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Once in a blue moon

Meaning: Very rarely.

Language: English

Literally: Once in a blue moon

Category: Nature

Origin: A 'blue moon' is a rare second full moon in a month; the phrase fixed the sense of rarity by the 19th century.

More idioms — Nature

  • To break the ice — To ease the initial tension in a social situation.
  • To give a wide berth — To keep well away from someone or something.
  • Echar leña al fuego — To make a bad situation worse.
  • Prendere lucciole per lanterne — To be completely and badly mistaken.
  • Ficar a ver navios — To be left disappointed and empty-handed.
  • Att kasta yxan i sjön — To give up completely.

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.

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