UP TO THE NINES, phr. (common).To perfection.
d. 1796. BURNS (attributed to), On Pastoral Poetry.
Thou paints auld Nature TO THE NINES, | |
In thy sweet Caledonian lines. |
1820. London Magazine, i., 25. He was always togged out TO THE NINES.
1821. GALT, The Ayrshire Legatees, viii. Hes such a funny man! and touches off the Londoners TO THE NINES.
1822. J. WILSON, Noctes Ambrosianæ, i., 315. That young chiel Gibb hits off a simple scene o nature TO THE NINES.
1856. C. READE, It Is Never Too Late to Mend, lxv. Bran-new, polished TO THE NINE.
1879. W. D. HOWELLS, The Lady of the Aroostook, xxvii. Id know as I see anything wrong in his kind of dressin UP TO THE NINES, as you may say. As longs hes got the money, I dont see what harm it is.
1891. N. GOULD, The Double Event, 31. You do things UP TO THE NINES here.