What does the term donkey years mean?
a very long time
Definition of donkey’s years chiefly British. : a very long time.
What is the origin of the phrase donkeys years?
The phrase “donkey’s years,” meaning a long time, originated in the early 20th century, apparently as a pun on the long ears of a donkey. In fact, the first published reference in the Oxford English Dictionary uses the phrase “donkey’s ears.” Here’s the citation, from The Vermillion Box, a 1916 novel by E. V.
What is the donkey’s age?
Life expectancy of the donkey: a donkey can live for about 45 years.
Is it donkey’s ear or donkey’s 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.
What is a donkey in Cockney slang?
donkey is Cockney Rhyming Slang for Stupid!
What does donkeys mean in slang?
1 : the domestic ass (Equus asinus) 2 : a stupid or obstinate person.
What does the expression all mouth and no trousers mean?
British, informal. —used to describe someone who talks a lot about doing something but never actually does it.
What is the age of 7 donkey?
A Donkey age is referred to as three times that of a human age. That is a human of age 3 corresponds to 1 donkey age, a human age of 21 corresponds to 7 donkey age.
Is 20 old for a donkey?
Certainly, some individuals do live to 40 and beyond, but many donkeys are showing signs of old age in their early twenties. With this in mind, we would suggest that any donkey over the age of 20 is cared for taking into consideration the following guidelines where appropriate.
What does yonks ago mean?
A very long time
A very long time. ‘I haven’t seen him for yonks’ ‘The shop that stocked such items closed down yonks ago. ‘
What does ears back on a donkey mean?
If a donkey does not feel like you’ve alleviated their discomfort, they may escalate their body language to include: Rapidly swiveling their ears back and forth (a sign of high anxiety or alertness) Pawing angrily at the ground (can indicate they are ready to charge)
Why is 300 called a carpet?
Some people have said that a three-month sentence was called a carpet because it took that long to make one in the prison workshop, but the rhyming slang joke on an existing usage makes more sense. (It doesn’t ever seem to have meant so long a sentence as three years.)