a dime a dozen
So common as to be practically or almost worthless.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Cheap souvenirs are a dime a dozen here.”
“Online courses have become a dime a dozen, so you need to check which ones are actually good.”
“In an age when opinions are a dime a dozen, she valued the few friends who spoke with genuine thought.”
first recorded 18th c. disputed origin
19th-century American; after the dime was minted (1796), goods were commonly advertised at 'a dime a dozen', which came to mean cheap and plentiful.
- 01
baker's dozen
Thirteen; a group of thirteen.
- 02
baker's half dozen
Seven, a group of seven.
- 03
banker's dozen
Eleven.
- 04
cheaper by the dozen
Handled more efficiently as a group, rather than individually.
- 05
decimal dozen
Ten, a group of ten.
- 06
dime's worth
An insignificant amount
- 07
drop a dime
To make a telephone call.
- 08
nickel and dime
Small time; operating on a small scale; involving small amounts of money; petty or cheap.
Last updated August 10, 2026