Plentiful as dirt
Meaning
Extremely abundant and common, often to the point of being unremarkable or unwanted.
Origin
Dirt—that ubiquitous, often overlooked substance beneath our feet—has long been humanity's most steadfast companion, a symbol of sheer abundance and utter lack of value. For millennia, we've tilled it, walked on it, and cleaned it off our shoes, yet rarely prized it. This phrase captures that simple, undeniable truth: when something is as 'plentiful as dirt,' it's not just common; it's so ordinary it barely registers, a constant, unremarkable presence in our world, freely available to anyone with a shovel or simply a passing glance at the ground.
Examples
- In the aftermath of the gold rush, pickaxes became plentiful as dirt, no longer valuable once the easy pickings were gone.
- He used to complain about not having enough opportunities, but now good jobs are plentiful as dirt in this booming economy.