Definition

Adjective: - Very common, inexpensive, or of little value: Used to describe something that is so abundant or easily obtained that it is considered ordinary, cheap, or not special.

Usage

This adjective is typically used predicatively (after a linking verb like 'be' or 'seem') to express that something is not unique or valuable due to its commonness. It often carries a slightly dismissive or unimpressed tone.

Examples

• Adjective:
  • Talented singers are two-a-penny these days; you need more than just a good voice to stand out.
  • Those little souvenirs are two-a-penny in the market stalls by the beach.
  • In the world of online influencers, reaction videos are two-a-penny.

Advanced Usage

• "to be two-a-penny": To be extremely common and therefore not noteworthy.
  • Good ideas are two-a-penny; it's the execution that matters.
• The phrase can sometimes imply that because something is common, its individual quality or worth is low.
  • After the factory opened, such trinkets became two-a-penny.

Variants and Related Words

• Ten a penny: (idiomatic, chiefly British) A direct synonym meaning equally common and cheap.
  • Coffee shops are ten a penny in this part of the city.
• A dime a dozen: (idiomatic, chiefly North American) The common equivalent expression.
  • Action movies like that are a dime a dozen.

Synonyms

• Commonplace: Ordinary and not interesting or unusual.
• Plentiful: Existing in large amounts, abundant.
• Cheap: Low in price, worth very little.
• Ubiquitous: Seeming to be everywhere.

Antonyms

• Rare: Not common or frequent; very unusual.
• Precious: Of great value; not to be wasted or treated carelessly.
• Unique: Being the only one of its kind; unlike anything else.
• Valuable: Worth a great deal of money or extremely useful.

Related Idioms

• Two-a-penny itself functions as an idiomatic adjective. Its meaning is fixed and should be understood as a whole unit, not by the literal sum of its words.

Adjective

1. of trifling worth