seven

a seven-day wonder

Fig. a person or a process supposedly perfected in only seven days. (Sarcastic.) Tommy is no seven-day wonder. It took him 6 years to get through high school!

See also: wonder

at sixes and sevens

lost in bewilderment; at loose ends. Mrs. Smith is at sixes and sevens since the death of her husband. Bill is always at sixes and sevens when he's home by himself.

See also: and, six

Keep a thing seven years and you'll (always) find a use for it.

Prov. If you keep a seemingly useless thing for seven years, you will supposedly have some occasion to use it during that time. Jill: My mother sent me a four-foot-tall ceramic vase for my birthday. What can I possibly use it for? Jane: Keep it seven years and you'll find some use for it.

See also: and, find, keep, thing, use, year

seven-year itch

a real or imagined longing for other women in a man's seventh year of marriage. Looks like Jack has the seven-year itch. The seven-year itch is just a rumor.

See also: itch

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a nine/one/seven-day wonder

someone or something that causes interest or excitement for a short period but is then quickly forgotten His music was derided by an older generation convinced that he was a nine-day wonder.

See also: wonder

be at sixes and sevens  (informal)

to be confused or badly organized We were at sixes and sevens for about a week after we moved in.

See also: and, six

the seven year itch  (humorous)

if someone who is married gets the seven year itch, they become bored with their relationship after about seven years and often want to start a sexual relationship with another person He keeps talking about all the women he knew before we were married - I think he's got the seven-year itch.

See also: itch, year