coon's age
A very long time.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“I have not seen my old friend in a coon's age.”
“This old computer takes a coon's age to start up every morning.”
“We wait a coon's age for the bus whenever it rains.”
“It has been a coon's age since we last visited this park, and everything looks different now.”
“My grandfather finally decided to replace his old truck after driving it for a coon's age.”
“The neighbors haven't painted their house in a coon's age, so the wood is starting to rot.”
“She realized she hadn't updated her resume in a coon's age and needed to add her new skills.”
“The chef finally changed the menu after serving the same three dishes for a coon's age, much to the relief of the regular customers.”
“Having lived abroad for a coon's age, he found the rapid modernization of his hometown both fascinating and overwhelming.”
first recorded 19th c. disputed origin
Recorded as an Americanism in 1843, the expression is likely an adaptation of the older English phrase *in a crow’s age*, which served the same function. The term *coon* functions here as a North American colloquialism for the raccoon, though the etymology remains unproven beyond its probable connection to the earlier avian variant.
- 01
act one's age
To behave in a manner appropriate to one's age.
- 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”).
- 03
age before beauty
A phrase said to allow older people to go before younger ones.
- 04
come of age
To reach a specific age where one is legally considered to be an adult.
- 05
day and age
A time period of years or more.
- 06
for the ages
Especially memorable and noteworthy; deserving to endure for a very long time.
- 07
golden age
A period of happiness, peace, prosperity, and great progress.
- 08
green old age
A person's elderly years that are active or full of vitality.
Last updated August 10, 2026