by the dozen

Idioms  

1. Also,. According to a definite quantity, as in She's buying tapes by the dozen. This usage is generally employed for some kind of rate. A 1950 film about efficiency expert Frank Gilbreth and his family was entitled Cheaper by the Dozen. [c. 1300]

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

by the dozen

The next big ad innovation came from a man who cranked out ideas by the dozen: Ben Franklin.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 15, 2026

Notwithstanding the occasional recession, financial crisis and market correction — by the dozen — along the way, the market has, for the most part, proven a trustworthy long-term bet for investors and retirees.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 20, 2025

Some of it is bought from defence contractors and commercial producers, other gear is specially assembled by the dozen research groups working at Cochstedt.

From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2025

Cranked out by the dozen, the shows turned their stars into household names across the Arab world.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 28, 2025

And how I got twenty-two cream puffs for two dollars and eighty cents less than I should have—plus two more free, since they come cheaper by the dozen.

From "The Wednesday Wars" by Gary D. Schmidt