the workplace was at sixes and sevens . Nobody knew which way was up ! (If you don't know which way is up – you are very confused .) Word experts say this expression may have started in the 1300s . At that time , it meant taking a careless risk . Around the middle of the 1600s , the meaning changed to mean a state of confusion . Being at sixes and sevens is the opposite of being a ten . If something is a ten , it is really great . It is perfect or nearly perfect . This usage comes from the highest rank on a scale of one to ten . For example , on a scale of one to 10 my recent trip to Bangladesh was a ten . I loved every minute ! Now , let's talk about our last expression : to 86 something . If you 86 something , you get rid of it . You throw it out , or you don't use it . If I pitch an idea to a group and they 86 it , they do not want it and do not plan to use it . Experts at Merriam-Webster's online dictionary explain that this expression may have come from 1930s business slang meaning that an item was sold out . Other experts think the only reason to 86 something means to get rid of it is because 86 rhymes with nix . “Nix ” means to cancel or get rid of something . Have fun using these number expressions in your next English conversation .