banker's dozen

A play on the phrase baker's dozen; it is one less than a dozen as compared to one more. See also bankers' hours.

• "Not a low baker's dozen, you will perceive, but two high banker's dozen !"
• "There were 11 in number (a reference has been made to them as constituting a banker's dozen), representing the following organizations :"
• "It concludes with a banker's dozen of 11 items labeled "What to Read" — a well chosen list on the urban, technological disruption of man's life and the earth's biosphere."
• "Caroline arranged to have appear at her concert a banker's dozen (eleven) of New York's most admired amateur and professional musicians, including the alluring divorcee Fanny Ronalds, who — it was rumored — was accomplished in arts more erotic than the one she would demonstrate that night."
• "George counted eleven of them. A banker's dozen, he said to himself."