AEE: This is Not Just a Run-of-the-Mill Episode

Summary

All Ears English Podcast: "This is Not Just a Run-of-the-Mill Episode" Release Date: June 7, 2025

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Introduction

In this engaging episode of the All Ears English Podcast, hosts Lindsay McMahon and Aubrey Carter delve deep into the nuances of the phrase "run-of-the-mill." Tailored for intermediate to advanced English learners, the episode not only explores the origins and usage of the expression but also provides practical applications and life advice to infuse variety into daily routines.

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Listener's Question: Exploring "Run-of-the-Mill" [03:10]

The episode kicks off with a listener question from Milad Hashemi of Iran, who seeks a comprehensive understanding of the expression "run-of-the-mill." Milad is particularly interested in its origin, meaning, and appropriate contexts for use without appearing overly formal or outdated.

Aubrey Carter [03:35]: "That's a great question. And I love that Milad is thinking about all of this. Right. Not just me, too."

a. Definition and Origins [03:57]

Aubrey explains that "run-of-the-mill" originates from the industrial sector, specifically referring to mills that produce goods like textiles or grain. Initially, it described the average output of mills before quality controls were implemented, symbolizing items that were neither special nor unique.

Aubrey Carter [04:16]: "It initially referred to, like, average standard output of a mill before there was any quality control, sorting, or improvements."

b. Regional Usage [04:52]

The hosts discuss the phrase's prevalence in different regions, noting a stronger association in New England where mills have historically been integral to local economies and landscapes.

Lindsay McMahon [04:26]: "The part of the country where I'm from, New England, has a lot of mills. ... it's just really ingrained in New England."

c. Examples of Usage [06:22]

Lindsay and Aubrey provide various examples demonstrating how "run-of-the-mill" can be seamlessly integrated into both casual and professional conversations.

Aubrey Carter [06:46]: "They didn't choose that school because it's very run of the mill. They're looking for something exceptional."

Lindsay McMahon [07:07]: "I don't want to get her a run-of-the-mill gift."

They also compare it to other expressions like "garden variety," which shares a similar meaning without any connection to actual gardening.

Aubrey Carter [08:49]: "You might say this is just your basic garden variety sofa. Let's find something more unique."

d. Modern Relevance and Synonyms [08:17]

Addressing concerns about the phrase sounding outdated, Aubrey reassures listeners of its contemporary relevance and versatility.

Aubrey Carter [08:17]: "It's a little bit less common, but when I hear it, I don't think, like, that's outdated language. That person's older. It doesn't feel outdated to me."

Lindsay concurs, emphasizing that "run-of-the-mill" remains a viable choice for expressing ordinariness.

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Role-Play: Practical Application [13:20]

Transitioning from theoretical discussion, Lindsay and Aubrey engage in a role-play scenario portraying college students discussing their courses. This segment effectively illustrates the natural incorporation of "run-of-the-mill" and "garden variety" into everyday speech.

Lindsay McMahon [13:32]: "It's all right. The teacher is just your garden variety science teacher."

Aubrey Carter [13:36]: "Sounds like my statistics teacher. His lectures are definitely nothing to write home about."

Through this dialogue, listeners witness the practical usage of the phrases in context, enhancing their understanding and retention.

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Tips on Avoiding a Run-of-the-Mill Life [16:22]

Concluding the episode, Lindsay and Aubrey shift gears to offer life advice on breaking free from mundane routines. They suggest simple yet effective strategies to add excitement and variety to daily life.

Lindsay McMahon [16:28]: "What should we do, Aubrey, if our lives are feeling run of the mill? What is some life advice?"

Aubrey Carter [16:30]: "You gotta figure out how to switch it up. Whether it's at or in your daily life, if everything's run of the mill ... do something unexpected, something you've never done."

Lindsay McMahon [16:41]: "Little changes you could make in your day that would create up more of a sense of vibrancy in your life."

Additional suggestions include varying daily routines, such as taking different routes during walks, and maintaining a gratitude journal to cultivate a sense of appreciation and novelty.

Aubrey Carter [17:13]: "Adding gratitude to variety and you've got a good recipe for success there."

