- Ordinary, average, typical, common; not special, outstanding, or exceptional in any way.
Explanation
Origin
- Comes from industrial milling (factories producing goods like flour, textiles, or lumber) in the 19th century.
- 'Run-of-the-mill' referred to the standard, unsorted output of the mill before items were graded for quality or specific characteristics.
- It represented the average product, not the best nor the worst. This idea of 'average' or 'standard' became the basis for the idiom.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Bog standard (UK/Aus)
- Garden variety
- Dime a dozen (emphasizes commonness)
- Basic
- Vanilla
- Meh (as an assessment)
- Cookie-cutter (implies lack of originality, often negative)
Milder:
- Average
- Ordinary
- Standard
- Typical
- Unremarkable
- Commonplace
Situational Appropriateness
- Informal to semi-formal.
- Can sound slightly dismissive or unimpressed, so consider the context.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Non-native speakers unfamiliar with the idiom might focus on the literal words run or mill and miss the meaning of average or ordinary.
Examples
- The restaurant was okay, but the food was pretty run-of-the-mill.
- It wasn't a terrible movie, just your typical run-of-the-mill romantic comedy.
- We stayed in a run-of-the-mill motel by the highway.
Dialogue
Anna: How was your trip to the new art gallery?
Mike: Honestly? It was a bit run-of-the-mill. Lots of landscapes and portraits, nothing very groundbreaking.
Anna: Ah, that's a shame. I was hoping for something more exciting.
Social Media Examples
- Review: Tried the new burger joint. 🍔 Decent, but pretty run-of-the-mill. Nothing stood out. 🤷♀️ #foodreview #burger #meh
- Question: Looking for genuinely unique sci-fi book recommendations! Tired of the same run-of-the-mill space operas. Hit me with your best hidden gems! 📚👽 #scifi #books #reading
Response Patterns
- Oh, okay.
- So, nothing special then?
- Average, huh?
- Fair enough.
- Yeah, sometimes that's all you need/get.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After hearing something described as run-of-the-mill:
- Ask for specifics: What made it feel average?
- Seek confirmation: So, not really worth checking out?
- Acknowledge the assessment: Got it.
- Share a contrasting view (if applicable): Really? I thought it was quite unique.
Conversation Starter
- No. Used descriptively within a conversation.
Intonation
- Often said with a neutral or slightly flat tone, sometimes implying mild disappointment or lack of enthusiasm.
- Stress can be even or slightly on run and mill. RUN-of-the-MILL.
Generation Differences
- Widely understood, perhaps used slightly more often by older generations (30+), but still current. Younger people might use basic or average more often.
Regional Variations
- Common in US and UK English, as well as other variants.
- Bog standard is a very common informal equivalent in the UK and Australia.