donkey's years

noun

A long time, years and years.

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Meanings

noundonkey's years pl (plural only)

alternative donkeys' years · alternative donkey's

  1. CommonwealthIrelandUKidiomaticpluralplural onlyA long time, years and years.

    With a heavy make-up, you’ll be the cutest vamp I’ve seen in donkey's years.

    1923, The Bridgeport Telegram
    1 more example

    Didn't you ask him how long it had been in his possession? I can't recollect that. I might have done so. Didn't he say for years and years and donkey's years?

    1876, The Salisbury Times

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
agedog's agedonkey's earseldeoneternitylifetimeminutemonth of sundayswhileyears

Origin

1876 or earlier. Possibly chosen because donkeys can be long-lived animals. Likely directly related to donkey's ears, a less frequently used rhyming slang term for years.https://wordhistories.net/2016/06/30/donkeys-years/

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

donkey's years. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/donkey's%20years

MLA

“donkey's years.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/donkey's%20years. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “donkey's years,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/donkey's%20years.

Source: donkey's years on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.