UP TO THE NINES, phr. (common).—To perfection.

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  d. 1796.  BURNS (attributed to), On Pastoral Poetry.

        Thou paints auld Nature TO THE NINES,
In thy sweet Caledonian lines.

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  1820.  London Magazine, i., 25. He was always togged out TO THE NINES.

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  1821.  GALT, The Ayrshire Legatees, viii. He’s such a funny man! and touches off the Londoners TO THE NINES.

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  1822.  J. WILSON, Noctes Ambrosianæ, i., 315. That young chiel Gibb hits off a simple scene o’ nature TO THE NINES.

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  1856.  C. READE, It Is Never Too Late to Mend, lxv. Bran-new, polished TO THE NINE.

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  1879.  W. D. HOWELLS, The Lady of the Aroostook, xxvii. I’d know as I see anything wrong in his kind of dressin’ UP TO THE NINES, as you may say. As long’s he’s got the money, I don’t see what harm it is.

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  1891.  N. GOULD, The Double Event, 31. You do things UP TO THE NINES here.

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