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Conclusion

This episode of All Ears English masterfully blends linguistic exploration with practical advice, offering listeners not only a deeper understanding of the phrase "run-of-the-mill" but also actionable steps to enrich their daily lives. Through insightful discussions and relatable role-plays, Lindsay and Aubrey provide valuable lessons on both language and lifestyle, embodying the podcast's ethos of fostering connection over perfection.

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Notable Quotes

• Aubrey Carter [03:35]: "That's a great question. And I love that Milad is thinking about all of this."

• Lindsay McMahon [04:26]: "It's just really ingrained in New England."

• Aubrey Carter [06:46]: "They didn't choose that school because it's very run of the mill."

• Aubrey Carter [08:17]: "It doesn't feel outdated to me."

• Lindsay McMahon [13:32]: "The teacher is just your garden variety science teacher."

• Aubrey Carter [16:30]: "You gotta figure out how to switch it up."

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Further Resources

For listeners eager to delve deeper, the hosts encourage the use of the All Ears English app, which offers features like personalized vocabulary lists and searchable transcripts to enhance the learning experience.

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Stay Connected: To continue improving your American English and explore more insightful episodes, subscribe to the All Ears English Podcast and join a community dedicated to language learning through connection, not perfection.

Transcript

[A]

This is the All Ears English Podcast. This is not just a run of the mill episode. Welcome to the All Ears English podcast. Downloaded more than 200 million times. Are you feeling stuck with your English? We'll show you how to become fearless and fluent by focusing on connection, not perfection with your American hosts, Aubrey Carter, the IELTS whiz and Lindsey McMahon, the English adventurer, coming to you from Arizona and Colorado, usa. To get real time transcripts right on your phone and create your personalized vocabulary list, try the Allears English app for iOS and Android. Start your seven day free trial at allearsenglish.com forward/app.

[B]

What can you say when something feels average or not special today? Get new vocabulary to comment on, plus find out how to add some variety to your life on WhatsApp. No one can see or hear your personal messages. Whether it's a voice call message or sending a password to WhatsApp, it's all just this. So whether you're sharing the streaming password in the family chat or trading those late night voice messages that could basically become a podcast, your personal messages stay between you, your friends and your family. No one else, not even us. WhatsApp message privately with everyone.

[A]

Hey Aubry, how are you today?

[B]

I'm great, Lindsay. How are you? Good.

[A]

Aubry, do you prefer a day that is run of the mill or would you rather have a day that's out of the ordinary? What kind of day would you like to have in general?

[B]

I love a day that's out of the ordinary. Right. I am not a fan of a run of the mill day. I want it to something to be different. Switch it up. Something exciting to happen. What about you, Lindsay?

[A]

It's true. It's kind of the, the feeling I get when I come back from a trip when all of my days have been so different from my typical days at home. I've been maybe traveling abroad. Different food, different air, different temperature, different people, different languages. It feels so alive. That's what makes you feel alive, Aubry.

[B]

And then we get back to the routine. It's kind of like the humdrum of the daily routine.

[A]

Yeah, but I don't actually mind my daily routine either. We get to podcast. I mean, it's kind of awesome.

[B]

So that's true. We, we rarely have a run of the mill day. Right. There's usually something out of the ordinary, exciting and different happening at Allers English. So that helps that our, our daily routine is, is pretty fun.

[A]

That's for sure. So this has been some great vocabulary that we're kind of Hinting out for the episode. I'm going to go ahead and read the question. This came in from YouTube and we do have a really nice YouTube channel. If you prefer to watch this podcast, you can do that. Guys, go over to YouTube. Type in all ears English. All right, so this is from M. Hashemi, 7976. Shall I go ahead and read it, Aubrey?

[B]

Yeah, let's do it. All right.

[A]

They said, hi, dear Lizzy and Michelle and Aubrey. I'm Milad from Hashemi. Milad Hashemi from Iran. Could you explore the expression run of the mill, its origin, meaning, and how it's typically used in both professional and casual contexts? I'm especially curious about how to use it naturally, without sounding overly formal and outdated. Love it.

