number

someone's/something's days are numbered

if someone's or something's days are numbered, they will not exist for much longer. As our local cinema struggles to survive, it seems clear that its days are numbered.

See also: days

do a number on someone

to treat someone very badly or unfairly. I'm not surprised Caroline doesn't like him. He really did a number on her at work.

have someone's number (informal)

to know that someone is trying to do something bad and therefore be able to deal with them. I'm not worried about Taylor. I've got his number and I know what to expect.

a number cruncher (humorous)

1. someone whose job is to work with numbers and mathematics. She may not look like a number cruncher but she's with a big firm of accountants.

2. a computer that is able to solve complicated problems of mathematics. The television broadcasters will use their number crunchers on election night to try and forecast the result.

number crunching

a number cruncher - someone whose job is to work with numbers and mathematics. She's useless with figures - it's her assistant who does all the number crunching for her.

See also: crunch

someone's number is up (informal)

if someone's number is up, they are going to die or to suffer. This car came hurtling towards me and I thought my number was up.

number one (informal)

the most important person, especially when you think this is yourself and you do not care about anyone else. Half of me thinks I should just look out for number one and not give a damn about anyone else.

a numbers game

the use of numbers to represent facts in an argument, especially when it makes people believe things that are not true. It's just a numbers game and everyone does it. You manipulate the statistics till they suit your argument.

See also: game

public enemy number one

someone or something that many people do not like or approve of. Inflation has been public enemy number one for this government.

See also: enemy, public

There's safety in numbers.

something that you say which means if people do something difficult or unpleasant together, they are less likely to get harmed or blamed. Working on the principle that there's safety in numbers, we decided we should all go and complain together.

See also: safety

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someone's/something's days are numbered

someone or something will not exist for much longer. I know my car's days are numbered, but I hope it will last just a little while longer. My days are numbered, but I hope I can live long enough to see my grandchild.

See also: days

do a number on someone/something

to hurt or damage someone or something. Dairy foods do a number on my stomach. This case has really done a number on the judge – he looks much older than he did just a few months ago.

have (got) someone's number

to understand the way someone behaves. They've got our number – they play harder against us than anybody else. She seems to know exactly what people our age want – she definitely has our number.

someone's number is up

someone is going to die. I don't worry about flying. I figure if your number's up, your number's up.

(there is) safety in numbers

being in a group reduces risk. We stuck together because we were new in the city and felt there was safety in numbers.

See also: safety