donkey's years
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English[edit]
Alternative forms[edit]
Etymology[edit]
1876 or earlier. Possibly chosen because donkeys can be long-lived animals.[1] Despite the similarity, pre-dates and likely not directly related to donkey's ears, a less frequently used rhyming slang term for years.[1]
Pronunciation[edit]
Audio (AU) (file)
Noun[edit]
donkey's years pl (plural only)
- (British, Ireland, Australia, idiomatic) A long time, years and years.
- 1876, The Salisbury Times:[1]
- Didn't you ask him how long it had been in his possession?
I can't recollect that. I might have done so.
Didn't he say for years and years and donkey's years?
- Didn't you ask him how long it had been in his possession?
- 1923, The Bridgeport Telegram:
- With a heavy make-up, you’ll be the cutest vamp I’ve seen in donkey’s years.
- 1876, The Salisbury Times:[1]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Gary Martin (1997–) “Donkey's years”, in The Phrase Finder, retrieved 21 August 2023.
- Michael Quinion (April 15, 2000) “Donkey’s years”, in World Wide Words.