Rarely, once in a very long time, as in We only see our daughter once in a blue moon. This term is something of a misnomer, because an actual blue moon--that is, the appearance of a second full moon in the same calendar month--occurs every 32 months or so. Further, the moon can appear blue in color at any time, depending on weather conditions. [Early 1800s]
Once in a blue moon
Did you mean: Once in a blue moon (phrase), blue moon, Once in a Blue Moon (album), Once in a Blue Moon (stories), Once in a Blue Moon (1972 Album by Frankie Miller) More...
| Idioms: once in a blue moon |
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 Phrase www.phrases.org.uk |
Did you mean: Once in a blue moon (phrase), blue moon, Once in a Blue Moon (album), Once in a Blue Moon (stories), Once in a Blue Moon (1972 Album by Frankie Miller) More...
Learn More
 | Earl Thomas Conley Greatest Hits (1985 Album by Earl Thomas Conley) |
| once (Idiom) |
| Fool's Garden (Rock Band, '90s, 2000s) |
Help us answer these
 | Why do you use the expression once in a blue moon to mean a very rarely? |
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| Where did the saying Every once in a blue moon start? |
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 | Idioms. The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more |
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Mentioned in
- Earl Thomas Conley Greatest Hits (1985 Album by Earl Thomas Conley)
- once (Idiom)
- Fool's Garden (Rock Band, '90s, 2000s)
- Love out Loud (1998 Album by Earl Thomas Conley)
- Midnight at Mabel Mercer's/Once in a Blue Moon (2000 Album by Mabel Mercer)
- blue (Idiom)
- Elevator (Electronica Band, '90s)
- Die Happy (1991 Album by Pam Tate)
- Reckless Living (1938 Drama Film)
- Blue Moon (1995 Album by J. Spencer)
- 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Nanci Griffith (2001 Album by Nanci Griffith)
- Penelope Houston (Rock Artist, '80s-2000s)
- Oliver Knight (Folk Artist, 2000s)
- Once in a Blue Moon (2000 Album by Penelope Houston)
