phrase🎓 English idiom

a dime a dozen

very common and of little value

What it means

So common, plentiful, or ordinary that it has little value. It describes things (or sometimes people) that are easy to find and therefore not special.

Examples

  • Talented singers are a dime a dozen, but original ones are rare.
  • Cheap souvenirs like these are a dime a dozen near the beach.
  • Apps that promise quick riches are a dime a dozen online.
  • Good ideas are a dime a dozen; following through is the hard part.

Where it comes from

An American expression from the 19th century, when many small goods such as eggs or apples were literally sold at a dozen for a dime, signalling how cheap and abundant they were.

Related idioms

#piece of cake#sell like hotcakes#cost an arm and a leg#the best thing since sliced bread

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