Numbers

Go to Eleven

The expression "go to eleven" comes from the film "This is Spinal Tap" (1984), a mock documentary about a fake heavy metal band.  In one of the most famous scenes from the film, Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest), the band's lead guitarist, explains to the film's director, Marty DiBergi (Rob Reiner), that the band's amplifiers don't just go to ten, but up to eleven.

How It's Used

“‘The person he's talking about doesn't have a hostile bone in his body,' Marleen told me. 'It's very embellished.' It also sounds contrived. Sedaris is credited with having an impeccable ear for American slang, but his characters' speeches often seem too good to be true. Once they start reverberating inside your head, you realize he's pushing different pedals on the same instrument: the Sharon Sedaris grump organ, turned up to eleven.”

“‘Tim basically takes all of the time management and personal productivity theories of the last 20 to 30 years and pushes them to 11, to paraphrase 'Spinal Tap,”’ Mr. Andreessen explained in an e-mail message. In Silicon Valley, Mr. Andreessen is not alone in his enthusiasm for Mr. Ferriss.”

“The text was submitted anonymously to the charity Mother Bridge of Love, which seeks to connect kids adopted from China with their homeland. As might be expected the sappiness meter is turned to 11, but it does explain quite lyrically how two mothers can each have a part in making one whole child.”

“Yep, cable turned the outrage up to 11. Leading the charge last week in righteous indignation was Comedy Central’s Jon Stewart. But wait – he doesn't really have anything to do with this mess. He’s not running for cover. In his much-YouTubed interview with CNBC’s Mad Money man Jim Cramer, he was just sincerely – outraged.”

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