A Month of Sundays: The Infinity of Leisure 🗓️💤
Definition
“A month of Sundays”: A term denoting a very long period of time. Though it never implies a literal time span of thirty weeks, it humorously suggests a stretch of eternity, particularly one involving leisure or idleness.
Terms & Synonyms
- Forever and a day
- An eternity
- Eons
- A blue moon
- A coon’s age (An older American term)
Antonyms
- A jiffy
- A New York minute
- Momentarily
- In a flash
- At the drop of a hat
Proverbs & Expressions
- “All in good time.” - Patience is a virtue, after all.
- “Patience is a fruit of adversity.” - They say patience levels up with the tough times.
- “April showers bring May flowers.” - Good things come, but sometimes after a long wait.
👻 Laugh Break: “I’m going to start my diet on a month of Sundays. Meaning, never.” - Anon😜
Reference in Literature and Media
- Frederick Marryat’s Newton Forster (1832): The likely first print appearance.
- Ogden Nash’s poem “My Dear, How Did You Ever Think up This Delicious Salad?” (1935): Which plays with words delightfully: “The salad course nowadays seems to be a month of sundaes.”
Related & Similar Terms from Other Cultures
- Greek: ‘του Αγίου ανήμερα’ = until Saint’s day, indicating a long, indefinite time.
- Japanese: ‘Urashima Tarō’ = a children’s story involving decades passing in what feels like a short time.
Fun Literature and Media Recommendations
- Books: Catch-22 by Joseph Heller (Time manipulation theme)
- Movies: Groundhog Day (A humorous take on endless repetition)
- Songs: “Back in Time” by Huey Lewis and the News (Time and patience theme)
- Poetry: Ogden Nash’s other works for humor-driven poetic charms.
### Which of these describes "a month of Sundays"?
- [x] A very long time
- [ ] Thirty Sundays
- [ ] A week full of holidays
- [ ] Continuous weekends
> **Explanation:** "A month of Sundays" is an idiom meaning a very long time, not thirty literal Sundays.
### What could be a visual shorthand for "a month of Sundays"?
- [ ] A single long Sunday
- [ ] Thirty straight weekdays
- [x] A calendar stuck on Sunday
- [ ] Seven continuous Mondays
> **Explanation:** The imagery of a calendar stuck on Sunday helps convey the feeling of endless leisure.
### The idiom "a month of Sundays" dates back to?
- [ ] 2000s
- [ ] 1900s
- [ ] 16th century
- [x] Early 19th century
> **Explanation:** This idiom dates back to early 19th century, evidenced from its print appearance in Frederick Marryat’s Newton Forster (1832).
### Complete the humor twist: "A month of Sundays and still waiting for…"
- [ ] Tomorrow
- [ ] My morning coffee
- [ ] The next full moon
- [x] Weekend traffic to clear
> **Explanation:** "A month of Sundays" signifies a long wait, much like waiting for the weekend traffic to finally clear.
Author Note: Written by Lexi Wordsmith, October 15, 2023. Always remember: Patience brings the sweetest fruit, albeit sometimes after ‘a month of Sundays.’
Stay curious and keep exploring the wondrous world of words! 🌟
