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donkey's years

A long time.

Etymology:

  • 1923, from donkey's ears, which is rhyming slang for years. That is, donkey's ears is rhyming slang, replacing years with ears, while donkey's years reverts to years, with donkey acting as emphasis. “Donkey’s ears” implies “a long time” because donkey’s ears are long, while “donkey’s years” is supported by the belief that donkeys live a long time.
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Submitted on September 01, 2009

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Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to donkey's years

not in a million yearsgolden yearsroll back the yearsI am twenty years oldgolden yearsfour score and seven years agoon in yearshung like a donkeysuck donkey ballsheavy as a dead donkeydonkey's earssalad yearsnever in a million yearson like Donkey Kong

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