Be Special, Not Just 'Run-of-the-Mill'

 

Now, the VOA Learning¹ English program Words and Their Stories.

On this program, we explore words and expressions in the English language. We also explain how they developed and how English speakers use them today.

We try really hard to make this program special! But not everything can be special all the time. In fact, many things are just average or normal. Today we talk about an expression often used to describe such things: run-of-the-mill².

So, why do we use this expression to mean not-so-special? To explain the meaning of run-of-the-mill, let’s talk about the word “mill.”

A mill is a place where machines make products. It is like a factory. For example, a paper mill makes paper and a steel mill manufactures³ steel. A mill can produce just about anything.

While mills⁴ make many kinds of products, language experts are not exactly sure which type of mill is being described in the expression “run-of-the-mill.”

One possible explanation begins in a clothing mill.

Many years ago, all clothes were made by hand. Handmade clothes took a lot time to make and they were generally one of a kind. None of them looked exactly the same. However, as technology improved, machines began making most clothing.

By the early 1900s, the expression "run of the mill" described machine-made clothes. Such clothing was thought to be less "special" than handmade products.

Now, another story simply suggests that when mills were producing products, quality control was a problem. A mill would simply make a lot of a product without much thought of quality. You could say it was a quantity over quality way of thinking -- the more, the better.

Language experts note that by the early 1920s, people began using “run-of-the-mill” to describe anything thought to be ordinary or commonplace⁵.

Today, that meaning is unchanged. Anything that is a typical example of something, we can call “run-of-the-mill.” And this expression is widely used today.

If you go to a show and the singer is just so-so, you could say it was a run-of-the-mill performance. Perhaps you bought a run-of-the-mill computer; you know, a model that you can find anywhere. Maybe you have a friend who moves to a run-of-the-mill town, lives in a run-of-the-mill apartment and works⁶ a run-of-the-mill job. Nothing about his new life seems very special. Hopefully, he will make some new friends or start a new activity to make his day-to-day life more interesting!

We have a few other expressions that have a similar meaning to run-of-the-mill. One comes from the world of food.

If something is cookie-cutter, it is just like everything else. This comes from actual cookie cutters, the tools for cutting cookie dough⁷ into shapes. All the cookies come out looking the same.

The word cookie-cutter is used to describe a group of things that look alike⁸. For example, if a land developer develops a neighborhood using the same design for all of the houses, they may look very cookie-cutter, or all the same.

Another expression comes from a favorite activity of many people -- gardening⁹.

If something is described as a garden-variety, it is average, common or mediocre¹⁰. This comes from the fact that some things grow very easily. And some fruits, vegetables, flowers or plants that grow easily become popular with gardeners. They are varieties that are found in many gardens. So we call them garden-varieties.

Now, let’s hear how we can use some o f these words and expressions.

A: Hey, I need a haircut¹¹, but the woman who cuts my hair just moved. Can you suggest someone?

B: Well, if you want something different and unique, I would go to Renaldo at Creative Cuts. But I have to warn¹² you, it’s going to cost you.

A: Maybe later I can try a really different hair style. But for right now, I just want a simple, garden-variety cut.

B: In that case, go to Beatrice at Simple Cuts. The haircut won’t stand out, but it also won’t cost a lot.

A: Sounds great. Thanks!

A: You must try a piece of this bread.

B: Wow. This is really good! Where did you get it?

A: It’s a new place down on Waterfront Street. From the outside, it looks like your average, run-of-the-mill bakery. But as soon as you enter the store, you know it’s not. They handcraft all of their breads and pastries¹³. Nothing cookie-cutter about this place.

B: Ha, ha, ha! Cookie-cutter. Get it?

A: Yeah. That’s funny.

B: So, what’s the name of this unique bakery? I have to go!

A: It’s -- Not Your Run-of-the-Mill Bakery.

B: Yeah, I understand. But what’s the name?

A: It’s -- Not Your Run-of-the-Mill Bakery.

B: I GET IT!

A: No, you don’t! That IS the name of the bakery.

B: Oh. Sorry.

