Other Ways to Say “Average”

Other Ways to Say “Average”

Hi English learners! Welcome to a new vocabulary lesson. We are going to learn 10 other ways to say “average” which include adjectives and idiomatic expressions.

Here is the list:

• Acceptable
• Adequate
• Decent
• Middling
• Tolerable
• Passable
• Nothing to write home about
• A dime a dozen
• Common or garden 
• Run-of-the-mill

Acceptable

When we say that something is acceptable, we mean that it is not excellent but good enough for a particular purpose.

• All the students who reach an acceptable level of knowledge will be able to apply for a scholarship.
• The manager decided to sign the contract; although it wasn’t perfect, he assumed it was acceptable.

Adequate

Something is adequate when it is not very good but good enough.

• The hotel we stayed in was basic but perfectly adequate. It had everything we needed.
• When we made sure we had an adequate amount of food and drinks for the weekend we went camping.

Decent

If something is decent, then it has a satisfactory standard or quality.

• Mira had a decent job with a decent salary.
• For the money I pay I expect to have a decent hotel room.

Middling

If something is middling, it is of average ability, size, and quality; not very good but not bad either.

• Although she practised a lot, Tara was a pianist of middling talent. 
• ‘Do you like your tea strong?’ ‘I like it middling.’

Tolerable

Something is tolerable when it is of acceptable quality but not very good.

• The accommodation we had at the campsite was barely tolerable.
• The house we rented is too small but tolerable for the time being because we can’t afford a better one.

Passable

If we say that something is passable, we mean that it is satisfactory but not excellent.

• The food in the restaurant was excellent but the service was passable.
• Mary can speak passable Spanish.

Nothing to write home about

If we say that something is nothing to write home about we mean that it is average and ordinary; not special at all.

• The play we watched last night was all right but nothing to write home about.
• Tim’s new flat is in a nice place but the interior is nothing to write home about.

A dime a dozen

Something is a dime a dozen when it is ordinary and average; not special in any way.

• Movies like this one are a dime a dozen nowadays. I’d like to see something more interesting.
• Jobs like that are a dime a dozen today. I’m sure you’ll find a new one soon.

Common or garden 

If something is common or garden, it is ordinary and average.

• Our new car is common or garden but it is very comfortable.
• Thomas was a kind of designer that could turn common or garden furniture into stylish.

Run-of-the-mill

If something is run-of-the-mill, it is common and ordinary and not special or interesting at all.

• The holiday they spent in Paris was totally different from the run-of-the-mill holidays they’d had before.
• David gave a run-of-the-mill speech, not very interesting and a bit boring I’d say.

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