Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing Dime idioms. ‘HoCo’ and syllable acronyms. Pulling a Trevor
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Sep 23, 2025 Discover the fascinating origins of idioms linked to 'dime,' like 'turn on a dime' and 'get off the dime.' Dive into the world of syllable acronyms, exploring familiar examples like 'Nabisco' and 'SoHo.' Hear a unique familect story about how personal names evolve into shared terms, including the quirky phrase 'pulling a Trevor.' This blend of language history with personal anecdotes makes for a delightful exploration of the quirks of English.
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Dime Idioms Precede Modern Vehicles
- The phrase "turn on a dime" predates cars and boats, originating with horses turning on small coins in the 1800s.
- The expression migrated to boats, cars, and figurative use for rapid changes in direction or opinion.
Shared Metaphors Across Dime Expressions
- Multiple dime idioms share a precision or smallness metaphor: stop on a dime, get off the dime, dime a dozen, drop a dime, nickeled and dimed.
- Each idiom evolved from literal coin meanings into broader figurative uses in commerce, law enforcement, and complaints about small charges.
Literal Prices Became Figurative Sayings
- 'A dime a dozen' comes from early 1900s market pricing where some goods sold 12 for 10 cents.
- The phrase now conveys something common and of little value.