英语中表示身体部位的单词短语常被用来其他的比喻寓意，有的还非常地贴切，如 come to a head 和 find one's feet 等等，那么类似地表示数字的单词短语也常被用作比喻意义，如 at sixes and sevens 和 dress (up) to the nines 等等。
come to a head 到了关键时刻、危急关头：These problems came to a head in September when five of the station's journalists were sacked.这些问题在9月份达到了关键时刻，当时电视台的5名记者被解雇。Tensions in our community came to a head following the mayor's insensitive comments.市长发表了麻木不仁的评论之后，我们社区的紧张局势达到了危急关头。
find one's feet 适应新环境、站稳脚跟：I'm new to this city, so I'm still finding my feet.I only recently joined the firm so I'm still finding my feet.
After caring for three sick kids all week, I'm totally at sixes and sevens.
照顾了三个生病的孩子一个星期后，我变得杂乱无章。
We've been at sixes and sevens in the office this week.Jackie went out dressed to the nines.The masked ball was excellent. You should have seen the costumes. Everyone was dressed to the nines.这个假面舞会很棒。你应该看看服装的。每个人都打扮得漂漂亮亮的。
跟乱七八糟的表达方式类似，半斤八两可以用地道的英语表达是 six of one and half a dozen of the other，用来比喻差不多或相差不远等，例如：A: Shall we give her chocolates or flowers?B: I don't know, it's six of one and half a dozen of the other.If I go north or south, I will turn up at the same location. It is six of one, half dozen of the other.如果我往北或南走，我会在同一地点出现。这没什么太大的区别。We can go to the shopping mall first or at the festival. It is six of one and half a dozen of the other.我们可以先去购物中心，也可以在节日时去。这没什么太大的区别。
就像上面提到的表示身体部位的单词组成的短语常用来作比喻，其中 neck and neck 也可以用来比喻不相上下或并驾齐驱，例如：The two boys ran toward the finish line neck and neck.The election is neck and neck. We're going to have to wait until the very last votes are tallied.
我们还可以使用一个介词短语 on a par with sb/sth 来表示不相上下或相提并论等，例如：Parts of Glasgow are on a par with the worst areas of London and Liverpool for burglaries.格拉斯哥的部分地区与伦敦和利物浦入室盗窃最严重的地区不相上下。It took courage and confidence in this girl to place herself on a par with her father, a distant figure with a terrifying reputation.这个女孩需要勇气和信心才能与她父亲相提并论，她父亲是一个远在天边的人物，有着可怕的名声。
1. insensitive [ɪnˈsensətɪv] 意为“漠不关心的，麻木不仁的”等2. costume [ˈkɒstjuːm] 意为“服装，装束”等3. tally [ˈtæli] 意为“记录，计算，合计”等
