eighty-sixth
LowNeutral to formal (ordinal/fraction). Informal/Slang (verb).
Definition
Meaning
The ordinal number corresponding to the cardinal number eighty-six; the position in a sequence after eighty-fifth and before eighty-seventh.
Can represent a fractional division (one part out of eighty-six equal parts). In informal contexts, used to denote the act of refusing service or rejecting something (verb form 'to eighty-six').
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As an ordinal/fraction, it is formal and precise. The verb 'eighty-six' (to discard, cancel, or refuse service) is slang, primarily used in American English in restaurant/bar contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The ordinal/fraction usage is identical. The slang verb 'to eighty-six' is understood but less common and more of a cultural import in the UK.
Connotations
The ordinal is neutral. The slang verb has connotations of rejection, scarcity, or removal.
Frequency
The ordinal is rarely used in everyday conversation. The slang verb is moderately frequent in specific American service industries.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
the eighty-sixth [noun]eighty-sixth in [sequence]one eighty-sixth ofVocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “eighty-sixed (v.): got rid of, rejected.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in sequencing long lists or editions (e.g., 'the eighty-sixth quarterly report').
Academic
Used in historical sequencing, fractional mathematics, or statistical rankings.
Everyday
Almost exclusively for birthdays/anniversaries or the slang verb.
Technical
Precise ordinal/fractional designation in mathematics, manufacturing, or cataloguing.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The manager decided to eighty-six that promotional offer after a week.
- They had to eighty-six the last guest for causing a disturbance.
American English
- Eighty-six the tuna special, we're out of wasabi.
- The bartender eighty-sixed him for trying to start a fight.
adverb
British English
- He finished eighty-sixth in the race.
American English
- She placed eighty-sixth overall.
adjective
British English
- She celebrated her eighty-sixth birthday with a large family gathering.
- This is the eighty-sixth page of the manuscript.
American English
- He finished eighty-sixth in the Boston Marathon.
- We're on the eighty-sixth floor of the skyscraper.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My grandmother is eighty-six years old.
- I live on the eighty-sixth floor? No way!
- He came in eighty-sixth out of two hundred runners.
- Chapter eighty-six is the longest in the book.
- The resolution was adopted by a vote of eighty-six in favour to twelve against.
- Approximately one eighty-sixth of the total sample was contaminated.
- The eighty-sixth iteration of the software included groundbreaking machine learning algorithms.
- The slang term 'to eighty-six' someone likely originates from 1930s American restaurant jargon.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'eighty' (80) followed by 'sixth' (6th). For the verb, imagine a bar with 86 items on the menu, and one gets crossed off.
Conceptual Metaphor
POSITION IS A NUMBER (ordinal), REJECTION IS A NUMBER (slang verb).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Direct translation as 'восемьдесят шестой' is correct for the ordinal. The slang verb has no direct equivalent and must be explained contextually.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'eight-sixth' or 'eighty-six'. Incorrect pronunciation of the '-th' cluster in 'sixth'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'eighty-sixth' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, as a compound ordinal number (adjective/adverb), it is typically hyphenated: eighty-sixth.
The etymology is uncertain but is widely believed to originate from 20th-century American restaurant slang, possibly from rhyming slang for 'nix' or from the standard size of a soda fountain glass (86 ounces).
Carefully pronounce the /ks/ cluster followed by the /θ/ sound: 'siks-th'. It's common to simplify it slightly in rapid speech.
Yes, it can function as a noun meaning 'the eighty-sixth person or thing' or 'one of eighty-six equal parts' (e.g., 'He was the eighty-sixth to arrive', 'An eighty-sixth of the estate').