ten

Genius is ten percent inspiration and ninety percent perspiration.

Prov. People get brilliant results primarily by working hard, not because they have special inborn powers. Child: Betty always does the best drawings in art class. She must be a genius. Father: If you worked hard, you could do just as well. Remember, genius is ten percent inspiration and ninety percent perspiration.

See also: and, genius

hang five and hang ten

Sl. to stand toward the front of a surfboard or diving board and hang the toes of one or both feet over the edge. (Surfing.) The coach told her to hang ten and not to look down. Get out there and hang five. You can swim. Nothing can go wrong.

See also: five, hang

He wears a ten-dollar hat on a five-cent head.

Rur. He is stupid but rich. He got the job because he's the boss's son, not because he's smart. He wears a ten-dollar hat on a five-cent head.

See also: hat, head, wear

I wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole.

Cliché I would not have anything to do with it under any circumstances. (Said about something you think is untrustworthy, as in the first example, or in response to a remark that seems to invite a nasty reply, as in the second example. The British version is "I would not touch it with a bargepole.") Jill: This advertisement says I can buy land in Florida for a small investment. Do you think I should? Jane: I wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole. Jane: Can you believe this? Jill said she thinks I'm bossy. You don't think I'm bossy, do you? Mary: I wouldn't touch that with a ten-foot pole.

See also: pole, touch

nine times out of ten

Fig. usually; almost always. Nine times out often people will choose coffee rather than tea.

See also: nine, out, times

nineteen to the dozen

Prov. very rapidly or energetically. Whenever I get together with my cousins, we always gossip away nineteen to the dozen. While Alan got the other ingredients, Jane was chopping up potatoes nineteen to the dozen.

See also: dozen

not touch someone or something with a ten-foot pole

Cliché not to have anything to do with someone or something. (Always negative.) No, I won't hire Fred. I wouldn't touch him with a ten-foot pole. I wouldn't touch that job with a ten-foot pole.

See also: pole, touch

wouldn't touch someone or something with a ten-foot pole

Cliché would not be involved with something under any circumstances. I know about the piece of vacant land for sale on Maple Street. I wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole because there used to be a gas station there and the soil is polluted. Tom said he wouldn't touch Sally with a ten-foot pole.

See also: pole, touch

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be ten/two a penny  (British & Australian)

to be very common TV cookery shows seem to be ten a penny these days.

See also: penny

I wouldn't touch somebody/something with a barge pole.  (British & Australian informal) also I wouldn't touch somebody/something with a ten-foot pole (American & Australian informal)

something that you say which means that you think someone or something is so bad that you do not want to be involved with them in any way If I were you, I wouldn't touch that property with a barge pole.

See also: barge, pole, touch

nine times out of ten

almost always Nine times out of ten when you're dreading an occasion it turns out to be perfectly all right.

See also: nine, out, times

nineteen/ten to the dozen  (British & Australian informal)

if someone is talking nineteen to the dozen, they are talking very fast, without stopping Gaby was chatting away nineteen to the dozen behind me and I couldn't concentrate.

See also: dozen

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nine times out of ten

almost always When a company has to lay off workers, nine times out of ten women employees are the first to be fired.

See also: nine, out, times

not touch something with a ten-foot pole

to not want to become involved with something If I were you, I wouldn't touch that job with a ten-foot pole.

Usage notes: often used as a warning

See also: pole, touch