three score and ten: Idiom Meaning and Origin
What does ‘three score and ten’ mean?
The idiom "three score and ten" means 70 years, referring to a biblical verse. It is often used to denote a person's age or to mark a milestone in life.
Idiom Explorer
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Decoding a Mystical Phrase
The idiom "three score and ten" is derived from a biblical verse and carries the meaning of a person's lifespan, specifically referring to a period of seventy years.
The term "score" denotes twenty, therefore, "three score and ten" equals seventy. This idiom is often used in a literal sense to refer to a person's age, indicating that they have reached or surpassed the age of seventy.
In a broader context, the idiom can be interpreted metaphorically to symbolize the brevity and fragility of human life.
Despite its biblical origins, the idiom "three score and ten" has transcended religious boundaries and become a commonly used phrase in secular contexts.
As idioms are deeply ingrained in language and culture, their meanings can evolve and expand over time.
While "three score and ten" has its roots in a specific biblical verse, its usage and interpretation have extended beyond its original religious context.
The idiom "fourscore" is another phrase used in the Bible to denote a period of eighty years, similar to how "three score and ten" denotes seventy years.
The idiom "four score and seven years ago" is famously used in President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, referring to eighty-seven years ago from the time of his speech.
Similarly, the idiom "of age" is used to indicate the age at which someone is considered an adult or legally responsible.
The idiom "ripe old age" refers to someone who has lived to be very old, usually in good health and with a wealth of life experience.
These related idioms - "fourscore", "four score and seven years ago", "of age", and "ripe old age" - are all expressions that carry specific connotations and add depth to the understanding of the idiom "three score and ten".
Example usage
Examples of how the idiom *three score and ten* can be used in a sentence:
- John celebrated his *three score and ten* birthday with a big party.
- The book explores the history and experiences of people living for *three score and ten* years.
- Despite his age, the marathon runner completed the race in under *three score and ten* minutes.
More "Numerals" idioms
