eighty-seven
HighNeutral to informal; used in all registers when referring to the number, slightly informal in extended metaphorical usage.
Definition
Meaning
The cardinal number 87, equal to eighty plus seven.
A metaphorical expression for a large but indefinite quantity, often used in the idiomatic phrase "eighty-seven different things/ways."
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
In its core meaning, it is a precise numeral. Its extended use is hyperbolic and approximative, signaling 'a great many'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in numeral usage. The metaphorical use is slightly more common in American English.
Connotations
Neutral as a number. The hyperbolic use can convey mild exasperation or overwhelm.
Frequency
Equally frequent as a numeral. The metaphorical idiom is of moderate/low frequency.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[numeral determiner] (e.g., eighty-seven people)[adjective postmodifier] (e.g., He is eighty-seven.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “There are eighty-seven different reasons why... (hyperbolic for 'many reasons')”
- “I've told you eighty-seven times! (hyperbolic for 'many times')”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"The merger is projected to affect eighty-seven positions."
Academic
"The sample consisted of eighty-seven participants."
Everyday
"My grandmother is eighty-seven and still gardens."
Technical
"The error code 87 indicates a peripheral failure."
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- An eighty-seven-year lease is quite standard.
- She scored an eighty-seven percent on her mock exam.
American English
- An eighty-seven-year-old veteran spoke at the ceremony.
- He drove an '87 Mustang.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My flat is number eighty-seven.
- I have eighty-seven pence in my pocket.
- The book has eighty-seven pages in the first chapter.
- Approximately eighty-seven people attended the meeting.
- The study followed eighty-seven patients over a five-year period.
- He listed eighty-seven distinct arguments against the proposal, which felt rather excessive.
- The architect's plans were revised eighty-seven times before receiving final approval, a testament to the client's exacting standards.
- In his polemic, he identified eighty-seven separate flaws in the prevailing economic theory.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a piano: the white keys might number around 87 on some models (52 white + 36 black = 88 total). Eighty-seven is just one key short of a full set.
Conceptual Metaphor
QUANTITY IS NUMBER (the specific, large number 87 metaphorically stands for a large, overwhelming quantity).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- No direct trap for the numeral. The hyperbolic idiom "eighty-seven different things" should not be translated literally into Russian as "восемьдесят семь разных вещей" as it would be understood as a precise, odd number, not an idiom for 'many'. Use "куча" or "множество" instead.
Common Mistakes
- Writing as one word: *eightseven (incorrect).
- In hyphenation: 'eighty seven' is often seen but 'eighty-seven' is the standard form for the cardinal number under one hundred.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'eighty-seven' most likely being used hyperbolically?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, when used as a compound adjective before a noun (e.g., an eighty-seven-year-old man) or as the cardinal number under one hundred, it is standard to hyphenate: eighty-seven.
Yes, primarily. It functions as a numeral noun, e.g., "Eighty-seven is a prime number?" (It is not prime, as it's divisible by 3 and 29).
The ordinal form is 'eighty-seventh' (87th).
It is a recognized pattern in informal English (using any large, specific number for exaggeration, like 'a million' or 'forty-seven'), but it is not as fixed or common as idioms with 'dozen' or 'hundred'. Its use is stylistic and context-dependent.