donkey's years

donkey's years
noun plural
: a very long time

* * *

Informal.
a very long time; eons.
[1895-1900; prob. orig. donkey('s) ears, as rhyming slang for years, with years replacing ears once rhyming orig. was forgotten]

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donkey's years
A long time (a pun on ears)
• • •
Main Entry: ↑donkey

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donkey’s years british informal phrase
an extremely long time

I haven’t been swimming in donkey’s years.

Thesaurus: long periods of timesynonym general periods of timehyponym
Main entry: donkey

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donkey's years or donkey's ears,
Slang. a very long time: »

I've known old Nipper practically all my life. He's been here for donkey's years, you know (Maurice Proctor).

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informal a very long time

we've been close friends for donkey's years

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noun [plural]
chiefly Brit informal : a very long time

It's been donkey's years [=ages] since I saw her.

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ˈdonkey's years idiom
(BrE, informal) a very long time

•

We've known each other for donkey's years.

•

I met him once, but that was donkey's years ago.

Main entry: ↑donkeyidiom

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • donkey's years — n. a very long time; ages. [informal] [PJC] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • donkey's years — ► donkey s years informal a very long time. Main Entry: ↑donkey …   English terms dictionary

  • donkey's years — This idiom means a very long time …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • donkey's years — n. Informal a very long time …   English World dictionary

  • donkey's years —    This idiom means a very long time .   (Dorking School Dictionary)    ***    If someone has been doing something for donkey s years, they have been doing it for a very long time.     He knows the town inside out. He s been living here for… …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • donkey’s years — n. a long time. □ I haven’t seen you in donkey’s years. □ It’s been donkey’s years since we talked …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

  • donkey's years — I Australian Slang very long time II Inglish (Indian English) Dictionary A long time III Everyday English Slang in Ireland n a long time I haven t seen him in donkey s years IV Irish Slang a long time …   English dialects glossary

  • Donkey's years — Someone said to me the other day that they hadn t seen me for donkey s years. It means they hadn t seen me for ages …   The American's guide to speaking British

  • donkey's years — informal a very long time. I ve been doing this job for donkey s years …   New idioms dictionary

  • donkey's years — British informal an extremely long time I haven t been swimming in donkey s years …   English dictionary

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