What Does "Nine Times Out of Ten" Mean?
"Nine times out of ten" is an English idiom. It is an expression indicating a high probability or likelihood of something happening.Examples in Sentences
Here are three examples of the idiom "nine times out of ten" used in a sentence:- Nine times out of ten, he's the first one to arrive at the office in the morning.
- In cooking, following the recipe precisely results in success nine times out of ten.
- She was a reliable team member who delivered quality work nine times out of ten.
What Is an Idiom?
An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Nine Times Out of Ten" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.
A Quick Test
You now know what "nine times out of ten" means, but are you good at English idioms? Let's see!Gold
Silver
Bronze
- This test has questions.
- A correct answer is worth 5 points.
- You can get up to 5 bonus points for a speedy answer.
- Some questions demand more than one answer. You must get every part right.
- Beware! Wrong answers score 0 points.
- 🏆 If you beat one of the top 3 scores, you will be invited to apply for the Hall of Fame.
Scoring System
Guru (+)
Hero (+)
Captain (+)
Sergeant (+)
Recruit (+)
Guru (+)
Hero (+)
Captain (+)
Sergeant (+)
Recruit (+)
- Do you disagree with something on this page?
- Did you spot a typo?