0325 A dime a dozen - English Idioms

Explanation

Means something is very common, easily obtainable, and therefore not valuable or special.
Implies low value due to abundance.

Origin

Originated in the US in the late 19th or early 20th century.
A 'dime' is a US ten-cent coin.
Things that cost only a dime for twelve (a dozen) were considered extremely cheap and commonplace.

Alternatives

Slang/Informal:

Basic (Modern slang, often derogatory, meaning mainstream and unoriginal)
Played out (Overused, no longer cool or interesting)
Regular / Regular degular (AAVE influence, emphasizing commonness)

Vulgar/Emphatic: (Often context-dependent, expressing dismissal)

Cheap as shit (If referring to low quality/price)
Who gives a fuck? (Implying it's unimportant due to commonness)

Milder:

Widely available
Standard
Unremarkable

Situational Appropriateness

Informal to semi-formal.
Can sound dismissive or slightly critical, so be mindful of context. Saying someone's skills are a dime a dozen can be insulting.

Misunderstanding Warnings

Non-native speakers, especially outside North America, might not know what a 'dime' is.
The literal price is irrelevant; the meaning is about commonness and low value, not the actual cost.

Examples

Singers like her are a dime a dozen these days; you need something unique to stand out.
Don't worry about losing that cheap pen; they're a dime a dozen.
Ideas are a dime a dozen; execution is what matters.

Dialogue

Manager: We need a really innovative marketing strategy for this launch.

Employee: I agree. Generic online ads are a dime a dozen now; they don't get noticed.

Manager: Exactly. We need something truly creative.

Response Patterns

Agreement: Yeah, you see them everywhere., True, they're nothing special.
Disagreement (defending the item/person): I don't know, I think this one is different., Maybe, but they're still useful/good.
Adding context: Especially in this industry/city.

Common Follow-up Questions/Actions

After something is called a dime a dozen:

Discussing what *would* make something similar stand out or be valuable.
Expressing agreement or disagreement with the assessment.
Moving on to discuss something considered more unique or important.

Conversation Starter

No.
Used mid-conversation to describe the commonness and lack of special value of something.

Intonation

Often said dismissively or matter-of-factly.
Stress usually on dime and dozen. A DIME a DOZEN.

Generation Differences

Widely understood across generations, though perhaps used more frequently by older speakers (30+).
Younger generations might use basic for a similar meaning, especially regarding trends or personalities.

Regional Variations

Primarily North American (US/Canada).
The equivalent UK expression is ten a penny. While a dime a dozen might be understood in the UK/Aus due to media exposure, ten a penny is more natural there.

Blessing in disguise

🎲 Elephant in the room

[0325] A dime a dozen