ENGLISH
REFERENCE

ten a penny

idiom
Meaning

So common as to be practically or almost worthless.


Origin

disputed origin

With literal origins; now usually in the figuratively extended sense.

Examples
SIMPLE

These old coins are ten a penny at the market.

CONTEXTUAL

In this city, coffee shops are ten a penny — there's one on every corner.

COMPLEX

Once rare and sought-after, these mass-produced prints are now ten a penny, gathering dust in thrift shops across the country.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    a hundred and ten percent

    A level of effort beyond what one can usually sustain; great exertion.

  2. 02

    a pound to a penny

    Very likely; almost certainly.

  3. 03

    bad penny

    A person or thing which is unpleasant, disreputable, or otherwise unwanted, especially one which repeatedly appears at inopportune times.

  4. 04

    card of ten

    A bold front, an instance of standing one's ground.

  5. 05

    cock and Hen

    [Cockney slang]ten

  6. 06

    count to ten

    An expression used to describe or recommend a process for pausing to regain one's composure when one is on the verge of losing one's temper.

  7. 07

    five will get you ten

    I strongly believe.

  8. 08

    handbags at ten paces

    Synonym of handbags at dawn (“a catty squabble”).

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