common (redirected from commonness)

as common as muck (British & Australian, informal)

an impolite way of describing someone who is from a low social class. You can tell from the way she talks she's as common as muck.

See also: muck

common ground

shared opinions between two people or groups of people who disagree about most other subjects. It seems increasingly unlikely that the two sides will find any common ground.

See also: ground

the common touch

the ability of a rich or important person to communicate well with and understand ordinary people. It was always said of the princess that she had the common touch and that's why she was so loved by the people. He was a dedicated and brilliant leader but he lacked the common touch.

See also: touch

common-or-garden (British)

very ordinary. I just want a common-or-garden bike - it doesn't have to have special wheels or lots of gears or anything like that. (always before noun)

the lowest common denominator

the large number of people in society who will accept low-quality products and entertainment. The problem with so much television is that it aims at the lowest common denominator.

See also: low

make common cause with someone (formal)

if one group of people makes common cause with another group, they work together in order to achieve something that both groups want. Environment protesters have made common cause with local people to stop the motorway from being built.

See also: cause

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have something in common (with someone/something)

to share interests or characteristics. What these very old objects have in common is that they were all stolen and smuggled out of the country. What does the new model have in common with earlier versions?

Usage notes: also used in the forms have nothing in common and have a lot in common:The two women had absolutely nothing in common. The two men had a lot in common and got along well.

make common cause

to work together to achieve something. A number of groups have made common cause with local people to stop the highway from being built. The two countries have begun to make common cause against shared enemies.

have something in common (with someone/something)

See also: cause