[B]

That's a great question. And I love that Milad is thinking about all of this. Right. Not just me, too. What's it mean? How do I use it? But is it outdated? Can I still use it? In what context? So, yeah, we're gonna get into all of this today.

[A]

Yeah, these are all really important questions to be asking, so I'm glad you're asking it. Where does this word, this phrase, run of the mill, where does it originate from?

[B]

Yeah, this originates from the industrial world. So it's referring to mills that produce goods like textiles or grain. So it initially referred to, like, average standard output of a mill before there was any quality control, sorting, or improvements. So sort of describing all these goods that were average, not special or unique, because that's what it means, run of the mill, something that's just average. It hasn't been approved upon in any way.

[A]

Okay. Yeah. The part of the country where I'm from, New England, has a lot of mills. I don't know if there are more than the rest of the country, but every town in New England, including the one where my parents live now, Dover, New Hampshire, you go there and there's an old mill. Right. That they've remade into apartment buildings or shops, lofts, artist lofts, that kind of thing. And it's just really ingrained in. In New England.

[B]

Interesting. I think it is more common in New England, I think. So it does not happen here very often. Right, okay. But every now and then, there's an apartment complex where I went to college called Old Mill. This was in. In the west, in U. And they said that there used to be an old mill there, and so they called the complex Old Mill.

[A]

It's probably due to, you know, the industry that was going on in the landscape, I think in the West. It's more. Right. Farming, I guess, and. And different.

[B]

Exactly.

[A]

Based on the land. Manufacturing, for sure. Yeah. Super interesting. Aubrey, where's the best place for our listeners to listen to the podcast?

[B]

Oh, man, definitely on our app, we have a free app, the Allers English app. You can get [e-mail] app and for premium members, we have great bonuses, transcripts that are human, created transcripts and tappable keywords. We choose each week, each episode, rather the most useful keywords for you. And you can create a personal vocabulary list there and then remove keywords once you have them part of your active vocabulary. It's really the best way to listen to the podcast.

[A]

Exactly. I mean, what's the alternative when you listen to the show, writing down keywords on pieces of paper and then you lose them. And how will you keep track of everything in one place that happens inside the app? So go to allersenglish.com AP and we have one for iOS and Android.

[B]

So yes, let us make it easy for you. Definitely.

[A]

You got it, Aubrey. Let's go into a bit deeper into run of the mill.

[B]

Yeah, let's give you some examples. So this just means, like we said, ordinary, common, average. So an example might be they didn't choose that school because it's very run of the mill. They're looking for something exceptional. This reminds me of living in New York City and everyone who had kids just getting to elementary school, they were like interviewing school administrators. They wanted something where their, their child was going to be the best and brightest. Right?

[A]

Yeah. It's so true. Or I don't want her. I don't want to get her a run of the mill gift. That this makes me think of blue jeans a little bit because the way we think of blue jeans here, like American blue jeans is very run of the mill. Like they're just average clothing. But I, I'm not sure if this is true anymore. Our listeners will have to tell us. But I feel like a few years ago, ten years ago in Europe, blue jeans were considered more expensive, more fan, like, like more desirable clothing. But I feel like here they're just blue jeans. They're just average clothes.

[B]

True. I remember this when I had an exchange student and she was buying all of these Levi's jeans to, like, Levi's friends. I think they were cheaper in the U.S. right.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And then just cool that she had bought them in the States maybe. Yeah. I don't know if that's the case as much anymore. Not sure now that it's Easier to buy things online to get whatever you could want. But once upon a time. Yeah. Like Levi's deal.

[A]

Yeah. Levi's are pretty. Just pretty run of the mill here, I would say. Although I had a pair of Levi's and I loved my Levi's. They're comfortable, but they're pretty like run of the mill. Right.

[B]

In terms of. I want to answer the other questions quickly here. Run of the mill. I could totally see how someone might think this were outdated because it is kind of from an older time, the mill. And we don't hear it super often. Right. You will still hear it. You absolutely can use it. It is a little bit less common, but when I hear it, I don't think, like, that's outdated language. That person's older. Right. It doesn't feel outdated to me. What do you think, Lindsay?

