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When I googled the phrase it redirected me to 'nineteen to the dozen' which is apparently the Merkin equivalent :P
[eta] hah! According to AskYahoo: Turns out the original phrase was 'nineteen to the dozen', originating during the English Civil War. That then travelled to America and remained current, whereas over here it shifted to 'ten to the dozen'.
[etaa0 some reckon it originated in the 18th century Cornish tin mining industry.
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