subs. phr. (common).—An unlimited period: hence ONCE IN A BLUE MOON = extremely seldom: see QUEEN DICK.
1528. ROY and BARLOW, Rede me and be nott wrothe, 114 [ed. ARBER, 1871].
| Yf they saye the MONE IS BELEWE, | |
| We must beleve that it is true, | |
| Admittynge their interpretacion. |
1860. F. W. ROBINSON, Grandmother’s Money, I., 144. If he talked till a BLUE MOON, etc.
1876. M. E. BRADDON, Joshua Haggard’s Daughter, xxiv. Why should she stint as to one or two puddings a week … and a fruit pasty ONCE IN A BLUE MOON.
1884. R. E. FRANCILLON, Ropes of Sand, xxi. ‘I’ve made bold to take the chance of your being at home for ONCE IN A BLUE MOON, Mr. Carew,’ said she.
1901. People, 7 April, 13, 1. As a matter of fact, some of the inmates have a bath ONCE IN A BLUE MOON, and give their faces and hands a cat-lick once a week.
