until the cows come home

The expression until the cows come home is one of the idioms that often finds a place in our literature and enriches our language. However, its meaning is not fully understood, so it is sometimes used in the wrong situations. Please review the explanation carefully for the correct use of the until the cows come home idiom.

Meaning of "until the cows come home"

Meaning

The phrase 'until the cows come home' is an idiomatic expression meaning a long or indefinite period of time. It is derived from an old English proverb, which states that “the cow will never come home until she has been milked three times” – this was a way of conveying the idea that a certain task would take a great deal of time.

Etymology

This phrase first appeared in print around 1831, in a volume of folklore entitled “Yorkshire Sayings”. It is thought that the phrase is derived from an old English proverb which states that “the cow will never come home until she has been milked three times”. This was a way of conveying the idea that a certain task would take a great deal of time, and so it is likely that the phrase itself has been in use since at least the early 18th Century.

Usage

The phrase is used to indicate that something will take a long time to complete or to describe a long, indefinite period of time. It is often used for humorous effect, as it is such a long time to wait for something! For example, someone might say “I could wait for you until the cows come home”, as a way of conveying that they are willing to wait for a very long time.

Example Sentences

• I could wait for you until the cows come home.
• I'm going to wait here until the cows come home.
• He insisted he could do the job until the cows come home.

Idioms with similar meanings in different languages

"Barking up the wrong tree" is an English idiom that means to pursue a mistaken or misguided course of action. In German, the similar idiom is "Auf dem Holzweg sein," which translates to "To be on the wrong track." This idiom emphasizes the idea that when you are pursuing the wrong course of action, you are not going to achieve your desired outcome.