‘Common Or Garden’, Meaning & Context

The idiom “common or garden” signifies something ordinary, typical, or unremarkable. It describes objects, situations, or individuals lacking uniqueness or distinction, akin to a standard garden without special features.

Used primarily in British English, it conveys simplicity or mediocrity, suggesting nothing exceptional or outstanding. While it may carry a somewhat dismissive tone, it succinctly communicates the idea of mundaness or averageness. Overall, “common or garden” serves as a concise expression for commonplace or routine attributes.

The Origin of “Common or Garden”

The idiom “common or garden” originated in British English, deriving from the notion of an average or typical garden found in ordinary households. Gardens were commonplace features of many British homes, often containing standard plants and lacking unique or distinctive elements. Over time, this concept of a “common or garden” garden became metaphorical, extending to describe anything ordinary or unremarkable.

The idiom’s development as an everyday expression evolved as people sought succinct ways to convey the idea of something being average or typical. As it entered common usage, it became a colourful phrase used to describe objects, situations, or individuals lacking uniqueness. Its adoption into colloquial language may have been fuelled by its vivid imagery and straightforwardness in expressing the concept of mediocrity or ordinariness.

As with many idioms, its continued use and propagation in everyday speech have solidified its place in the lexicon. Today, “common or garden” is readily understood by English speakers as a means to describe anything unexceptional or run-of-the-mill, demonstrating how everyday idioms can emerge from familiar aspects of daily life and evolve to convey broader meanings.

Using “Common or Garden”

The idiom is versatile and can be applied in various contexts, whether discussing everyday items, mundane occurrences, or average people. Its usage is straightforward and can carry a slightly dismissive tone, suggesting that whatever is being referred to is not particularly noteworthy. Overall, “common or garden” serves as a succinct way to express the idea of something being average or run-of-the-mill.

• Despite his best efforts, John’s presentation was just common or garden, lacking any innovative ideas or engaging content.
• Sarah preferred unique designs for her garden, opting for exotic flowers and ornamental features rather than common or garden shrubbery.
• The restaurant’s menu boasted dishes beyond the common or garden fare found in typical diners, featuring fusion cuisine from around the world.
• As a writer, she strived to create characters that were anything but common or garden, each with their own quirks and complexities.
• The museum’s collection was far from common or garden artefacts; it housed rare and priceless treasures from ancient civilizations.

A Shakespeare Connection?

While the exact phrase “common or garden” doesn’t appear in Shakespeare’s works, he frequently employed similar language and imagery to convey the idea of ordinary or unremarkable things. In “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” for instance, Shakespeare writes,

“And thorough this distemperature we see

The seasons alter: hoary-headed frost

 Fall in the fresh lap of the crimson rose,

And on old Hiems’ thin and icy crown

An odorous chaplet of sweet summer buds

Is, as in mockery, set. The spring, the summer,

The childing autumn, angry winter, change

Their wonted liveries, and the mazed world

By their increase, now knows not which is which.” 

Here, he juxtaposes the natural world’s extraordinary transformation with the ordinary, everyday changes of the seasons. This use of contrasting imagery reflects a similar concept to that conveyed by the idiom “common or garden” in emphasizing the commonplace.

Common or garden