a dime a dozen
inexpensive, commonplace
TRANSLATION
dime a dozen = billig --- GOOGLE INDEX dime a dozen: approximately 2,500,000 Google hits
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
A lot of music artists are starting their own independent labels that can be distributed on the Internet for a DIME A DOZEN or even for free.
(BusinessDay)
---
Bluetooth headphones are a DIME A DOZEN these days.
(www.endgadget.com)
(BusinessDay)
---
Bluetooth headphones are a DIME A DOZEN these days.
(www.endgadget.com)
Did you
know?
dime a dozen
idiom
- to be common or of very little value
(Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary)
---
The dime is a U.S. coin worth 10 cents or one tenth of a United States dollar. First authorised by the Coinage Act of 1792, the dime is the smallest in diameter and is the thinnest of all U.S. coins currently minted for circulation. The term stems from the Old French "disme", meaning "tithe" or "tenth part" and from the Latin decimal. The common names for the other coin denominations are:
- 1 cent = penny
- 5 cents = nickel
- 25 cents = quarter
- 50 cents = half-dollar
One of the theories behind the expression "dime a dozen" is that because the U.S. minted so many dimes, they were eventually in overabundance. However, this is only a presumption that has never been proven. More likely it stems from the simple idea that paying 10 cents for a dozen of something obviously makes it very cheap. Coin trivia: Which U.S. President is honoured with his likeness on the U.S. ten cent piece? Franklin D. Roosevelt.
The smallness and low value of the dime has made it the popular object of other idioms such as:
- not worth a dime = of little value (That old turntable is not worth a dime)
- nickel and dime = very ordinary and not important (If you drive through the south side of town you will see lots of nickel and dime restaurants and shops)
- stop or turn on a dime = when something ends or changes abruptly (This car can stop on a dime. The economy won't change on a dime.)
---
SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation
"MP3 players are a dime a dozen these days."
---
Thanks to Jürgen for suggesting today's word!
idiom
- to be common or of very little value
(Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary)
---
The dime is a U.S. coin worth 10 cents or one tenth of a United States dollar. First authorised by the Coinage Act of 1792, the dime is the smallest in diameter and is the thinnest of all U.S. coins currently minted for circulation. The term stems from the Old French "disme", meaning "tithe" or "tenth part" and from the Latin decimal. The common names for the other coin denominations are:
- 1 cent = penny
- 5 cents = nickel
- 25 cents = quarter
- 50 cents = half-dollar
One of the theories behind the expression "dime a dozen" is that because the U.S. minted so many dimes, they were eventually in overabundance. However, this is only a presumption that has never been proven. More likely it stems from the simple idea that paying 10 cents for a dozen of something obviously makes it very cheap. Coin trivia: Which U.S. President is honoured with his likeness on the U.S. ten cent piece? Franklin D. Roosevelt.
The smallness and low value of the dime has made it the popular object of other idioms such as:
- not worth a dime = of little value (That old turntable is not worth a dime)
- nickel and dime = very ordinary and not important (If you drive through the south side of town you will see lots of nickel and dime restaurants and shops)
- stop or turn on a dime = when something ends or changes abruptly (This car can stop on a dime. The economy won't change on a dime.)
---
SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation
"MP3 players are a dime a dozen these days."
---
Thanks to Jürgen for suggesting today's word!
