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four score and seven years ago

As an opener, a sometimes sarcastic indicator to indicate a past event being mentioned is particularly important.

Etymology:

  • In Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, he used this widely known measure of "score," meaning "20 years." In modern language, it would be simply "87 years ago." However, the widespread familiarity of Lincoln's address, the unusual and poetic wording, and its status as the first words of the speech have caused the phrase to enter the public consciousness.
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Submitted on September 01, 2009

Additional definitions for 'four score and seven years ago':

four score and seven years ago87 years prior to today.
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Translation

Find a translation for the four score and seven years ago phrase in other languages:

أربع نقاط وقبل سبع سنوات

vor vier Punkten und sieben Jahren

kvar poentaro kaj antaŭ sep jaroj

cuatro puntaje y hace siete años

il y a quatre points et sept ans

négy és hét évvel ezelőtt

quattro punti e sette anni fa

ארבע ציונים ולפני שבע שנים

fyra poäng och för sju år sedan

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Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to four score and seven years ago

fine, thanks, and you?Four Corners of the Earthfree, white, and twenty-onefront and centerfour sheets to the windFour Horsemen of the Apocalypsefor real and for truefour-eyesfoot and mouthfour-on-the-floorfull of piss and vinegarfootloose and fancy freefour-on-the-floorFlotsam and Jetsam

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