Once In A Blue Moon: Definition & Useful Examples in English

Once In A Blue Moon Meaning! What does “once in a blue moon” mean? Learn the definition, it’s origin & useful synonym list & example sentences with ESL infographic.

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Once In A Blue Moon Meaning

What Does “Once In A Blue Moon” Mean?

Once in a blue moon is a common idiom which indicates that something happens only very rarely, seldom, only once in a long period of time; almost never.

Note: In someplaces, if there are two full moons in a calendar month, the second is called a `blue moon’. This is rare.

History of Expression

The ‘moon’ in this expression does, in fact, refer to the real moon when it is full. There are generally three full moons in a season, although sometimes there may be four. The third full moon visible on the rare occasions that there are four in a season is known as a ‘blue moon’. But why blue?

The word derives from the Old English word ‘belewe’, which had two separate meanings. One of them was ‘blue’. The other was ‘betrayer’.

Example Sentences

He comes around once in a blue moon.
That kind of chance comes once in a blue moon.
It only happens like this once in a blue moon.
Once in a blue moon, you get some problems.
I see her once in a blue moon.
We go out to eat once in a blue moon.
That happens only once in a blue moon when the weather is cold enough and thus the ice thick enough.
Once in a blue moon, the addressing system itself changes.
That sort of thing only happens once in a blue moon.
He gives us a treat only once in a blue moon.
Seeing the partial eclipse is once in a blue moon.
It is once in a blue moon that you get a chance.
Great writers like Mark Twain only appear once in a blue moon.
He gets drunk only once in a blue moon.
This is a chance once in a blue moon.
You get a chance like this only once in a blue moon.
Such a chance comes once in a blue moon.
It was an opportunity that comes once in a blue moon.
My sister lives in Alaska, so I only see her once in a blue moon.