sixes and sevens, at

in disorder or confusion. From a dispute in the Middle Ages between two of the craftsmen's guilds in the city of London. The Merchant Taylors and the Skinners were both founded within a few days of each other in A.D. 1327, five other guilds having already been chartered. For nearly fifty years they argued about which was to go sixth and seventh in processions. Finally, in 1484, the Lord Mayor ruled that they should take it in turns-whoever was sixth one year, would be seventh the next and so on.