The "six" in the expression comes from the six feet that make up a fathom -- which is a little less than two meters.

VOA: special.2011.03.06

He sold the milk for thirty dollars for a little less than four liters.

VOA: special.2009.02.11

"It's a little less than the administration and perhaps Speaker have said.

VOA: standard.2009.03.10

Dr. Ornish's diet plan limits daily calories from fat to less than ten percent, with little to no saturated fat or cholesterol.

VOA: special.2011.07.05

"My wife is a little bit less of a social media user than I am.

VOA: special.2009.09.14

This may be a little less purist than the normal view, but I think that it is more realistic."

VOA: standard.2009.11.17

"Is it calmer now? Are people a little less active than they were a few months ago or about a year ago?

VOA: standard.2010.06.15

"The one-time cost of our system which consists of a small solar panel, a little motorcycle-sized battery and a couple of LED lamps, is less than one hundred dollars,"

VOA: standard.2009.12.13