您可能要问,为什么“a dime”后非要加上“a dozen”才表示“滥得不值钱的便宜货”呢?原因很简单:“a dozen”其实并无实意,因为美国人习惯使用头韵(即把起头字母相同的词放在一起),为了“养”耳,俗语“a dime a dozen”才逐渐普及开来。
看下面的例句:Anthony thought his stamp collections were rare, but actually they were a dime a dozen.(安东尼原以为他收集的邮票是稀世珍宝,实际上那些邮票到处都有,一点都不希罕。)