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a dime a dozen
/ə ˈdaɪm ə ˈduːzən/◆idiom
very common
Back in the day, flip phones were a dime a dozen.
This means flip phones were very common and easy to find at that time.
informal
very common; easy to find; not valuable or special
These days, good laptops are a dime a dozen.
Good laptops are easy to find and not considered rare or valuable.
Back in the 90s, boy bands were a dime a dozen.
Boy bands were very common and not seen as unique or special.
Often used to describe things that are abundant but not necessarily high-quality or noteworthy.
Collocations
common as dirta dime a dozenten a pennya dime a dozen
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
When to use
Use 'a dime a dozen' to describe things that are abundant and not special. It is often used in informal contexts to dismiss the value or uniqueness of something.
Gold Rule
Avoid literal interpretation
This phrase is idiomatic and should not be taken literally. It does not refer to actual dimes or dozens.
Word Origin
The phrase originated in the United States in the early 20th century. A 'dime' is a ten-cent coin, and a 'dozen' is twelve. The phrase suggests that something is so common that it can be bought for a very low price, like ten cents for twelve items.
Usage Notes
This idiom is used to describe things that are abundant and not considered valuable or special. It is often used in a slightly dismissive or negative tone to imply that something is not rare or noteworthy.
Word Breakdown
a dime
a ten-cent coin in the United States
noun phrasea dozen
a group of twelve
noun phraseEnglish Dictionary