Answer. Answer: It’s an old docker’s term. When people put things on a ship, they used a crank called a donkey. They were very slow and when they were asked how long it would take, they said “donkey’s years”.
In this post
What is the phrase donkeys years mean?
a very long time
Definition of donkey’s years
chiefly British. : a very long time.
How many years is donkey’s years?
For donkey’s years means for a very long time. I’ve been a vegetarian for donkey’s years.
Is donkey’s ears a British expression?
Etymology. 1916 UK, from British rhyming slang, rhyming with years, due to donkey’s ears being long.
What does donkey mean in British slang?
a stupid or stubborn person
a stupid or stubborn person. 3. British slang, derogatory.
What does 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 elbow grease means?
Strenuous physical effort
elbow grease. Strenuous physical effort, as in You’ll have to use some elbow grease to get the house painted in time. This term alludes to vigorous use of one’s arm in cleaning, polishing, or the like.
What does eating humble pie mean?
to admit that one was wrong
: to admit that one was wrong or accept that one has been defeated. They had to eat humble pie when the rumors they were spreading were proved false.
What does yonks ago mean?
Yonks means a very long time. [British, informal]
What does clean as a whistle mean?
really clean
For many of you, “clean as a whistle” probably means really clean, as in not dirty. For example, “The sink was clean as a whistle after he scrubbed it.” Or maybe you’d say something like, “Since she’s never even had a speeding ticket, her record is clean as a whistle.”
What does ears back on a donkey mean?
If your donkey’s ears are pinned flat to the back of its head, you’ll want to give it some time and space to calm down. Pinned-back ears are a sign of aggression. One ear to the side and one flat back may indicate distress, though it could also mean that your donkey is focused on a sound on one side of its head.
How do you use donkey years in a sentence?
He seems to have been around for donkey’s years. We’ve known each other for donkey’s years. Machine learning has been around for donkey’s years. We’ve been making fun of them for donkey’s years.
What does it mean to call a woman a donkey?
1 : the domestic ass (Equus asinus) 2 : a stupid or obstinate person.
What is a female donkey called?
Jenny
Jenny: A jenny (or jennet) is a term for a female donkey. Moke: A moke is a British term for a donkey. Molly: A molly is a term for a female mule. Mule: A mule is the result of breeding between a male donkey and a female horse.
What is meant by calling a person an elephant?
drunk; intoxicated. Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers. Word origin. C20: shortened from elephant’s trunk, rhyming slang for drunk.
What is the meaning of Bob’s your uncle?
Definition of and Bob’s your uncle
—used to say that something is easy to do or use Just complete the form, pay the fee, and Bob’s your uncle!
What is the meaning of a different kettle of fish?
a bad state of affairs
1 : a bad state of affairs : mess. 2 : something to be considered or dealt with : matter a different kettle of fish.
What does chew the fat?
Chat in a friendly, leisurely way, as in Let’s get together for coffee and chew the fat, or John and Dave spend hours just chewing the rag. Before the 1880s in Britain, chew the fat meant “to grumble or complain,” and chew the rag also has been used in this way.
Where did the phrase 40 winks come from?
The first use of this expression dates back to 1821, when Dr. William Kitchiner, an optician and telescope inventor used it in his self help guide, The art of invigorating and prolonging life – “A forty winks nap in a horizontal posture, is the best preparative for any extraordinary exertion of either.”
What does getting my feet wet mean?
Definition of get one’s feet wet
: to begin doing a new job, activity, etc., in usually a slow and simple way in order to become more familiar with it She got her feet wet at her new job by doing some simple filing tasks.
What does the phrase seeing red mean?
anger
to be excited or emotionally stirred up with anger. The rival team saw red when they realized they had been pranked.