all-too-common
UK[ˌɔːl tuː ˈkɒmən]US[ˌɔːl tuː ˈkɑːmən]
adj
Used to describe something that happens or exists so frequently that it is regrettable, predictable, or unremarkable.
Etymology
The adjective "common" originates from the Latin communis, meaning "shared by all or many, public, general". The intensifying phrase "all too" is a native English construction, with "all" used as an adverb to mean "wholly, completely" and "too" meaning "excessively". The fusion of these elements into the hyphenated compound "all-too-common" is a relatively modern development, emerging to succinctly express a critical societal observation. It captures the logic of a shared experience (common) that is perceived as regrettably excessive (all too), thus evolving from a descriptive phrase into a standardized term for lamenting predictable, often negative, ubiquity.
Analysis
This is a hyphenated compound adjective formed from the fixed phrase "all too" and the adjective "common". The phrase "all too" functions as an intensifying adverb, and "common" is a Germanic-derived adjective. It is treated as a lexical unit and not segmented into smaller, independent morphemes.
Examples
The report highlighted the all-too-common problem of data breaches in the industry.
It was an all-too-common story of a promising startup failing due to lack of funding.
She expressed frustration at the all-too-common delays in public transportation.