donkey's years

English edit

Alternative forms edit

donkeys' years

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?
- 1923, The Bridgeport Telegram:
  With a heavy make-up, you’ll be the cutest vamp I’ve seen in donkey’s years.

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.

[pf-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 Gary Martin (1997–) “Donkey's years”, in The Phrase Finder, retrieved 21 August 2023.

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