您可能要問,為什么“a dime”后非要加上“a dozen”才表示“濫得不值錢的便宜貨”呢?原因很簡單:“a dozen”其實并無實意,因為美國人習慣使用頭韻(即把起頭字母相同的詞放在一起),為了“養(yǎng)”耳,俗語“a dime a dozen”才逐漸普及開來。
看下面的例句:Anthony thought his stamp collections were rare, but actually they were a dime a dozen.(安東尼原以為他收集的郵票是稀世珍寶,實際上那些郵票到處都有,一點都不希罕。)