Eighty-six

• eighty + six

Cardinal numeral

1. The cardinal number immediately following eighty-five and preceding eighty-seven.

Synonyms

• Arabic numerals: 86
• Roman numerals: LXXXVI

Unknown for certain. Possibly rhyming slang for nix ("cancel, say no to") (given by the OED), or possibly part of a code of such numbers, created in the 1920s.

Full definition of eighty-six

Verb

1. (colloquial) To cancel an order for food."eighty-six the ham and eggs for table two!"
2. (colloquial) To remove an item from the menu.eighty-six the lobster bisque - we won't have the lobster delivery until tomorrow."Yes, I'd like the tomato soup."
   "I'm sorry sir, that's been eighty-sixed - would you like a salad instead?"
3. (colloquial) To remove or eject, as a disruptive customerRyan and his friends got too rowdy at the bar, so they were eighty-sixed.
4. (colloquial) To throw out; discard."We finally had to eighty-six that old printer after it jammed one too many times."

Synonyms

• nix
• ixnay