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[0426] Once in a blue moon

🎲 Every now and then
English Idioms
All Idioms

Explanation

  • Happens very rarely; extremely infrequently.

Origin

  • A blue moon is the second full moon in one calendar month (or sometimes the third full moon in a season with four). This happens only about every 2-3 years.
  • The phrase emerged in the 19th century, initially meaning 'absurd' or 'never', later shifting to 'very rarely'.

Synonyms & Related Expressions

  • Rarely
  • Seldom
  • Hardly ever
  • Infrequently
  • Once in a great while
  • (As) rare as hen's teeth (UK/Aus, informal idiom for extremely rare)

Alternatives

Slang/Informal:

  • Hardly ever.
  • Like, never. (Hyperbole for very rarely)
  • Almost never.

Milder/Standard:

  • Very rarely.
  • Infrequently.
  • Seldom. (Slightly more formal/literary)

More Emphatic:

  • Practically never.

Situational Appropriateness

  • Appropriate for most informal and semi-formal conversations.
  • It's a common, slightly colorful idiom.

Misunderstanding Warnings

  • Non-native speakers might be confused by the literal meaning. Explain it's an idiom meaning very rarely.

Examples

  • We only go out for a fancy dinner once in a blue moon.
  • He actually cleans his room, but only once in a blue moon.

Dialogue

Person A: Do you ever see fireworks around here, besides New Year's?

Person B: Almost never. Maybe once in a blue moon if there's a huge town festival, but that's about it.

Person A: Shame. I love fireworks.

Social Media Examples

  • Facebook Post: Had an amazing reunion with my college roommates this weekend! We only manage to all get together once in a blue moon, so it was extra special. ❤️ #friendsforlife #reunion
  • Tweet: Actually cooked a proper meal from scratch tonight instead of ordering takeout. Happens once in a blue moon. Feeling very accomplished. 😂 #adulting #cooking

Response Patterns

  • Oh, really? That seldom?
  • Wow, that's not often at all.
  • Yeah, it's quite rare.

Common Follow-up Questions/Actions

  • Acknowledge the rarity (Wow.).
  • Might ask why it's so infrequent (Why so rarely?).
  • Share a similar experience of rarity.

Conversation Starter

  • No. Describes the frequency of an event already under discussion.

Intonation

  • Emphasis typically on BLUE MOON. That only happens once in a BLUE MOON.
  • Tone often emphasizes the rarity, sometimes with slight exaggeration.

Generation Differences

  • Widely understood and used across generations.

Regional Variations

  • Common in most English-speaking regions.
Procrastinate
🎲 Every now and then