I have not seen my old friend in donkey's years.
donkey's years
idiomA long time, years and years.
Origin
first recorded 19th c. disputed origin1876 or earlier. Possibly chosen because donkeys can be long-lived animals. Likely directly related to donkey's ears, a less frequently used rhyming slang term for years.https://wordhistories.net/2016/06/30/donkeys-years/
We have lived in this same small apartment for donkey's years, so we are finally looking for a new house.
The dusty archives had remained untouched for donkey's years, hiding secrets that no one in the village had dared to uncover.
- 01
be a hundred years too early
To be so immature and unprepared as to have no hope of achieving an accomplishment.
- 02
donkey's ears
A long time, years and years.
- 03
four score and seven years ago
Used (sometimes sarcastically) to indicate that a past event being mentioned is particularly important: a long time ago; many years ago.
- 04
golden years
Old age; especially, the leisure years in later life after one has retired from employment.
- 05
never in a million years
Absolutely not.
- 06
not in a million years
Alternative form of never in a million years.
- 07
on in years
Old; advanced in age.
- 08
roll back the years
To produce a sense of nostalgia.