donkey's ears

donkey's ears

English

A long time, long like donkey’s ears

Etymology

1916 UK, from British rhyming slang, rhyming with years, due to donkey’s ears being long.[1]

Pronunciation

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Noun

donkey's ears pl (plural only)

1. (Britain, idiomatic) A long time, years and years.
   • 1916, E. V. Lucas, The Vermilion Box:[1]

     Now for my first bath for what the men call ‘Donkey’s ears’, meaning years and years.

2. (military, slang) A pair of scissor binoculars.

Synonyms

• ages
• donkey's years
• years and years
• yonks

Derived terms

• donkey's years

References

1. Gary Martin (1997–), “Donkey's years”, in The Phrase Finder, retrieved 26 February 2017.

• Michael Quinion (15 April 2000), “Donkey's years”, in World Wide Words.
• “Donkey’s Ears”, Web's greatest dick’n’arry of Cockney Rhyming Slang.