ENGLISH
REFERENCE

coon's age

idiom
Meaning

A very long time.


Origin

first recorded 19th c. disputed origin

An Americanism recorded in 1843 and probably related to the old English expression in a crow's age meaning the same. Coon is a colloquialism for the North American raccoon.

Examples
SIMPLE

I have not seen my old friend in a coon's age.

CONTEXTUAL

It has been a coon's age since we last visited this park, and everything looks different now.

COMPLEX

Having lived abroad for a coon's age, he found the rapid modernization of his hometown both fascinating and overwhelming.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    act one's age

    To behave in a manner appropriate to one's age.

  2. 02

    act one's age, not one's shoe size

    Synonym of act one's age (“to behave in a mature manner; to avoid being childish”).

  3. 03

    age before beauty

    A phrase said to allow older people to go before younger ones.

  4. 04

    come of age

    To reach a specific age where one is legally considered to be an adult.

  5. 05

    day and age

    A time period of years or more.

  6. 06

    golden age

    A period of happiness, peace, prosperity, and great progress.

  7. 07

    green old age

    A person's elderly years that are active or full of vitality.

  8. 08

    one age with

    The same age as.

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