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I was in a computer programming training. A code executed an output number 7 and the trainer asked ( assuming joking) "Why is 7 the most feared number?" and someone said "Because 7,8,9 ... aho ho ho.." was the expression very native or idiomatic? what does this mean? |
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Heh, because "Seven Ate Nine (7, '8,' 9)." Ate = Eight. |
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It's a children's joke, nothing more. It's certainly not something one would encounter in everyday conversation. The number pattern 7, 8, 9 sounds identical to seven ate nine in spoken form. A similar joke is depicted here:
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To add to Mike's excellent answer, the first time I was introduced to this joke was in a lesson about homophones. As as child this silly joke was a perfect example, and much easier to understand then something like "Did the two of you go to the park too?" |
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