Once in a Blue Moon Meaning Happens Very Rarely

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.

• Once In A Blue Moon | Meaning
  • What Does "Once In A Blue Moon" Mean?
  • History of Expression
  • Example Sentences
• Once In A Blue Moon | Synonyms
  • Once In A Blue Moon Synonyms List
  • Synonyms for "Once In A Blue Moon" with Examples
• Once In A Blue Moon | Infographic

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 comesonce in a blue moon.
• It only happens like thisonce in a blue moon.
• Once in a blue moon, you get some problems.
• I see heronce in a blue moon.
• We go out to eatonce in a blue moon.
• That happens onlyonce 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 happensonce in a blue moon.
• He gives us a treat onlyonce in a blue moon.
• Seeing the partial eclipse isonce in a blue moon.
• It isonce in a blue moon that you get a chance.
• Great writers like Mark Twain only appearonce in a blue moon.
• He gets drunk onlyonce in a blue moon.
• This is a chanceonce in a blue moon.
• You get a chance like this onlyonce in a blue moon.
• Such a chance comesonce in a blue moon.
• It was an opportunity that comesonce in a blue moon.
• My sister lives in Alaska, so I only see heronce in a blue moon.

Once In A Blue Moon | Synonyms

Once In A Blue Moon Synonyms List

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 fieldsoccasionally.

Infrequently

• Jeremy does play cricket, but very infrequently.

Intermittently

• The talks went onintermittently for three years.

Now and again

• Now and again he'd join in when we were playing video games.

Periodically

• Teachers meetperiodically to discuss progress.

Sporadically

• The fighting continuedsporadically for several days.

Every once in a while

• I saw her in the shopevery once in a while.

Hardly

• I needhardly say what a pleasure it is to introduce our speaker.

Seldom

• He that is angry isseldom at ease.

Irregularly

• He was eatingirregularly, steadily losing weight.

Not often

• It isnot often that you get such an opportunity.

Rarely

• Itrarely happened that people in the town flocked to the theatre to see the new opera.

Once In A Blue Moon | Infographic

Once in a blue moon meaning with ESL infographic.

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Source: https://englishstudyonline.org/once-in-a-blue-moon/

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