numbers
Preserved but no longer current.
To consult the book of numbers: a term used in the House of Commons, when, instead of answering or confuting a pressing argument, the minister calls for a division, i.e. puts the matter to the vote.
Tham khảo cuốn sách số: một thuật ngữ dùng trong Quốc hội, khi bộ trưởng gọi bỏ phiếu thay vì trả lời hoặc phản bác một lập luận cấp bách
Machine-translated — suggest a fix
Era: ca. 1811 (Georgian)
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Grose’s Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1811 edition, public domain; Project Gutenberg #5402, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “numbers” mean?
To consult the book of numbers: a term used in the House of Commons, when, instead of answering or confuting a pressing argument, the minister calls for a division, i.e. puts the matter to the vote.
Is “numbers” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.