“Once in a Blue Moon” 🌕
Meaning: Very rarely; once in a long while.
Origins and History: The phrase “once in a blue moon” has intrigued and puzzled language lovers for centuries. The earliest reference comes from 1528 by Roy and Barlow in Rede Me and Be Not Wrothe: “Yf they saye the mone is blewe, we must believe that it is true.” It followed another noteworthy mention in Thomas Dekker’s A Knight’s Conjuring (1607): “She would have trickes (once in a moone) to put the divell out of his wits.”
Fast forward to the 19th century, where Edmund Yates used it in Wrecked in Port (1869): “That indefinite period known as a ‘blue moon,’” and Pierce Egan in Early Life in London (1821): “How’s Harry and Ben? Haven’t seen you this blue moon.”
Today, “blue moon” is also recognized by astronomers to describe the fourth full moon in a season, rather than the usual three.
Related Terms:
- Every once in a while: Happening occasionally. Synonym to “once in a blue moon.”
- Once in a Donkey’s Age: A very long time; humorous variant.
- Seldom: Rarely occurring.
Antonym:
- Frequently: Happening often; the polar opposite of “once in a blue moon.”
Quotes:
- “Like brushing your teeth with frosting, it happens only once in a blue moon—if at all.”
Proverbs:
- “Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a blue moon.”
Literary References:
- To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf: Explores timelessness and fleeting moments, akin to rare occurrences like a blue moon.
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald: Themes of the rare and extraordinary; Gatsby’s lavish parties could be seen as happening “once in a blue moon.”
True or False: ‘Once in a blue moon’ means very frequently.
- True
- False
Explanation: False! “Once in a blue moon” means very rarely. Sort of like a solar eclipse but even less Eurovision-levels of rare drama.
Which phrase is correct?
- Once in a blue mermaid
- Once in a blue moon
- Once in a green moon
- Once in a yellow submarine
Explanation: The correct phrase is “once in a blue moon,” clearly referring to the rare event and not to mythical sea creatures or Beatles’ lyrics.
Astronomers define “blue moon” as?
- The occurrence of a fourth full moon in a season
- A lunar moon dyed blue with food coloring
- The moon turning blue from cheese
- A poetic whimsy from Shakespeare
Explanation: Modern astronomers define “blue moon” as the occurrence of a fourth full moon in a given season, not reckonable in dairy or food coloring terms.
Think About It: How frequently does something happen in your life that you can honestly say “once in a blue moon”? Reflect on these rare occurrences and how they shape your narrative arc, much like peculiar plot twists in your personal story.
And with this enlightening exploration, may your blue moons be moments of rare joy and serendipity. Until our next literary sojourn, reticence, and suspense linger as moonlight on a serene night.
With words and wisdom, A. U. Thoracious
