common-and-garden

4.9

Ordinary and not special

adjective

: común y corriente

Many people overlook the common-and-garden solutions in favor of more complicated ones.

Examples

They served common-and-garden food at the event, but it was tasty nonetheless.
The design of the house is quite common-and-garden.
He dismissed the problem as a common-and-garden occurrence in the business world.
This is a common-and-garden issue!
Many people overlook the common-and-garden solutions in favor of more complicated ones.
They served common-and-garden food at the event, but it was tasty nonetheless.
The design of the house is quite common-and-garden, making it easy to find similar styles.

Synonyms

average

vscommon-and-garden

∞ 1.0

Ordinary and not very good

is the colloquial phrase stressing plainness rather than a statistical position

usual

vscommon-and-garden

∞ 1.0

Happening most of the time in a normal way

is the idiomatic expression used to label something plainly ordinary

common

vscommon-and-garden

797 1.0

Happening often or seen in many places

is the idiomatic compound used to mark plainness rather than prevalence

ordinary

vscommon-and-garden

683 1.0

Normal and not special or unusual

is the idiomatic compound used to stress plain, unremarkable character

everyday

vscommon-and-garden

276 1.0

Ordinary clothes or things used in daily life, not for special occasions

is the idiomatic form used to highlight plainness rather than mere routine

routine

vscommon-and-garden

263 1.0

Happening as a usual part of daily life

is broader and applies to typical things beyond habitual actions

conventional

vscommon-and-garden

175 2.8

Doing things in the usual way most people expect, not new or original

is broader and does not necessarily imply following tradition or rules

mundane

vscommon-and-garden

80 4.3

Ordinary daily things or events that are not special and often feel boring

is the plain sense that does not add the negative tinge of boredom

customary

vscommon-and-garden

70 3.5

Something done because of tradition or habit

is the plain ordinary idea without emphasis on tradition

commonplace

vscommon-and-garden

54 3.4

Ordinary and not special or new

is the idiomatic label used to mark something as plain or ordinary

basic

vscommon-and-garden

Offensive

46 8.6

Very ordinary and lacking original ideas

is the neutral ordinary sense rather than the negative, judgmental tone

normal

vscommon-and-garden

35 1.0

The usual or expected state

is the idiomatic compound used to stress plainness rather than a norm

run-of-the-mill

vscommon-and-garden

Informal

24 3.3

Ordinary and not special

is the more idiomatic compound emphasizing plainness rather than novelty

garden variety

vscommon-and-garden

Informal

20 3.5

Common and not special or unusual

is the hyphenated idiom used to stress plainness in one phrase

unremarkable

vscommon-and-garden

20 3.5

Being ordinary and not interesting

is the neutral everyday idea rather than focusing mainly on dullness

quotidian

vscommon-and-garden

3 8.2

Common events or things that happen every day

is the neutral idiom without necessarily suggesting boredom or tedium

common or garden variety

vscommon-and-garden

4.4

Ordinary and not special, like a simple jacket you can buy anywhere

is the hyphenated idiom used as a compact compound adjective

stock

vscommon-and-garden

3.3

Something that is common and not special

is the general plain meaning rather than a term about supply

Antonyms

special

∞ 1.0

More important or different from what is usual

extraordinary

Formal

859 3.8

Very unusual or much greater than usual

How Ordinary

banal

21 7.2

common-and-garden

4.9

commonplace

54 3.4

Surface Forms

common-and-garden positive

Morphology

common-and-garden = common + and + garden (semi-transparent) = common + and + garden

The components 'common' and 'garden' are identifiable, but the fixed idiomatic phrase means 'ordinary' in a way that is not strictly predictable from the literal parts for all learners.

Etymology

Common-and-garden comes from a British phrase that joins common ('ordinary') and garden, meaning a simple home garden. Think of plain vegetables from a home garden or the phrase garden-variety, so common-and-garden means very ordinary or typical.