if I had (some monetary unit) for every (something)

cliché Used to indicate a very large number or very frequent occurrence of people, things, or actions. Usually used in conjunction with some expression that one would be rich as a result of receiving money for all such instances. A: "Hey, Paul, listen to this! I've got a great idea to get rich!" B: "Here we go again. If I had a nickel for every harebrained scheme you came up with—sheesh!" Oh, yuck! If I had a dollar for every dog turd I found left on the sidewalk in this neighborhood, I'd be a millionaire! No, I can't raise your salary! I tell you, if I had a dime for every employee who came in here asking for more money, I'd be retired by now!

if I had (some monetary unit) for every (something), I'd be rich!

cliché Used to indicate a very large number or very frequent occurrence of people, things, or actions. "I'd be a millionaire" can be substituted for "I'd be rich." A: "Hey, Paul, listen to this! I've got a great idea to get rich!" B: "Here we go again. If I had a nickel for every harebrained scheme you came up with, I'd be rich!" Oh, yuck! If I had a dollar for every dog turd I found left on the sidewalk in this neighborhood, I'd be rich! No, I can't raise your salary! I tell you, if I had a dime for every employee who came in here asking for more money, I'd be a millionaire!

if I had (some monetary unit) for every time (something happened)

cliché Used to indicate a very frequent occurrence of something happening. Usually used in conjunction with some expression that one would be rich as a result of receiving money for all such instances. A: "Hey, Paul, listen to this! I've got a great idea to get rich!" B: "Here we go again. I'd be a rich man if I had a nickel for every time I had to listen to one of your harebrained schemes!" Oh, yuck! If I had a dollar for every time people left their dogs' poop on the sidewalk in this neighborhood, I'd be a millionaire! No, I can't raise your salary! I tell you, if I had a dime for every employee who came in here asking for more money, I'd be retired by now!

See also: every, for, if, monetary, time

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