One last note, you can use all of these expressions -- cookie-cutter, garden variety and run-of-mill -- in any situation, with people you know well or not at all.

And that’s Words and Their Stories for this week. I’m Anna Matteo.

How do you talk about ordinary things in your language? Do you have similar expressions like run-of-the-mill or cookie-cutter? Let us know in the Comments Section!

Just an ordinary song

To a special girl like you

From a simple guy

Who's so in love with you …

Words in This Story

ordinary – adj. normal or usual : not unusual, different, or special

type– n. a particular kind or group of things or people?

typical – adj. normal for a person, thing, or group : average or usual

so-so – adj. neither very good nor very bad

cookie-cutter – adj. very similar to other things of the same kind : not original or different

gardening – v. to work in a garden : to take care of the plants in a garden

variety – n. the quality or state of having or including many different things

mediocre – adj. not very good

unique – adj. being the only one

handcrafted – v. to make something by using your hands

1 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

2 mill   

n.磨坊，碾磨机；制造厂，工厂；vt.磨，碾

参考例句：

• The rice mill was wrecked by the enemy bombing.碾米厂遭到了敌机的轰炸。
• The farmer took his grain to the mill.这个农民把谷子送到磨房。

3 manufactures   

n.制造业( manufacture的名词复数 )；制造品；（文学作品等的）粗制滥造v.（大规模）制造( manufacture的第三人称单数 )；捏造；加工；粗制滥造（文学作品）

参考例句：

• These new orders for our manufactures will mean working overtime. 这些订购我们产品的新订单意味着要加班。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The center of these glands manufactures adrenaline. 这些腺的中心分泌肾上腺素。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 mills   

n.磨坊( mill的名词复数 )；磨粉机；作坊；工厂

参考例句：

• He was tall, dark and handsome, like a Mills and Boon hero. 他个头高大、皮肤黝黑、相貌堂堂，像通俗爱情小说的男主角。
• The captain wants to play Mills as defence in our next game. 队长想让密尔斯在下次比赛中打后卫。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 commonplace   

adj.平凡的，普通的；n.寻常的事物，常见的事

参考例句：

• Soon it will be commonplace for men to travel to the moon.人们去月球旅行很快就会成为常事。
• What he has said is a mere commonplace view.他所说的不过是尘俗之见而已。

6 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

7 dough   

n.生面团；钱，现款

参考例句：

• She formed the dough into squares.她把生面团捏成四方块。
• The baker is kneading dough.那位面包师在揉面。

8 alike   

adj.同样的，相像的；adv.一样地；同程度地　

参考例句：

• The twins are so alike that I can't tell which is which.这对双胞胎一模一样，我分辨不出谁是谁。
• All stories seemed dreadfully alike,no matter who told them.看来，不管谁讲，故事都是千篇一律的。

9 gardening   

n.造园，造园术，园艺

参考例句：

• Dad is always in a good humour for gardening.爸爸干园艺活时，心情总是很好。
• She's outdoors gardening every afternoon.她每天下午都在户外搞园艺。

10 mediocre   

adj.平常的，普通的

参考例句：

• The student tried hard,but his work is mediocre. 该生学习刻苦，但学业平庸。
• Only lazybones and mediocre persons could hanker after the days of messing together.只有懒汉庸才才会留恋那大锅饭的年代。

11 haircut   

n.理发，剪发的方式

参考例句：

• Get yourself a haircut!快去理个发吧！
• He is going to have a haircut.他要去理发。

12 warn   

vt.警告，注意，远离；vi.提醒

参考例句：

• I must warn you that my patience is almost at an end.我必须警告你我已经没有耐心了。
• If you warn me in advance,I will have your order ready for you.你若预先通知我，我就能给您准备好了。

13 pastries   

n.面粉制的糕点

参考例句：

• He gave a dry laugh, then sat down and started on the pastries. 杜新箨说着干笑一声，坐下去就吃点心。 来自子夜部分
• Mike: So many! I like Xijiang raisins, beef jerky, and local pastries. 麦克：太多了。我最喜欢吃新疆葡萄干、牛肉干和风味点心。