0
Zuotengdazuo Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

What does "stand five-five" mean?

I came across this phrase when I start to read The Shining by Stephen King. I don't understand it.

Here goes the quotation:

Ullman stood five-five, and when he moved, it was with the prissy speed that seems to be the exclusive domain of all small plump men.
Does this phrase(stand five-five) mean he "stands straight"?

If not, what does it mean? Thank you in advance.
  

Top answer

He was five feet and five inches tall. This is rather short for a man. See how he goes on to say "small plump men"?

— BarbaraPA

  • He was five feet and five inches tall.
  • This is rather short for a man.
  • See how he goes on to say "small plump men"?
  • I'm five-four.
  • S.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

7 Answers
0
He was five feet and five inches tall. This is rather short for a man. See how he goes on to say "small plump men"?

I'm five-four. That's the average height for women in the U.S.
0
0
Thank you for your explanation. But why doesn't the author say"he stands five feet five inches tall"? Is it common and natural to omit the unit of measure(and just say the number) when it comes to describing someone's height?
0
0
It is extremely common.

Mary is only five-two, and she married a man who is six-eight.
Although I'm five-four, I feel short compared to so many of my female colleagues, who stand five-eight or more.
0
0
I get it. Thank you very much.Emotion: embarrassed
0
0
I, living on the continent, am one eighty. (I have shrunk 3cm in my declining years.)
0
0
fivejedjonI, living on the continent, am one eighty. (I have shrunk 3cm in my declining years.)
What? You are 7 feet 8 inches tall?
0
0
zuotengdazuoOr you are one meter eighty centimeters tall?( I guess this is what you mean)
Yes.
0

Related Questions