411

Or 4-1-1

[fawr-wuhn-wuhn]

1. a telephone number for directory information.

2. Informal.,  the 411, information or knowledge, usually about an event or activity and acquired by oral communication.

   Here's the 411 on tomorrow night's party.

   Planning for Spring Break in Cabo—what's the 411?"

Word History and Origins

Origin of 411¹

First recorded in 1930–35 411 for def. 1, and in 1980–85 411 for def. 2

Example Sentences

Labour won 411 of the 650 seats in Parliament, which is undeniably impressive — after winning less than 34 percent of the national vote in a low-turnout, intensely divided election.

From Salon

Polanski beat joint candidates, the Green MPs Adrian Ramsay and Ellie Chowns, by 20,411 votes to 3,705.

From BBC

Our cramped room of nine turned into just Sydney and me, so we moved to Room 411, a cozy space with four big picture windows.

From Los Angeles Times

“Let me give u a lil 411 s u won’t get mis guided with the internet,” he wrote, according to the complaint.

From Los Angeles Times

In Division 6, Alta Loma edged Damien 411 to 412.

From Los Angeles Times