I don't think it's exactly common - at least not when compared to the usage of other idioms using Google search.

There's also not a single match for that phrase in my entire ebook library...

Idioms like "as it stands" and "at the best of times" see like 50 times more usage. Those are common.

You learn something new every day though! Now I can use it too and add to the pile of people googling for that phrase's meaning that show up on Google Trends.