Phrases & Sayings

10 or 19 to the dozen?

which is right? 10 to the dozen or nineteen to the dozen?

janidewberry Wed 07/05/08 20:49

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Tinker,Wales
Wed 07/05/08
21:25

The expression for overdoing it, or going too fast, is 19 to the dozen. A dozen being only 12.

mamyalynne
Wed 07/05/08
21:40

I have heard both i suppose its six of one and half a dozen of the other LOL

Bathsheba
Wed 07/05/08
21:43

That always bugs me when people say 10 to the dozen! It's defintitely 19! Doesn't make sense the other way.

tonyted
Wed 07/05/08
22:50

A bakers dozen is 13.......for what it is worth.

Quizmonster
Thurs 08/05/08
07:04

The phrase 'nineteen to the dozen' has been in use since the late 18th century...the 'ten' version is just a meaningless bit of modern laziness. One suggestion, made in a book about English idioms in the 1950s, was that 'nineteen' was chosen as it had a more striking effect than the more obvious number, 'twenty'.

Quizmonster
Thurs 08/05/08
07:07

Click here for more historical background to the phrase.

JonnyBoy12
Thurs 08/05/08
19:50

Nineteen to the dozen, definitely!

janidewberry
Fri 09/05/08
20:50

Question Author

Thanks! I also knew 19 to the dozen, but very commonly said incorrectly.

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