A dime a dozen

Meaning

The idiom "a dime a dozen" means that something is very common, easily available or abundant. It suggests that the item is so widely distributed that it's almost like you could buy it for a dime (a low price) if it was still valuable.

Usage

• "I swear, I have to call my friend again - a dime a dozen!" (meaning there are tons of other things to do)
• "The new smartphone is so common these days, it's like they give them away for free - a dime a dozen!"
• "After the concert, everyone was looking for the perfect selfie spot. But it was so crowded, it felt like I could just take a photo anywhere on the street - a dime a dozen!"
• "I went to the farmer's market and saw so many fresh fruits and vegetables. They were all so delicious, but I didn't know what to choose because there were too many choices - a dime a dozen!"
• "It seems like everyone is getting into yoga these days. People are popping up in yoga studios like mushrooms after rain - a dime a dozen!"

Roots and History

The idiom "a dime a dozen" dates back to the early 1900s, with the earliest known use appearing in print in 1927. The phrase likely comes from the idea that a dime is worth very little, so something that costs a dime or less must be common and abundant.

Synonyms in English

• Plenty
• In abundance
• Aplenty
• Numerous
• Countless

Synonyms in other languages

• French: "En abondance" (meaning "in abundance")
• German: "In überfluss" (meaning "in excess")
• Spanish: "Plentiful" (meaning "more than enough")
• Italian: "Abbondante" (meaning "abundant")
• Portuguese: "Abastecido" (meaning "adequate")

Similar Idioms

• as and when

• a penny saved is a penny earned

• as to