sixer: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Sports (cricket), Australian/British colloquial
Quick answer
What does “sixer” mean?
A score of six runs in cricket, typically from a single hit that clears the boundary without bouncing.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A score of six runs in cricket, typically from a single hit that clears the boundary without bouncing.
Informal term for a six-pack of beer or other beverages; also used in some contexts to refer to a six-month prison sentence or a person who is exceptionally good at something (dated slang).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, primarily a cricket term. In American English, almost unknown except in cricket contexts. Australian English uses it for a six-pack of beer.
Connotations
UK: sporting achievement. Australia: casual drinking, social. US: niche, unfamiliar to general public.
Frequency
High frequency in UK/Commonwealth cricket commentary; moderate in Australian casual speech; very low in US.
Grammar
How to Use “sixer” in a Sentence
hit + sixerscore + sixerbuy + sixeropen + sixerVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
In Australia: 'Grab a sixer from the fridge.' In UK/India: 'He hit three sixers in that over.'
Technical
Cricket commentary and statistics.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sixer”
- Using 'sixer' in formal writing.
- Assuming Americans understand the term.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is informal and context-specific, mainly used in sports commentary or casual conversation.
Rarely, and only in the context of cricket, which is not widely followed in the US.
Yes, in Australian English it commonly means a six-pack of beer, and historically it could refer to a six-month prison sentence.
It is pronounced /ˈsɪksə/, with the final 'r' typically not strongly pronounced in non-rhotic accents.
A score of six runs in cricket, typically from a single hit that clears the boundary without bouncing.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “knock it for a sixer”
- “chuck a sixer”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SIX + ER = someone/something that gives you six (runs or beers).
Conceptual Metaphor
ACHIEVEMENT IS HEIGHT (a sixer sails high over the boundary).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'sixer' MOST commonly used in Australian English?