Does the suffix "some", when it comes after a number, conjure up some kind of an orgy?
Here is an example:
Have you heard that Jim and Tina made up a foursome with Jean and Bruce?
would you ever ask such a question from someone you barely know (considering that you just assume he or she has some idea of what you're talking about)? In other words, is the risk of misinterpretation subtle enough for you to take?
Here I'm not taking into account those who have a so-called "dirty mind" and tend to interpret everything their own way. Instead, I'm interested to know how the majority of English-speaking people (especially those of the United States) would interpret that.
Best Answer
I don't think the word would be inherently interpreted with sexual connotations, but as is often the case, context is all important.
For example, your sentence is lacking context and begins with "Have you heard...?" which suggests some element of gossip. However, if you added context to that, such as:
The issue with your question is that, in isolation, the lack of context seems deliberate - as there's no indication for what purpose they've formed a foursome - and that's where the potential for innuendo appears.
Of course, people will also take cues from your tone and body language, so your meaning should be conveyed correctly, given that you provide sufficient context.
Just to make clear, I'm a British English speaker (and live in that region), but I think it's important to provide a global view. I'm not personally sure that the Americans would see matters any differently, but I do find issues of this nature fascinating.