A bunch of fives

Meaning

The idiom "a bunch of fives" is a slang term used to describe someone who is new or inexperienced at something. It implies that the person has little knowledge or skill, often resulting in mistakes or errors.

Usage

• The new team member seems like a bunch of fives on the job.
• He's been playing guitar for only a few months and he sounds like a bunch of fives.
• I can't believe you hired that guy as our IT support - he's just a bunch of fives.
• She's been cooking for only a year and she burns everything she makes. She's such a bunch of fives in the kitchen.
• The company has been struggling lately, and it's clear that the new CEO is just a bunch of fives trying to lead us.

Roots and History

The origin of the idiom "a bunch of fives" is uncertain, but it may have derived from the idea of someone being so inexperienced or lacking knowledge that they need guidance or help like a child learning the basics. The term "fives" could represent the number of fingers on one hand, which symbolizes an unskilled or newbie's ability to perform basic tasks.

Synonyms in English

• Newbie
• Rookie
• Beginner
• Inexperienced
• Novice

Synonyms in other languages

• Inglese - rookie (Italian)
• Français - recrue (French)
• Español - novillero (Spanish)
• Deutsch - Neuankommener (German)
• Japanés - 新生者 (Japanese)

Similar Idioms

• a fool and his money are easily parted

• all singing, all dancing

• as bold as brass