a dozen
Meaning
The number twelve.
Tone & use
Usually an exact count, especially for items sold or grouped in sets.
Example
“The bakery packed a dozen muffins into the box.”
NeutralNeutral
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Processed with VS1“A Dime a Dozen”: Common, Ordinary, and Easy to Find
Use a familiar U.S. idiom for something common, while separating literal numbers from exaggeration.
VOA source audio
Words and Their Stories · 5:29
Source: VOA Learning English · Words and Their Stories
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The episode begins with “dozen” as the number twelve, then moves to “a dime a dozen,” a U.S. expression for something common, ordinary, or easy to find. It also contrasts literal quantities with “dozens” used loosely to mean many. Because the idiom can sound dismissive, it is more suitable for replaceable things or general trends than for people’s worth.
Cultural note: A dime is ten U.S. cents, but the idiom is not a current price quote: it is an old-fashioned image of something cheap and plentiful. Calling a person “a dime a dozen” can be insulting; consider saying “there are many options” instead.
Keep exploringTwelve is an exact number; “a dozen” can also be a loose way to say many. See what changes when a dime joins the phrase.
Phrase guide · 4 expressions
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Original explanations and examples, created for learners. Save a card for later or hear the phrase spoken by your browser.
Literal quantities
Use “dozen” for a specific count or a larger, approximate number.
dozens of
Meaning
Many, often without giving an exact count.
Tone & use
A plural expression for a large but unspecified number; it does not necessarily mean a precise multiple of twelve.
Example
“Dozens of neighbors came to help clean up the park.”
NeutralNeutral
Common and ordinary
Describe something that is easy to find or not unusual.
a dime a dozen
Meaning
Very common, ordinary, or easy to find.
Tone & use
Informal U.S. idiom. It can imply low value, so avoid applying it carelessly to people or their work.
Example
“Basic phone chargers are a dime a dozen, but this one has a useful extra-long cable.”
NeutralInformal / idiomatic
Value and tone
Notice when a phrase about commonness could sound dismissive.
once-in-a-lifetime
Meaning
So unusual or memorable that it may happen only once in someone’s life.
Tone & use
An enthusiastic description, often used for a remarkable experience. It is subjective, not a literal prediction.
Example
“Seeing the northern lights from the cabin was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for us.”
PositiveNeutral / idiomatic
Knowledge check
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