The idiom I’ve got your number is a lowkey way of letting someone know you’re on to them, and you have a pretty good idea of what they’re up to in terms of devious behavior. It’s like saying, “I’m on to you.”

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Got your number BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Got your number

Having someone’s number in this expression has nothing to do with telephones. This idiom has been used since the mid-1800s, before most people had their own telephones or telephone numbers. Instead, number is used in the sense of a precise appraisal. To have someone’s number alludes to having figured them out precisely. 4 Ammer, Christine. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013. Jennni from New York, NyBeing that my name is in this song me and my chums always have a good laugh when we listen to it and after hearing all the covers the original is still the best. !!!!!!! Cars that run on air? Sounds too good to be true. But Li thinks they're the future and wants to invest in a company that makes them. Will she lose her money? Cyberpope from Richmond, Canada& the reason 555 is used as a fake exchanfge is because there were no cities/exchanges starting with 2 letters of JKL (no such place as KLingon, NJ!) Absolutely. If you haven’t guessed it already, the biggest misconception about this idiom is when it’s taken literally. What Are Some Tips for Using This Idiom Effectively?A friend of mine used an inventive way to conceal an insult in a phone number. He told a girl who had treated him badly to call "382-5968," which spells a certain pair of words starting with "F' and "Y." Of course, she didn't get it until someone else enlightened her. What is Feifei up to? She's planning something but Rob thinks he's got her number. Does this mean her telephone number or something else? All will become clear in this programme. Transcript Esskayess from Dallas, TxRemember the "Klondike 5" number that the Fonz referred to on 'Happy Days?' Same thing.

Got Your (or someone’s) Number | Idioms Online Got Your (or someone’s) Number | Idioms Online

Michael from Akron, OhI worked at a radio station in Florida when this song was a hit. A listener in the area had the same phone number and kept calling and threatening to sue us because of all the calls he was receiving. We kept playing it anyways. The origin is also linked to identifying numbers given to soldiers or prisoners, indicating one could be identified or called out. But it more than likely derives from another idiom your number’s up, which was used during the early 1800s when someone, usually a soldier, died. Got, here is used to mean the same thing as have, which can also be used as a variant. To say “I’ve got your number” means “I have your number.” Hearing M. Paired from SighMy ENTIRE LIFE...thought the singer was singing "Benny!" Even up until a few days ago, I was still singing, "Bennnnnyyyy, I've got--your NUM-BER!" Up until a few minutes ago, I STILL thought that he was singing, "Benny!" The irony being, I know MANY "Jennys." Some have even called me "Jenny." Go figure.George from Vancouver, Canada@Mark from Shelburne, Vt: I'm not sure we had the computing power to calculate a 7-digit prime number in 1982, let alone an 11-digit one, as you're saying was an intended message. . . Sometimes coincidence happens. 1 in a million still has that 1. . . Dee from Indianapolis, InOh, so many rumors around this song, but who cares!!! It always has been a great tune and will contiune to be so along with so many other one-hit wonders from those early MTV days when we still got to see videos.

Jenny (867-5309) by Tommy Tutone - Songfacts Lyrics for Jenny (867-5309) by Tommy Tutone - Songfacts

Badger from Los Angeles, CaI am from Los Angeles. When the song was released I was in the USAF stationed in Hawaii. Coincidentally I was madly in love with a woman named Jenny whom lived next door. Though she was married I was smitten.. I imageined 8675309 was her # as a fantacy. The song was perfect for my feelings. I quit the pursuit of an US by letting THEM be forever in their lives and in my heart. Jefferson from Nekoosa, Wi"The true story: Alex Call came up with the digits for the 80s hit. He made it up sitting under a plum tree. Who was Jenny? Nobody. The name just had the right number of syllables." Don’t use it as a threat. Sure, it’s meant to let someone know you’re on to them but try not to say it in a way that makes you seem like the bad guy. How Did the Idiom I’ve Got Your Number Originate? I’ve got your number usage trend. Mike from Clinton, MaIn addition to Uptown Girl by Billy Joel and Jennifer by Styx, this is another song between me and my girlfriend with the same name (Jenny)

The Urban Dictionary claims that it’s more about having power or control over someone because you know something about them, a secret or dirt they don’t want to be shared. What Is the Literal and Figurative Meaning of This Idiom? Annabelle from Eugene, OrI received news that somebody who lives somewhere in Pennsylvania actually had this phone number. However, when a lot of people tried to dial it, the operator would say, "The number you have dialed, 867-5309, has been disconnected. 867-5309, has been disconnected. No further information is available about, 867-5309." Everybody thought Earl was the salt of the earth, but I had got his number within minutes of meeting him.” Joe from Los Angeles, Cain "family guy", stewie thinks this is his home phone number when he calls lois.