Dime a dozen

Posted by Lewis on June 03, 2004

In Reply to: Dime a dozen posted by R. Kesavan on June 03, 2004

: Most of us know the meaning of the phrase 'Dime a dozen' as something cheap and available aplenty. What exactly is the origin behind the expression?

I hope this isn't too obvious, but something being 'a dime a dozen' simply means that it is cheap and plentiful - a dime is a small coin and to get a dozen for that makes something inexpensive. bread rolls or small cakes would be candidates for the origin as they are traditoinally sold 'by the dozen'.