A: Can you drive me downtown? I’ve got an appointment with the dentist this morning. B: I haven’t driven a car for donkey’s years. I hope I can remember what to do. A: All right then, I think I can call a cab. Note: This idiom, chiefly British, means “a very long time.” It first appeared in the 1920s. Since “years” rhymes with “ears,” and donkeys are known for their long ears, “donkey’s years” is rhyming slang, with “donkey” acting as emphasis. This idiom is also supported by the belief that donkeys live a long time. |