[A]

I 100 agree. This is not one of those words that's going to date you. Right.

[B]

Right. And I think you could definitely use it in everyday conversations. Like both of these examples. Right. We're looking for a school that's not run of the mill, a gift that's not run of the mill. But then also at work, for sure. We would use this in a professional context too. Right. I don't want to work for a company that's run of the mill. It's just way to say average, border boring or ordinary?

[A]

Boring. Ordinary, yes. And another way to say that is garden variety. Yeah. So ordinary or commonplace. Right.

[B]

Yeah. I love this. You might say this is just your basic garden variety sofa. Let's find something more unique. It's funny because it has nothing to do with a garden. Like the literal meaning has, maybe, but we use this idiomatically just to mean very common, not unique.

[A]

Yeah. Or I'm looking for a garden variety car. I care a lot more about safety than appearance. Right. Getting a functional car. A practical car.

[B]

Exactly. Right. You don't want a sports car. You're just looking for something garden variety. Very average.

[A]

I've also heard it being used in creative ways, like when people talk about, like mental health, like garden variety. Anxiety is something that is everyday anxiety versus something more serious. It can be used in a lot of ways to address the seriousness or the, I guess the intensity or the uniqueness of a situation or a condition.

[B]

That's a really good point. Yes. We definitely use it that way. We'll use it to describe a book. If someone. We're reading a book and someone asks if we would recommend it, we might say it's just kind of Your garden variety thriller. We're saying, like, it's really not that unique or special. I don't know if I would recommend it.

[A]

Kind of generic. Nothing special about it. Nothing extreme about it. Yeah, good one. Okay, what else?

[B]

And then you just used this one. I think that just came out of you very naturally.

[A]

Look at that. We're learning real English here.

[B]

Exactly. Ordinary, average. Maybe you'll say, this restaurant's nothing special. I doubt we'll come back.

[A]

Or we could say I wasn't able to spend a lot of time on my research paper, so it ended up being nothing special. Okay, yes.

[B]

I love that one. And I'm curious if this one is as familiar to you, Lindsay.

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

I hear this a lot. In the west, we say nothing to write home about. Yeah, ordinary, average. Yes, definitely.

[A]

I love this one, actually. It's really fun. This is fun.

[B]

It's fun.

[A]

Maybe. I'm not sure where it originates.

[B]

Maybe imagining, like, letter writing, maybe during, you know, World War three.

[A]

That's what I was thinking, too.

[B]

Writing a letter home. And if nothing exciting had happened, I have nothing to write home about.

[A]

That's what I was thinking. I was thinking some war times, probably World War I. Yeah, really fascinating. So, for example, the date was okay, but nothing to write home about. I doubt we'll go out again.

[B]

Nice, right? So you can see this doesn't actually have anything to do about writing letters home. You just mean nothing special, nothing exciting.

[A]

What else?

[B]

And this is when I say a lot, my volleyball serve is nothing to write home about. I say this with pickleball too, because you can choose who serves first, and the other person that first round won't be able to serve. So I'll often let my partner serve, and I'll be like, my serve's consistent, but it's nothing to write home about, so I'll let them.

[A]

Okay, yeah, yeah. You gotta know. I mean, that's in tennis, too. It's important to know is your strength, your serve, or your return. And you would be very strategic about deciding, are you gonna serve first?

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[A]

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[B]

All right, I'll start us out. I love that we're young. I love when sometimes in our roleplays.

[A]

I'm like, I'm going to make us college college kids again. I love it.

[B]

All right, I'll start us. How are you liking your biology course?

[A]

It's all right. The teacher is just your garden variety science teacher.

[B]

Sounds like my statistics teacher. His lectures are definitely nothing to write home about.

[A]

Is it Mr. Martin's? Yeah, I had her too. And oh, Ms. Mr. Nothing Special Run of the mill assignments and a lot of reading from the textbook.

[B]

Yeah. Nice. Yeah. This happens, right? I had teachers like this. Just garden variety teachers that. Not really exciting lectures.

