The phrase "a pop," meaning "each" or "per," is commonly used in American English. Its spelling follows traditional English rules, with the "a" pronounced as the short vowel sound /æ/ and the "p" pronounced as the voiceless bilabial stop /p/. The phonetic transcription of "a pop" is /ə pɒp/. This phrase is often used in commercial settings, where products are priced "a pop" to indicate the cost per unit. It is also commonly used in casual conversation.
"A pop" is a colloquial expression that is commonly used to mean "each" or "per" when referring to a quantity or amount. It is often used in the context of pricing and sales to indicate the individual price or cost for an item.
In terms of quantity, "a pop" signifies that a particular item or service is priced or sold individually or separately. For example, if the retail price of a product is stated as "$5 a pop," it means that each unit of that product is priced at $5. Similarly, if a restaurant advertises drinks for "$2 a pop," it indicates that each beverage can be purchased for $2.
Additionally, "a pop" can also refer to the frequency or rate of an occurrence. This usage is commonly associated with sudden or swift actions. For instance, a phrase like "Cars were whizzing by at 100 miles a pop" implies that multiple cars were moving at a speed of 100 miles per hour individually or in succession.
The expression "a pop" has gained popularity due to its brevity and ease of understanding. Its informal nature makes it suitable for casual conversations, but it may be less appropriate for formal or professional contexts where more precise terms may be preferred for clarity and accuracy.
The phrase "a pop" originated from the Middle English word "pappe" meaning "a pap", which referred to a thick porridge or gruel. Over time, the term evolved to refer to a small amount or portion of something. Eventually, in the early 19th century, it came to designate the cost or price of a single item or serving. This usage is frequently found in expressions like "two dollars a pop" or "five pounds a pop".