five-by-five—
1. said of a radio signal which is loud and clear:
- The standard “loud and clear” to an American had to be a “five by five” or a “three by three” depending on the reception.
2. (in the phrase “everything is five by five”) everything is all right:
- To stave off any potential concerns about my wellbeing, let me reassure you all that everything is five by five.
Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase seven-by-nine—(dated sl.) said of people or things of poor or inferior quality:
- The Duke of Newcastle in the elder Pitt’s time was a “seven-by-nine” or peanut politician of the foremost type.
four-by-four—a vehicle with four-wheel drive:
- Those involved are calling for higher road taxes on four by four users and higher parking permit fees.