a dime a dozen
Meaning: So common as to be worth very little.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “Guitar players are a dime a dozen in this town; drummers are rare.”
Category: Daily Life
Origin: In early 20th-century America, ten cents a dozen was the price of the cheapest goods, such as eggs. The phrase is recorded from the 1930s.
Equivalents in other languages
- Spanish: a montones — literally: in piles
More idioms — Daily Life
- fire the starting gun — To signal the official start of something.
- come what may — Whatever happens.
- have plenty left in the tank — To still have energy or resources in reserve.
- willy-nilly — Whether one wants it or not; also, in a disorganized way.
- make oneself scarce — To leave quickly, or to keep out of the way.
- no holds barred — With no rules or restraints.
More English idioms
- bang one's head against a brick wall — To keep trying something with no result.
- have a whale of a time — To enjoy oneself enormously.
- get off on the right foot — To make a good start.
- turn one's back on someone — To abandon or refuse to help someone.
- one's heart sinks — To feel sudden disappointment or dread.
- jump at the chance — To accept an opportunity eagerly and at once.