Some things feel like they last forever. People often talk about time using special sayings called idioms. These idioms help us picture how long something lasts—especially when it feels like it will never end. In everyday life, Americans use idioms about eternity to explain moments that seem never-ending, like a long class or a boring meeting. These expressions are part of how we talk and understand time better.
In this article, you’ll learn different idioms about eternity. They’re fun, easy to understand, and often used across the USA. From school days that seem to drag on, to old stories passed down for generations, these phrases help describe moments that stretch across time. Let’s explore what they mean and how to use them.
Idioms About Eternity
1. Forever and a day
Meaning: A very long time
Example Sentence:
• It felt like we waited forever and a day at the DMV.
• She said she’d love her dog forever and a day.
Other ways to say: A really long time, forever
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase became popular through William Shakespeare’s play As You Like It.
Usage: Used when something seems to last way too long or forever.
2. Till the cows come home
Meaning: For a very long time, or forever
Example Sentence:
• You can play video games till the cows come home.
• He could talk about sports till the cows come home.
Other ways to say: All day long, endlessly
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from farm life—cows take a long time to return from grazing.
Usage: Used to show something lasting a very long time.
3. Time stood still
Meaning: It felt like everything stopped
Example Sentence:
• When the lights went out, it felt like time stood still.
• Her heart raced and time stood still when he waved at her.
Other ways to say: Everything froze, it was quiet
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used in dramatic stories or songs.
Usage: Used to describe an intense moment.
4. From here to eternity
Meaning: A very long time into the future
Example Sentence:
• This homework will take from here to eternity.
• They promised to be friends from here to eternity.
Other ways to say: Forever, endlessly
Fun Fact/Origin: Title of a famous movie and book in the USA.
Usage: Used to show something lasting a lifetime or more.
5. An eternity
Meaning: A time that feels very, very long
Example Sentence:
• The drive to Grandma’s felt like an eternity.
• Waiting for my turn took an eternity.
Other ways to say: Forever, a super long time
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the word “eternal” which means lasting forever.
Usage: Used when something takes longer than expected.
6. In the blink of an eye (reversed)
Meaning: Saying something didn’t happen fast—it took forever
Example Sentence:
• It didn’t happen in the blink of an eye—it took ages!
• I wished it was over in the blink of an eye, but it wasn’t.
Other ways to say: Not quick, way too long
Fun Fact/Origin: Usually this idiom means “fast,” but people flip it to mean “slow.”
Usage: Used to complain that something wasn’t quick at all.
7. Drag on
Meaning: To go on too long
Example Sentence:
• The movie dragged on and I got bored.
• Her story dragged on for what felt like hours.
Other ways to say: Take forever, never-ending
Fun Fact/Origin: “Drag” gives the feeling of something being pulled slowly.
Usage: Used to talk about things that seem too long.
8. Age-old
Meaning: Very old or from a long time ago
Example Sentence:
• That’s an age-old tradition in our family.
• They told an age-old story by the fire.
Other ways to say: Ancient, really old
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used when talking about myths or customs.
Usage: Used to show something has lasted for generations.
9. As old as time
Meaning: Extremely old
Example Sentence:
• That building is as old as time.
• The rule feels as old as time.
Other ways to say: Very old, ancient
Fun Fact/Origin: Popularized in songs and stories, including Beauty and the Beast.
Usage: Used to describe something timeless or very old.
10. Once in a blue moon (rare)
Meaning: Something that almost never happens
Example Sentence:
• He visits us once in a blue moon.
• We get snow in Florida once in a blue moon.
Other ways to say: Hardly ever, almost never
Fun Fact/Origin: A “blue moon” is a rare second full moon in one month.
Usage: Used when something hardly ever happens.
11. Since the dawn of time
Meaning: From the beginning of everything
Example Sentence:
• People have told stories since the dawn of time.
• That mountain has been there since the dawn of time.
Other ways to say: Always, forever
Fun Fact/Origin: “Dawn” means the start of the day, so it means the start of time.
Usage: Used to talk about things that go way back.
12. Stand the test of time
Meaning: To last for a very long time and still be strong
Example Sentence:
• That book has stood the test of time.
• Their friendship has stood the test of time.
Other ways to say: Last, stay strong
Fun Fact/Origin: “Test” means something tough that proves strength.
Usage: Used to describe something that remains strong through years.
13. Until the end of time
Meaning: Forever
Example Sentence:
• I’ll love my dog until the end of time.
• The stars will shine until the end of time.
Other ways to say: Forever, always
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used in songs and poems.
Usage: Shows deep feelings or things that last forever.
14. Time slows to a crawl
Meaning: Time moves very slowly
Example Sentence:
• In detention, time slowed to a crawl.
• Waiting at the doctor’s office, time slowed to a crawl.
Other ways to say: Very slow, dragging
Fun Fact/Origin: “Crawl” means to move super slow, like a baby crawling.
Usage: Used to describe boring or slow moments.
15. Stuck in time
Meaning: Not moving forward or changing
Example Sentence:
• That diner looks stuck in time.
• Her hairstyle is stuck in time.
Other ways to say: Frozen, outdated
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used when people don’t keep up with the present.
