rundi
C1Informal to neutral; common in spoken and written descriptions.
Definition
Meaning
ordinary, average, with no special or distinctive features.
Something that is standard, typical, unremarkable, and does not stand out from the norm or mass production.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Always hyphenated. Usually carries a slightly negative or dismissive connotation, implying mediocrity or lack of effort/innovation. Can describe objects, events, experiences, or people.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage and meaning are identical. Spelling of 'mill' is consistent.
Connotations
Identical in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more common in American English, but well-established and common in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[be/look/seem] + run-of-the-milla/an + run-of-the-mill + nounVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Nothing to write home about (similar in meaning)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe standard products, average performance, or unremarkable market offerings.
Academic
Rare in formal academic writing; may appear in critiques to describe commonplace theories or methods.
Everyday
Common to describe uneventful days, typical experiences, or ordinary objects.
Technical
Not typical in technical jargon.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- It was just a run-of-the-mill pub lunch.
- The detective dismissed it as a run-of-the-mill burglary.
American English
- He had a run-of-the-mill office job.
- It's a run-of-the-mill smartphone, nothing special.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The film was quite run-of-the-mill, I've seen many like it.
- It's not a special restaurant, just run-of-the-mill.
- The report was fairly run-of-the-mill and failed to highlight any significant trends.
- Beyond a few run-of-the-mill features, the software offers little innovation.
- The candidate's credentials were run-of-the-mill and failed to distinguish them from a dozen other applicants.
- The critic derided the exhibition as a collection of run-of-the-mill pieces lacking any conceptual daring.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a mill producing the same, uniform product 'on the run' (continuously) with no variation. The 'run' is the standard production output.
Conceptual Metaphor
QUALITY IS DISTINCTIVENESS (lack of quality is lack of distinctiveness).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating literally as "бег от мельницы". The correct conceptual equivalents are "заурядный", "обычный", "ничем не примечательный".
Common Mistakes
- Writing without hyphens (run of the mill).
- Using it as a predicate without a verb (e.g., "It run-of-the-mill").
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'run-of-the-mill' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It typically has a slightly negative or dismissive connotation, suggesting something is mediocre or not special. However, in neutral contexts, it can simply mean 'standard' or 'typical'.
Yes, it can describe a person who is perceived as ordinary or lacking distinctive qualities (e.g., 'a run-of-the-mill politician'), though this can be pejorative.
It originates from US industrial milling in the late 19th/early 20th century. 'Run' referred to the standard output from a mill during a production period, implying goods were of average, non-special quality.
No, the hyphenated form 'run-of-the-mill' is invariable and functions as a compound adjective. It does not change: 'run-of-the-mill products'.