donkey's years
A long time, years and years.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“I have not seen my old friend in donkey's years.”
“This family business stays successful because we have used the same recipe for donkey's years.”
“We have lived in this same small apartment for donkey's years, so we are finally looking for a new house.”
“My grandfather has owned that rusty old bicycle for donkey's years, but he still refuses to buy a modern one.”
“The local government finally decided to repair the bridge after the community had complained about its safety for donkey's years.”
“The dusty archives had remained untouched for donkey's years, hiding secrets that no one in the village had dared to uncover.”
first recorded 19th c. disputed origin
Attested since 1876 or perhaps earlier, the phrase is thought to refer to the notable longevity of the animal. A second theory suggests the expression is a product of rhyming slang, derived from the phrase donkey's ears, which served as a substitute for years before being shortened and its literal sense discarded. As noted by wordhistories.net in 2016, the origins remain uncertain, leaving the longevity of the donkey and the length of its ears as competing explanations for the passage of time.
- 01
a year and a day
A long time.
- 02
banner year
An especially fruitful year; a year of exceptional production.
- 03
be a hundred years too early
To be so immature and unprepared as to have no hope of achieving an accomplishment.
- 04
donkey work
Work that is difficult, boring, and routine.
- 05
donkey's ears
A long time, years and years.
- 06
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.
- 07
golden years
Old age; especially, the leisure years in later life after one has retired from employment.
- 08
heavy as a dead donkey
Very heavy.
Last updated August 10, 2026