[PW] A dime a dozen

[Andrew Warren]

John Henderson wrote:

> my own speculation is based on the fact that even during the time
> periods when the average price of eggs ranged from 30 cents or
> more, in the spring eggs are most plentiful, and suppliers need
> to unload them in a hurry (especially in a non-refrigerator era).
> Therefore, at certain times, eggs might easily have [been] looked
> down upon as only worth a dime a dozen.

John:

I think it's reasonable to assume that the "dozen" in "a dime a dozen"
are indeed eggs, since eggs cost little to produce -- "chickenfeed"
colloquially means "a trifling sum of money", right? -- but I'd
speculate that the phrase refers not to the springtime-discounted price,
but to the USUAL price.

I don't think "a dime a dozen" means "as cheap as eggs when eggs are
cheap"; rather, I suspect that it must mean "even cheaper than eggs".

No definitive basis for that conclusion or any of the assumptions made
in reaching it; just my opinion.

-Andrew

=== Andrew Warren  - awarren at synaptics.com
=== Synaptics, Inc - Santa Clara, CA