twenty to the dozen: Idiom Meaning and Origin
What does ‘twenty to the dozen’ mean?
"Twenty to the dozen" is an idiomatic phrase that means something is happening or being done at a very fast or rapid pace.
Idiom Explorer
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Lightning-Fast Chatter
Twenty to the dozen is an idiom that is used in British English to describe a situation or activity that is happening very quickly or energetically. It is often used to emphasize the speed or intensity of something, particularly when there is a sense of chaos or lack of control involved.
One theory suggests that the phrase may have originated from the practice of selling eggs in dozens. Historically, eggs were commonly sold in quantities of twelve, known as a dozen. The idiom "twenty to the dozen" may have developed as a way to describe a situation where someone was trying to sell more eggs than they actually had. The exaggerated count of twenty may have been used to emphasize the speed at which the seller was trying to make the transaction, creating a sense of haste and frenzy.
Another theory proposes that the idiom may have originated from the field of clockmaking. In traditional clockmaking, movements were often produced in sets of twenty. These movements, known as "striking trains," would make the clock strike the hour. The idiom "twenty to the dozen" may have been derived from the rapid and repetitive strikes that a clock with a striking train would make before striking the full hour.
Regardless of its precise origin, the idiom "twenty to the dozen" is widely used and easily understood by native English speakers. It has been in use for several decades, although it has experienced a decline in popularity in recent years. Despite this, the idiom still retains its meaning and can be found in various contexts.
The related idiom "decimal dozen" refers to a quantity or group of ten. This phrase can be used as a comparison to "twenty to the dozen" to highlight the difference in speed or intensity. While "twenty to the dozen" suggests a rapid and energetic pace, "decimal dozen" implies a slower and more measured pace. Both idioms convey a sense of quantity or speed, but with different levels of intensity.
Similarly, the idiom "dime a dozen" is often used to describe something that is common, plentiful, or easily obtained. Unlike "twenty to the dozen," which emphasizes speed and intensity, "dime a dozen" focuses on abundance and availability. The phrase suggests that the object or concept being described is not rare or valuable, but rather easily found or obtained.
The idiom "twenty to the dozen" is a colorful and expressive way to describe something that is happening quickly and energetically. While its precise origin remains uncertain, it is likely rooted in the practices of selling eggs or clockmaking. The idiom continues to be used in British English, although its usage has somewhat diminished in recent years. Nevertheless, its meaning persists, and it serves as a vivid expression of speed, energy, and lack of control.
Example usage
Examples of how the idiom *twenty to the dozen* can be used in a sentence:
- They were talking twenty to the dozen about their weekend plans.
- The children were running around twenty to the dozen in the playground.
- She was baking cookies twenty to the dozen for the school bake sale.
The idiom *twenty to the dozen* is used to describe something that is happening or being done very quickly or at a high speed. In the first example, the people are talking rapidly and enthusiastically about their plans. In the second example, the children are running around the playground very fast. In the third example, the person is baking a large quantity of cookies quickly. This idiom suggests a sense of speed and urgency in the action being described.
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