title: asp.net mvc How to add placeholder for html.dropdownlist
body: <p>I'm using asp.net mvc 3.</p>
  
  <p>I have this dropdownlist of countries and I want to add a placeholder for it. Here's my code:</p>
  
  <pre><code>@Html.DropDownList("country",
       new SelectList(ViewBag.countries as System.Collections.IEnumerable,
       "name", "name"), new { @class="chzn-select", @placeholder="-select-",
       @style="width:160px;" } )
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>But the placeholder doesn't work, while the style works.</p>
  
  <p>How do I set a placeholder for this?</p>
  
  <p>PS. I just want to use <code>@Html.DropDownList</code>, not <code>@Html.DropDownListFor</code></p>