The idiom “once in a blue moon” is often used to refer to an event that occurs very rarely as if it is a one-time occurrence over a long period, denoting an event that is uncommon, infrequent or extraordinary. If someone says they do something, “once in a blue moon,” they mean it is something they hardly ever do, just like a blue moon is a hard occurrence to observe in the universe of moon sightings.
Origin Of ‘Once In A Blue Moon”
The phrase, “once in a blue moon,” comes from astronomy. A “blue moon” is an extra full moon in a season. There are generally three full moons in the four seasons of the year; when a season has four full moons, the third moon is called a blue moon. The moon does not really turn blue, the term is more of a name for its rarity than the appearance of the moon. This rarity has made it a common term of an event or occurrence that is habitual and has become widely accepted as a way to describe infrequent occurrences.
The Shakespeare Connection
While it might not be accurate to assert that Shakespeare initiated the phrase “once in a blue moon,” he nonetheless dropped numerous imaginative words and phrases into the English lexicon, coining thousands of them himself.
Countless poetic phrases pepper the language of Shakespeare’s plays and subsequently became idiomatic or conventional phrases that we still use today. For example, “a sorry sight” comes from Macbeth, while “wild-goose chase” comes from Romeo and Juliet.
“Once in a blue moon” is not attributed to either source; however, its fancifulness is consistent with Shakespeare’s fanciful taxonomy of phraseology. If Shakespeare had overheard “once in a blue moon” or something similar in a conversation, there’s no doubt he would’ve subsequently devised some rhetorical form or flavour to insert into one of his plays that relates to something celestial and fleeting.
Once in a blue moon
Appearances Of ‘Once In A Blue Moon’ In The Media
“Once in a blue moon” has appeared in many aspects of popular culture, including literature, television, movies, and advertisements. It may appear in traditional literature to signify that there is a disruption to the routine of everyday life. For instance, in a novel, a character might remark “He only visits once in a blue moon,” meaning that he may show up from time to time but not routinely. Poets might use “once in a blue moon” nostalgically, indicating that something from the past has passed into an unusual or seemingly unique experience, as is common with nostalgia.
In the context of TV shows or movies, “once in a blue moon” may be used humorously or to connote something that would increasingly be detailed or appear as an unrecognized astonishment. A sitcom character might explain, “I clean the house once in a blue moon!” conceding that they usually are too lazy to clean. Advertisements in magazines either utilize the idiom likewise, for example claiming a limited special edition of a product will “only be available once in a blue moon,” or reference the idiom in its entirety in advertising or on coupons. In those situations, advertisements denote limited time, limited availability, or timing of some inconvenience regarding a scheduling issue in the promotion.
Sentences Using the Idiom “Once in a Blue Moon”
- I love chocolate, but I only indulge in a decadent dessert once in a blue moon.
- She’s always busy with work, so we only catch up once in a blue moon.
- Once in a blue moon, you find a book that changes your entire perspective on life.
- He’s not much of a party-goer, so seeing him at the club was a once-in-a-blue-moon event.
- The small town festival is an event that happens only once in a blue moon, drawing crowds from miles around.
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