# six of the best

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/six-of-the-best
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Six strokes with a cane, a traditional school punishment.

## Examples

- The teacher gave the naughty boy six of the best.
- In the old days, if you broke the school rules, you risked receiving six of the best from the headmaster.
- The stern headmaster maintained order in the classroom by threatening any student who misbehaved with six of the best.

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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.