Posts
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Thursday, August 6, 2009
A dime a dozen
Those are a dime a dozen. Cashiers are a dime a dozen.
This phrase is used to describe things that are cheap, plentiful, or easily obtained. It is a price. Perhaps it was once the price of donuts. Maybe you could get 12 donuts for a dime. Now it would cost more. Prices are sometimes worded this way. A dollar each. Five dollars a pair. But the idiom is "a dime a dozen", a dime for a dozen.
If you are choosing a career, you may find that your area has too many people in one profession, so their wages are driven down and they are less valued by employers. They are now a dime a dozen.
I don't want to be another programmer. Programmers are a dime a dozen these days.
Maybe someone could say that if their area is full of programmers and it seems like everyone is doing it, so they aren't paid as well as they once were, and companies consider them inexpensive and easy to hire.
Can I borrow one of these? You can keep it. They're a dime a dozen.
This means that the object is so cheap or inexpensive that the person is willing to give it away.
This idiom can also refer to things that have no price at all, particularly to people of a particular description, not just related to work.
Depending on the context, this idiom can be somewhat offensive, because it can sometimes imply that something is not only inexpensive or easy to obtain, but also that it is of little value.
This phrase is used to describe things that are cheap, plentiful, or easily obtained. It is a price. Perhaps it was once the price of donuts. Maybe you could get 12 donuts for a dime. Now it would cost more. Prices are sometimes worded this way. A dollar each. Five dollars a pair. But the idiom is "a dime a dozen", a dime for a dozen.
If you are choosing a career, you may find that your area has too many people in one profession, so their wages are driven down and they are less valued by employers. They are now a dime a dozen.
I don't want to be another programmer. Programmers are a dime a dozen these days.
Maybe someone could say that if their area is full of programmers and it seems like everyone is doing it, so they aren't paid as well as they once were, and companies consider them inexpensive and easy to hire.
Can I borrow one of these? You can keep it. They're a dime a dozen.
This means that the object is so cheap or inexpensive that the person is willing to give it away.
This idiom can also refer to things that have no price at all, particularly to people of a particular description, not just related to work.
Depending on the context, this idiom can be somewhat offensive, because it can sometimes imply that something is not only inexpensive or easy to obtain, but also that it is of little value.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Nail in the coffin
It was just another nail in the coffin. That was the nail in the coffin. It was kind of a nail in the coffin.
In the old days, coffins were just wooden boxes, which were nailed shut just before burial. So when someone says that something is a "nail in the coffin", that person usually means that it really finalizes something. Usually, it's something negative, like a loss. If a football (American football, not soccer) team is already up by ten points in the fourth quarter, another touchdown for that team might really put the nail in the coffin. They were already winning, and it was already clear that they would probably win, but now it is that much more clear. It might end any realistic chance of the other team winning. So it is a nail in the coffin of the other team's winning chances.
It was just another nail in the coffin. That was the nail in the coffin. It was kind of a nail in the coffin.
This idiom should probably not be used to describe situations that actually relate to death, injury, or severe illness. It may offend someone. It would also be an unusually strong and perhaps offensive way to talk to a person about their own losses or your own victories.
In the old days, coffins were just wooden boxes, which were nailed shut just before burial. So when someone says that something is a "nail in the coffin", that person usually means that it really finalizes something. Usually, it's something negative, like a loss. If a football (American football, not soccer) team is already up by ten points in the fourth quarter, another touchdown for that team might really put the nail in the coffin. They were already winning, and it was already clear that they would probably win, but now it is that much more clear. It might end any realistic chance of the other team winning. So it is a nail in the coffin of the other team's winning chances.
It was just another nail in the coffin. That was the nail in the coffin. It was kind of a nail in the coffin.
This idiom should probably not be used to describe situations that actually relate to death, injury, or severe illness. It may offend someone. It would also be an unusually strong and perhaps offensive way to talk to a person about their own losses or your own victories.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Circular file
Put it in the circular file. She put it in the circular file. I think it went in the circular file.
This phrase refers to the trash can, and is often used in office settings.
Other terms related to "trash can" are "waste basket", "waste paper basket", and "garbage can". You can also just say "trash" or "garbage."
He threw it in the trash. It's in the garbage.
"Trash can" and "trash" are more common.
"Threw it away" is also extremely common, and "threw it out" is sometimes used.
She threw it out. Please throw this away.
This phrase refers to the trash can, and is often used in office settings.
Other terms related to "trash can" are "waste basket", "waste paper basket", and "garbage can". You can also just say "trash" or "garbage."
He threw it in the trash. It's in the garbage.
"Trash can" and "trash" are more common.
"Threw it away" is also extremely common, and "threw it out" is sometimes used.
She threw it out. Please throw this away.
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