[A]

And I kind of feel like. To be honest, I feel like lately movies have been kind of like this. I. I don't know. I recently watched. Do you ever see the movie with honors from the 90s? You know that it's a really great movie. And.

[B]

Wait, is Brendan Fraser. Brandon Fraser?

[A]

It's about a guy who takes in a homeless man at Harvard. He's a Harvard student. He gets to know the homeless man. I was bawling at the end and I cannot remember a movie that's gotten me to tears in the last couple of years. New movie. I don't know. It's just something about it. I feel like a lot of them are kind of run of the mill these days.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. They're not as heartfelt, but those movies from the 90s, really, I. I was like really crying after that.

[B]

I agree. And that doesn't happen much anymore. It might be interesting, it might be thrilling, but it's rare that I'm going.

[A]

To be sobbing the Depth of the plots or just the. You're right. It's. The heartfelt nature is not there in somebody.

[B]

You know which film. You probably saw this as well. The last time I really cried in a film was Harriet, the film about Harriet Tubman. That was fantastic. And I'm trying to think of her name. She was Elphaba in the new Wicked film as well.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Fantastic actress. And I just really felt. And I mean, based on history. That is also. So you've already got that when it's historical. Yeah. You already feel the power of. These are things that really happened. And I sobbed in the movie theater.

[A]

Yeah. There are some exceptions, like that one. Right. That will just really tug on your heartstrings. But I feel like a lot of what's coming out is just kind of like me.

[B]

I agree. Okay, let's go through this. So you first. I'm asking about your biology course, and you said the teacher's just your garden variety science teacher. So this is a fun way to say just kind of average, common, just nothing exciting. Garden variety.

[A]

Garden variety. And then his lectures are definitely nothing to write home about. Right. So.

[B]

Right. So you're. And our equivalent now might be, you know, we wouldn't call when we're talking to Mom. You know, she's home. We're not gonna be like, my, you know, biology professor is the best. It's so interest. It. Back in the old days, it would be in a letter that you'd have to write.

[A]

Oh, yeah, that's so funny. Oh, my gosh. Letter.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

All right. And then what did I say then?

[B]

The run of the mill here. Yeah. So you said I had her two. And the course was nothing special. Nothing special. Run of the mill assignments. Right. So just kind of average. Nothing fun, nothing exciting to complete.

[A]

Yeah. I mean, what. What should we do, Aubrey, if our lives are feeling run of the mill? What is some life advice? What should we do?

[B]

Question. Right. You gotta figure out how to switch it up. Right. Whether it's at or in your daily life, if everything's run of the mill, garden variety, I think there are things that you can do to go do something unexpected, something you've never done.

[A]

Yeah. And I think it's also the little changes we can make. Like, if you walk your dog, do you always follow the exact same route? I think the human mind tends to do that. But what if every time you walk your dog, you create a different route? Right. Little changes you could make in your day that would create up more of a sense of vibrancy. In your life. Yes.

[B]

I love that. And then writing in a gratitude journal. Scroll up if you missed it. We were just talking about grateful versus thankful. Something like that could really make a difference in how your whether your day feels run of the mill or not.

[A]

Yeah. So add gratitude to variety and you've got a good recipe for success there.

[B]

I agree. I love that recipe for success. All right.

[A]

All right. Good stuff, guys. Don't forget the best place to listen to the podcast is in the iOS or Android app because there you have a chance to get the premium features. Go to allersenglish.com/app. All right.

[B]

Yes. Awesome. You can also search keywords there to access our archives. That's true. That's another search for old episodes too.

[A]

That's a good point, Aubrey. That's another thing that you can't do in Apple podcasts or Spotify. And you can't even do that in our website anymore because we're not blogging on every single topic. So go to the app and use that as a huge search bar to search every episode. All right.

[B]

Good stuff. So fun.

[A]

Great. Aubrey, talk to you soon.

[B]

Yep. See you later.

[A]

Bye. Thanks for listening to Allears English. Would you like to know your English level? Take our two minute quiz. Go to allearsenglish.com forward/fluencyscore. And if you believe in connection, not perfection, then hit subscribe now to make sure you don't miss anything. See you next time.

[B]

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