# four score and seven years ago

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/four-score-and-seven-years-ago
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Used (sometimes sarcastically) to indicate that a past event being mentioned is particularly important: a long time ago; many years ago.

## Examples

- That old house was built four score and seven years ago.
- He acts like his first date was four score and seven years ago.
- My grandfather tells stories about his childhood, which feels like it happened four score and seven years ago.
- You talk about that high school football game as if it happened four score and seven years ago, but it was only last winter.
- The politician started his speech with 'four score and seven years ago' to make the founding of the local library sound like a historic event.
- The dusty archives contained records from four score and seven years ago, offering a rare glimpse into the forgotten history of the town.

## Origin

Literally, “87 years ago” (score sense: “group of 20”) the beginning of the Gettysburg Address made on November 19, 1863, by United States President Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865). The widespread familiarity of Lincoln’s address, the unusual and poetic wording, and its status as the first words of the speech have caused the phrase to enter the public consciousness.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.