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]

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Example Sentences

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

He did it with speed, superior skills and passing wiles that allowed him to rack up goals by the dozen and helped his teammates do the same.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2025

Across the Midwest in any given week, unmarked white vans dart between breeder kennels, broker facilities and veterinarian offices, where health certificates are signed by the dozen.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 12, 2024

Knowing there were soap bars by the dozen, bacon by the rasher, and reveling in her shiny pots and pans and polished floors.

From "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison