donkey's years

American  

noun

Informal.

1. a very long time; eons.

---

donkey's years British  

noun

1. informal a long time

---

donkey's years Idioms  

1. A long time, as in I haven't seen her in donkey's years. This expression punningly alludes to the considerable length of the animal's ears. [Early 1900s]

---

Etymology

Origin of donkey's years

First recorded in 1895–1900; probably originally donkey('s) ears, as rhyming slang for years, with years replacing ears once the rhyming origin was forgotten

Example Sentences

"I've been waking up at night. I've not been this stressed in donkey's years."

From BBC • Sep. 9, 2022

The Sun has still been the most successful newspaper in Britain for donkey's years and so was the News Of The World.

From BBC • Feb. 24, 2012

S Brethes, London Catchy phrase for a vague concept... that has actually been around for donkey's years and has a pretty patchy record.

From BBC • Jan. 19, 2011

"The previous landlord and landlady had been there donkey's years," she said.

From The Guardian • Aug. 27, 2010

I recollect—oh, donkey’s years ago—I used to sometimes go to ’Yde Park of a Sunday afternoon to ’ear the blokes making speeches.

From "1984" by George Orwell