For donkey's years
Meaning
This idiom describes a duration of time that feels extremely long or has been a very extended period.
Origin
The image of a donkey, known for its stoic endurance and typically long lifespan (often living into its 30s or even 40s), became the perfect metaphor for an extended duration. Emerging in informal British English during the 19th century, the phrase plays on the animal's perceived slowness and the sheer number of years it can exist, evoking a sense of time stretching out indefinitely. It's a colorful, anthropomorphic exaggeration that quickly caught on to describe anything that has lasted or been awaited for an exceedingly long time.
Examples
- I haven't seen my old school friend for donkey's years; we should really catch up soon.
- The old clock on the mantelpiece has been broken for donkey's years, but nobody ever gets around to fixing it.