donkey's years

Idioms are generally defined as groups of words that form a meaningful whole when they come together, even though the words in them do not make sense on their own. They have produced many idioms according to their own cultural characteristics in communities using the English language. What does donkey's years mean? In what situations is donkey's years used?

Meaning of "donkey's years"

Meaning

The idiom 'donkey's years' is used to indicate a lengthy period of time that feels like it has gone on forever. This idiom is often used to describe a situation where somebody has been dealing with something for too long and they are finally ready to move on.

Etymology

The phrase 'donkey's years' is believed to have originated in the United Kingdom in the 19th century. It is believed that the phrase referred to a donkey’s life span of approximately 25 years, which was thought to be much longer than the human life span at the time. The phrase then began to be used as a metaphor for a long period of time.

Usage

The idiom 'donkey's years' is often used as a lighthearted way to express frustration, as it implies that someone has been dealing with a situation for longer than expected. It can also be used to describe something that seems to take a long time, like 'I've been waiting here for donkey's years!'. It is often used in informal settings, such as when talking to friends and family.

Example Sentences

• I've been stuck in this job for donkey's years and I'm finally ready to move on.
• I've been waiting for the bus for donkey's years, where is it?
• It feels like I've been studying for donkey's years and I'm still not done!

The power of idioms transcends languages!

"Putting the cart before the horse" is an English idiom that means doing things in the wrong order. In Russian, the similar idiom is "Кладёт колесо впереди лошади," which translates to "Putting the cart before the horse." This idiom emphasizes the idea that doing things in the wrong order can lead to confusion and problems down the line.