Usage: Used when something looks or feels really old.
16. Go on forever
Meaning: Never seems to end
Example Sentence:
• That road looks like it goes on forever.
• Her speech went on forever.
Other ways to say: Never-ending, super long
Fun Fact/Origin: A common exaggeration used in everyday speech.
Usage: Used when something feels too long or endless.
17. A moment frozen in time
Meaning: A special memory that feels like it lasts forever
Example Sentence:
• The photo captured a moment frozen in time.
• Their wedding was a moment frozen in time.
Other ways to say: A lasting memory, forever remembered
Fun Fact/Origin: Used a lot in movies and books about memories.
Usage: Describes special or emotional moments that feel timeless.
18. Never in a million years
Meaning: Something that is very unlikely to happen
Example Sentence:
• I’d never go skydiving in a million years.
• Never in a million years did I think I’d meet a movie star.
Other ways to say: Not going to happen, no way
Fun Fact/Origin: A million years makes it sound like an impossible wait.
Usage: Used when something is not expected to happen ever.
19. For the long haul
Meaning: For a long time
Example Sentence:
• We’re in this friendship for the long haul.
• They moved to the USA for the long haul.
Other ways to say: Long-term, not temporary
Fun Fact/Origin: “Haul” means to carry something heavy over time.
Usage: Used when you’re ready for something that lasts a while.
20. Since forever
Meaning: As long as anyone can remember
Example Sentence:
• I’ve known him since forever.
• That rule’s been around since forever.
Other ways to say: Always, since way back
Fun Fact/Origin: A casual, modern way kids and teens talk.
Usage: Used when something feels like it’s always been true.
21. Till kingdom come
Meaning: Until the end of the world
Example Sentence:
• He said he’d wait for her till kingdom come.
• That problem might last till kingdom come.
Other ways to say: Forever, for eternity
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from old religious phrases in prayers.
Usage: Often used to show strong feelings or dramatic time spans.
22. Timeless beauty
Meaning: Beauty that never fades
Example Sentence:
• The Grand Canyon has timeless beauty.
• Her dress had a timeless beauty.
Other ways to say: Classic, always beautiful
Fun Fact/Origin: “Timeless” means not affected by time.
Usage: Used to praise things that always look good.
23. Like watching paint dry
Meaning: Something that takes forever and is very boring
Example Sentence:
• That movie was like watching paint dry.
• Sitting in that meeting was like watching paint dry.
Other ways to say: Super boring, slow
Fun Fact/Origin: Paint drying is very slow—people use this for boring things.
Usage: Used when something is painfully slow or dull.
24. Outlast the ages
Meaning: To survive for a very long time
Example Sentence:
• The pyramids have outlasted the ages.
• Good values will outlast the ages.
Other ways to say: Last forever, stand strong
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used in history or epic stories.
Usage: Describes things that have lasted longer than expected.
25. A lifetime ago
Meaning: Something that feels like it happened very long ago
Example Sentence:
• Middle school feels like a lifetime ago.
• That summer trip seems like a lifetime ago.
Other ways to say: Long time back, way in the past
Fun Fact/Origin: Not always literal—a “lifetime” just means “a very long time.”
Usage: Used when something feels distant in memory.
Quiz: Idioms About Eternity
Instructions: Choose the best meaning for each idiom. Pick A, B, or C.
Questions Key
1. What does “forever and a day” mean?
A) Only for one day
B) A very long time
C) Right now
2. What does “till the cows come home” mean?
A) Until animals arrive
B) For a short time
C) For a very long time
3. If someone says “time stood still,” what are they describing?
A) A clock that broke
B) A moment that felt frozen
C) A time that moved fast
4. What does “once in a blue moon” mean?
A) Something happens often
B) Something happens almost never
C) Something happens every day
5. If something “drags on,” what does it mean?
A) It goes quickly
B) It ends right away
C) It takes too long
6. What does “since the dawn of time” mean?
A) It started yesterday
B) It’s very old
C) It has not happened yet
7. If something will last “till kingdom come,” what does that mean?
A) Until next week
B) Until the end of the world
C) For one hour
8. What does it mean if something “stood the test of time”?
A) It lasted a long time and stayed strong
B) It failed right away
C) It got old quickly
9. If someone says “never in a million years,” what are they saying?
A) They think it will happen soon
B) It will happen tomorrow
C) It’s not going to happen
10. What does “a moment frozen in time” mean?
A) A memory that feels stuck forever
B) A moment that changes fast
C) A time that is forgotten
Answer Key
- B – A very long time
- C – For a very long time
- B – A moment that felt frozen
- B – Something happens almost never
- C – It takes too long
- B – It’s very old
- B – Until the end of the world
- A – It lasted a long time and stayed strong
- C – It’s not going to happen
- A – A memory that feels stuck forever
Wrapping Up
Idioms about eternity help us talk about time in fun and clever ways. People in the USA use them to describe things that last a long time or feel like they never end. These phrases can be serious, silly, or even dramatic, but they help us say more with fewer words.
Learning idioms like these makes it easier to understand conversations, books, and movies. So next time something feels super long, try one of these phrases. Americans use them all the time—and now you can too.
