ENGLISH
REFERENCE

baker's half dozen

idiom
Meaning

Seven, a group of seven.


Origin

disputed origin

From baker's dozen (“thirteen, one more than a dozen”) by analogy, hence “seven, one more than a half dozen”.

Examples
SIMPLE

I need a baker's half dozen eggs for this recipe.

CONTEXTUAL

The baker sold me a baker's half dozen rolls for the price of six.

COMPLEX

After counting the items in the basket, she realized she had collected a baker's half dozen, which was exactly enough for the guests.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    a dime a dozen

    So common as to be practically or almost worthless.

  2. 02

    all over hell's half acre

    All over the place; everywhere.

  3. 03

    baker's dozen

    Thirteen; a group of thirteen.

  4. 04

    banker's dozen

    Eleven.

  5. 05

    cheaper by the dozen

    Handled more efficiently as a group, rather than individually.

  6. 06

    decimal dozen

    Ten, a group of ten.

  7. 07

    half a brain

    A very basic or minimal level of intelligence.

  8. 08

    half a head

    Synonym of half a brain.

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