donkey's years

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

1876 or earlier. Possibly chosen because donkeys can be long-lived animals.[1] Likely directly related to donkey's ears, a less frequently used rhyming slang term for years.[2]

Pronunciation

  • Audio (General Australian):(file)

Noun

donkey's years pl (plural only)

  1. (UK, Ireland, Commonwealth, idiomatic) A long time, years and years.
    • 1876, The Salisbury Times:[2]
      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

  1. ^
    2000 April 15, Michael Quinion, “Donkey's years”, in World Wide Words‎[1]:
    It’s a pun on donkey’s ears, they being long.
  2. ^ Gary Martin (1997–), “Donkey's years”, in The Phrase Finder, retrieved 21 August 2023.
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