English

Alternative forms

• eeni meeni mina mo
• eeny-meeny-miney-mo

Noun

eeny, meeny, miny, moe ‎(uncountable)

1. A method of choosing between two or more people or things, used by children. A child points to each item in turn (or alternately), while saying a rhyme starting "Eeny, meeny, miney, moe", moving to the next item after each quarter-line (i.e. each word or pair of syllables). The item pointed to on the last word of the rhyme is the one chosen.

1. • 1959, John Knowles, A Separate Peace, chapter 3,

     "...As for this thing," ... he held up the shuttlecock, contaminated, in his outstretched right [hand], "this idiot tickler, the only thing it's good for is eeny-meeny-miney-mo."

   • 1985, Lawrence Durrell, Quinx, Faber & Faber 2004 (Avignon Quintet), p. 1252:

     ‘Well,’ said Lord Galen in some dismay, ‘I suppose we shall have to cast lots or play at Eeni Meeni Mina Mo?’

Translations

See also

• ip dip
• tinker, tailor
• duck, duck, goose
• nievie-nievie-nick-nack

Anagrams

• eeny-meeny-miney-mo