Once in A Blue Moon

Have you ever heard someone use the term ‘once in a blue moon’ and wondered what they were referring to? We are going to take a look at the meaning of this saying and how it can be used in a conversation. We will also look into the history of this phrase and where it originally came from.

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“Once in A Blue Moon” Meaning

When someone uses the term ‘once in a blue moon’ they are saying that something only occurs very occasionally.

Origin of this idiom

In the 1500s the term ‘once in a blue moon’ actually had a different meaning, it referred to something as being strange or obscure. The meaning then evolved over time to the one that we use today.

“Once in A Blue Moon” Examples

Examples in Statements

This is a statement being made by a mother.

‘My grown up son is so busy these days that he only comes to see me once in a blue moon.’

Here is a statement which is being made by one friend to another.

‘I like these chocolates but I only eat them once in a blue moon.’

Other examples:

It only happens like this once in a blue moon.
Once in a blue moon you get some problems.
That happens only once in a blue moon, when the weather is cold enough and thus the ice thick enough.
You get a chance like this only once in a blue moon.
I used to spend a lot of time in London, but now I only go there once in a blue moon.

Conversation Examples

If you are curious to see how the phrase ‘once in a blue moon’ can work in a conversation, here are some examples to demonstrate how it can be used.

The first conversation is taking place between two friends.

Person 1: “Are we going to the cinema later?”
Person 2: “Yes definitely. We don’t go often enough.”
Person 1: “I agree, we only go once in a blue moon.”

This next conversation is one which is taking place between to people in the workplace.

Person 1: “We have an audit coming up again.”
Person 2: “Again? Have we ever even had one?”
Person 1: “Perhaps not while you have been working here, they only happen once in a blue moon.”

Other Ways to Say “Once in A Blue Moon”

There are other ways in which you can express the meaning of the term ‘once in a blue moon.’

Here are some examples of things you can say which carry the same meaning.

Almost never
Few and far between
Now and then
On rare occasions
Only occasionally

Once in A Blue Moon | Image

Last Updated on December 17, 2020