up to the nines
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Streetwise; knowing.
Register: slang
Examples
I'm up to the nines! What's the first move?
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “up to the nines” mean?
Streetwise; knowing.
Is “up to the nines” formal or informal?
up to the nines is generally slang.