加了“ s ”的基数词

在《新编大学英语》New college English Book II Unit 7 Part Four  Writing  and  Translation Page 256 的翻译练习中： At sixes and sevens  怎样翻译啊？应该翻译为：乱七八糟。基数词怎么能加“ s构成复数？然而，基数词加 s构成复数是某种特殊用法，它表示同质量事物的数量程度。有兴趣地查阅了一些字典找出了类似这样的特殊用法，其表达形式如下：

1. by ones and twos 三三两两，零零星星地

e.g. They came by ones and twos .他们三三两两而来。

2. in (two) twos 马上，很快地，立刻，一转眼

e.g. If only she gets here in two twos .但愿她能立即赶到！

3. be (in) twos and threes三三两两，稀稀落落，两三个一次

e.g. Passing in by twos and threes, they came to the market at an appointed time.他们三三两两而行，按时到达了市场。

4. a column of fours (by fours)四列纵队，四个一组

e.g. He arranged pupils by fours. 他把学生编成四人一组。

   on all fours匍匐而行，爬行；（喻）完全相似（一致）

e.g. Bill’s father got down on all fours and gave the baby a ride.比尔的老爸四肢趴在地上，给孩子当马骑。

e.g. The example is on all fours with the thing illustrated.这个实例非常贴切。

e.g. Fours right (left)! 排成四列纵队向右（左）转！

e.g. Form (Make) fours! 排成四列纵队!

5. a bunch of fives手，拳头

e.g. If you don’t behave better I’ll give you a bunch of fives.如果你表现不佳的话，我可要揍你。

6. by sixes 按六个一组排列

e.g. They were arranged by sixes.他们六人一组。

at sixes and sevens乱七八糟；不和，不协调，意见分歧

e.g. I’m at sixes and sevens about what to do.我心烦意乱，不知道如何行事。

The bedroom is rather at sixes and sevens.这间卧室有些乱七八糟。

This political party, who are all at sixes and sevens among themselves, agreed only upon one thing.这个自身内部成员意见总有分歧的政党一致同意了一件事。

7. sevens and elevens侥幸中得到的结果

8. chasing eights and quarters追逐小利

   the Eights英国牛津和剑桥大学的八桨划船比赛

   the Eights week牛津大学的划船周

9. to the nines完美，圆满

e.g. The whole family were dressed up to the nines when they left for the wedding.家庭全体成员都穿上盛装去参加婚礼。

10. tens of thousands好几万

e.g. Tens of thousands of buildings fell down in the earthquake. 好几万栋房屋在地震中倒塌。

  in tens每十个一组