run-of-the-mill

ADJECTIVE

[/ˌrʌn əv ðə ˈmɪl/]

ordinary; average; not special or distinctive

💡 Concept

His run-of-the-mill office cubicle looks exactly like every other cubicle on the floor.

🎵 Rhyme

A run-of-the-mill worker stands still on the hill.

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˌrʌn əv ðə ˈmɪl/

🇬🇧 UK/ˌrʌn əv ðə ˈmɪl/

🌳Etymology

Origin

The phrase originated in the lumber industry, where 'mill' referred to a sawmill. Timber produced at the mill as standard-sized lumber, rather than custom-ordered wood, became the metaphorical basis for describing anything ordinary or unremarkable. The expression later extended to any mass-produced, standardized product from factories, eventually meaning 'commonplace' or 'not special'.

Breakdown

run (to proceed continuously) + of + the + mill (factory/sawmill). The phrase literally describes products that continuously flow through a mill as standard output, metaphorically conveying anything produced in standardized, undistinguished fashion.

🎵Rhyme

millhillstillwill

mill

hill

still

will

🔗Collocations

run-of-the-mill product

run-of-the-mill performance

run-of-the-mill restaurant

run-of-the-mill employee

run-of-the-mill movie

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

“His cooking skills are run-of-the-mill, but his presentation is Instagram-worthy.”

“The hotel looked fancy online, but it turned out to be run-of-the-mill.”

😄 Fun example

“She thought her date would be special, but he was just another run-of-the-mill guy who talked about cryptocurrency all night.”

“This coffee shop serves run-of-the-mill coffee at premium prices.”

📚Related Words

Synonyms

ordinaryaveragecommonplacemediocrestandard

Antonyms

exceptionaloutstandingextraordinary

typicalconventionalroutinemundane

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run-of-the-mill — ordinary; average; not special or distinctive

Example Sentences