Do Americans use the phrase ‘In donkey’s years’ or ‘in donkey’s’?

43 comments

1. …no, man.

2. Never heard it before.

3. Never heard that.

4. “Haven’t seen them in a coon’s age.” is the regional American equivalent.

5. I usually say “Haven’t seen ye
   in the age of a dog once.”

6. Never heard the phrase.

7. Never heard of this.

8. Never heard that

9. Old timers used to, but I haven’t heard it for the last 40 years or so.

10. Ive never heard anyone say this

11. I’ve never heard either of those variations.

12. We just say, “I haven’t seen you in forever” or “it’s been years.”

13. I’ve heard in a dog’s age, but that’s very old. I doubt very many young people have ever heard it said out loud

14. It isn’t common anymore. “In a coon’s age” is reasonably common, but I like to use “since Hector was a pup.”

15. I’ve heard it used, but not by Americans. I assumed it was a purely British thing.

16. Never heard it. I would say “in a hot minute” or “in a grip”

17. I’ve only ever heard one guy use that phrase. He was from the Ivory Coast so maybe they say it there.

18. No. By context it seems to mean “a long time” but I don’t really get the phrase itself. Do donkeys live exceptionally long?

    We might use “dog years” in a phrase to make a short period of time sound like a long period of time, but I have never in my life heard “in donkey’s years”.

19. I have never heard this

20. Never heard that before but the meaning is clear from context.

    I’ve heard “in a coons age” as in raccoon and it means the same thing.

21. I’ve heard “not in a coon’s age”, referring to raccoons, but never donkeys.

22. “We don’t do that here.”

23. I haven’t heard that phrase ever.

24. Nope never heard it before

25. I do but I can’t speak for most Americans. My parents taught me that one.

26. Closest thing we have is “in a dog’s age” meaning a long time.

    But, it isn’t that common and kind of old timey.

27. Huh? Never heard of that

28. Never heard that, but I do know I’m not donkey brained. I have the certificate & everything.

29. I think we have/used to use “…till the cows come home” or “when pigs fly” meaning something will take forever or not happen at all.

30. I’ve never heard an American use this term. My husband, who is from Bath, says it. The first time he used it, I thought he was just making up some strange phrase to throw me off, similar to what happens in that [30 Rock episode](https://youtu.be/6GT1797-rQQ) with Michael Sheen when he’s talking about “bread back”.

31. I don’t use it. It sounds like something my elderly relatives might say though.

32. Nope, only heard it on *Father Ted*

33. Did you make this up lol I’ve never heard this

34. No. We say “in dog years,” but it’s used in a different context. If we haven’t seen a friend in a long time we’ll say “I haven’t seen you in eons” or “I haven’t seen you in ages!”.

35. Never heard that phrase in my life.

36. I’ve only heard that from Australians on Australian TV shows.

37. No

38. I have heard

    * in a *hot* minute
    * a coon’s age
    * since Christ was a Corporal (military friends mainly)
    * a month of Sundays
    * been ages

39. Nope

40. I’ve never heard thst phrase before.

41. I have heard it but it is very uncommon and if you didn’t say “years” most people wouldn’t understand you:

42. No

43. Some people have “donkey brains”….