banker's dozen
Eleven.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“I ordered a baker's dozen of donuts for the office.”
“The local shop always gives you a baker's dozen when you buy a full set of rolls.”
“Although the recipe strictly required twelve, the baker provided a baker's dozen to ensure the customer had enough for the large party.”
The phrase is a play on the established baker's dozen, substituting the custom of receiving thirteen for the price of twelve with its opposite. Whereas the baker provides one more than a dozen, the banker provides one less. It functions as a cynical numerical inversion, related in spirit to the concept of bankers' hours.
- 01
a dime a dozen
So common as to be practically or almost worthless.
- 02
baker's dozen
Thirteen; a group of thirteen.
- 03
baker's half dozen
Seven, a group of seven.
- 04
cheaper by the dozen
Handled more efficiently as a group, rather than individually.
- 05
decimal dozen
Ten, a group of ten.
- 06
six of one, half a dozen of the other
The two alternatives are equivalent or indifferent; it does not matter which one is chosen.
- 07
twenty to the dozen
very fast, fluently
Last updated August 10, 2026