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 someplace, 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?
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.
Here is the useful list of synonyms for the expression “once in a blue moon”:
- Once in a while
- Occasionally
- Infrequently
- Intermittently
- Now and again
- Periodically
- Sporadically
- Every once in a while
- Hardly
- Seldom
- Irregularly
- Not often
- Rarely
Synonyms for “Once In A Blue Moon” with Examples
Once in a while
- Once in a while we eat out.
Occasionally
- We go for walks in the fields occasionally.
Infrequently
- Jeremy does play cricket, but very infrequently.
Intermittently
- The talks went on intermittently for three years.
Now and again
- Now and again he’d join in when we were playing video games.
Periodically
- Teachers meet periodically to discuss progress.
Sporadically
- The fighting continued sporadically for several days.
Every once in a while
- I saw her in the shop every once in a while.
Hardly
- I need hardly say what a pleasure it is to introduce our speaker.
Seldom
- He that is angry is seldom at ease.
Irregularly
- He was eating irregularly, steadily losing weight.
Not often
- It is not often that you get such an opportunity.
Rarely
- It rarely happened that people in the town flocked to the theatre to see the new opera.
