half dozen

Small carton count

Half dozen means six, typically used with the indefinite article: a half dozen eggs, a half dozen reasons.

The phrase often suggests an approximate or casual count rather than a precise tally.

Six of one, half dozen of the other means two alternatives are equivalent.

Also written half-dozen.

quantity

six

Cardinal after five

pairTwo matching things
coupleTwo linked together
trioGroup of three

quartet · quintet · brace · several · few · handful · some · multiple · score · gross

grouping

cluster

Gathered group nearby

bunchGrouped collection of items
batchQuantity produced together
setArrange in position

collection · assortment · group · gathering · ensemble · cohort · pack · bundle · array · sampling

counting

tally

Recorded count

enumerateList items individually
calculateDetermine through math
countReckon a total

reckon · tabulate · sum · total · subtotal · inventory · register · score · record · figure

Categories

number wordspair, duo, trio, quartet, quintet
Groups of Sixsextet, six-pack, hexad, hexapod, sixer
Things with Sixhexagon, dice, six-pack, sextet, insect legs
collectivespair, duo, trio, quartet, quintet
quantitiessome, many, few, amount, several
numbered groupspair, trio, quartet, quintet, sextet

Opposites

quantity/completeness

half dozendozen

Group of twelve

baker's dozen · gross · score · hundred · complete set

numeric scale

half dozenhundreds

Groups of one hundred

thousands · countless · innumerable · myriad · legion

Family

half, dozen, halves, half-dozen

Familiarity: Top 20,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G