IdiomNature
English
EnglishOnce in a blue moon
Meaning: Very rarely.
Example: “My brother lives abroad, so we only see him once in a blue moon.”
Origin: A 'blue moon' is a rare second full moon in a month; the phrase fixed the sense of rarity by the 19th century.
Other ways to say this
Italian: Ogni morte di papa Literally: Every death of a pope
Afrikaans: So skaars soos hoendertande Literally: As scarce as hen's teeth
Spanish: cada muerte de obispo Literally: Each death of bishop- Spanish: de Pascuas a Ramos Literally: From Easter to Palm Sunday
Portuguese: de vez em nunca Literally: From time to never- English: as scarce as hen's teeth
More English idioms
- To throw a spanner in the works To sabotage or disrupt a plan.
- A skeleton in the closet A shameful secret kept hidden.
- To read the riot act To reprimand someone sternly.
- To pull out all the stops To make every possible effort.
- To have egg on your face To look foolish or embarrassed.
- To jump on the bandwagon To join something only once it becomes popular.
Explore another collection: Compliments & Insults
Compliments and insults from around the world, from the sweet to the savage.
- Testa di rapa A blockhead who isn't thinking.
- Du hast doch einen Vogel You're a bit out of your mind.
- Du gehst mir auf den Keks You're getting on my nerves.
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