WordGarden.iodime
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /dˈaɪm/
US
- /ˈdaɪm/
Meanings
Noun
a coin worth ten cents
a very small amount of money or value
(slang)a very attractive person
More meaningsFewer meanings
a precise pass or assist in a sport
(slang)a ten-dollar quantity of drugs
a ten-year prison sentence
Beyond the definition
A dime is a small, silver-colored coin worth ten cents in the United States. While it doesn't buy much on its own these days, it shows up in several popular expressions! The phrase "a dime a dozen" means something is very common and cheap, as if you could get twelve of an item for just ten cents.
The word "dime" actually comes from an old French word meaning "tenth part." You might say someone isn't "worth a dime" if they aren't helpful or valuable, or you might hear about someone "dropping a dime" to make a call—a reference to the days when many payphones cost ten cents. It's a little piece of metal that holds a lot of history!
A dime is a United States coin with a value of ten cents—one-tenth of a dollar. Historically, dimes were minted from silver, giving them a distinctive shine, but modern dimes are primarily composed of a copper core clad in a copper-nickel alloy. While its purchasing power has decreased over time due to inflation, the dime remains a fundamental part of American currency and culture.
The phrase "a dime a dozen" is a ubiquitous idiom used to describe something so plentiful that it is considered unremarkable or of low value. For example: "Good ideas are a dime a dozen; it's execution that matters." This expression highlights how abundance can diminish perceived significance.
Historically, the dime played a vital role in communication. Before the era of mobile phones, payphones often cost ten cents per call, leading to the phrase "drop a dime." While it literally meant to make a phone call, it eventually became slang for informing on someone to the police. Furthermore, saying something "isn't worth a dime" or that you can "stop on a dime" (meaning to stop instantly) shows how much this small coin has influenced the way we speak. Whether you're counting change or using a colorful metaphor, the humble dime represents both monetary value and a rich linguistic heritage.
Examples
- 1
Coin
I found a dime in my coat pocket.
- 2
Vending machine
She put two dimes into the vending machine.
- 3
Poverty
When he first moved to New York, he didn't have a dime to his name.
- Phrasenot have a dime to your name
have no money at all
- 4
Past prices
My grandfather still talks about the days when a movie ticket cost a dime.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Saving money
She saves every dime she can.
- 6
Free access
You can use the library's online courses without spending a dime.
- Phrasewithout spending a dime
for free
- 7
Quick turning
That little bike can turn on a dime.
- Phraseturn on a dime
turn in a very small space, or change direction very quickly
- 8
Very common
Coffee shops are a dime a dozen in this neighborhood.
- Phrasea dime a dozen
very common and not special
See also
Similar
- ten-cent coin
- ten-cent piece
Shades of meaning
- ten cents
- small change
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- on a dime
- not worth a dime
- dime store
Explore
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- dimenoun
Forms
- dimespluralnoun