Learn English with English, baby!

Join for FREE!

Social_nav_masthead_logged_in
 
once in a blue moon

once in a blue moon

Date: Apr 30 2015

Themes: Celebrity, Pop Culture, Romance

Quote

1. Quote - Listen to the quote and guess what the slang means.

Go Super to Listen Go Super!

Once in a blue moon, someone like you comes along.”

Singer Van Morrison, talking about finding someone special. (BrainyQuote)

Definition

1. Definition - Study the definition.

Go Super to Listen Go Super!

do something very rarely; something that does not happen often

2. Use - Learn how the slang is used.

Go Super to Listen Go Super!

When playing golf, the best possible shot is called a hole-in-one. This happens when a player’s first shot goes into the hole. Getting a hole-in-one is very hard to do. Even most professional golfers never get one. Making a hole-in-one only happens once in a blue moon.

Once in a blue moon doesn’t mean a specific amount of time. It just means something that does not happen very often. For example, if you have cousins who live in a different country, you probably only see them at big events like weddings or funerals. You could say you only see them once in a blue moon. Or, if you like skiing, but have only done it a few times in your life, you might say that you go skiing once in a blue moon.

Van Morrison thinks that a special friend is hard to find. He says he or she might only come around once in a blue moon. You should hold on to them or they might slip away!

Can you think of something you like to do, or someone you like to see who only comes around once in a blue moon?

Examples

1. Examples - Hear some example sentences.

Go Super to Listen Go Super!

“My husband doesn’t like dancing. He only does it once in a blue moon.”

“Once in a blue moon I like to stay in my house and watch movies all day.”

“Jane is a vegetarian, but once in a blue moon she eats fish.”

Winners

1. Winners - See who guessed the slang definition correctly.

aijaciba Very rarely, almost never.
by aijaciba
bkmiller69 once in a life time
by bkmiller69
julito1 very rarely in one´s life
by julito1

Want to guess next week's slang?

The iTEP® test

  • Schedule an iTEP® test and take the official English Practice Test.

    Take Now >

Comments

Log in to Comment

june622p

Taiwan

I always too lazy to go exercise, only do it once in a blue moon.

11:57 AM Apr 30 2015 |

julito1

julito1

Argentina

In my country the equivalent  to Once in a  Blue  Moon  is” cada muerte de obispo , each time a bishop dies”   

09:50 AM Apr 30 2015 |

Naveen Singh Shahi

India

I played with my childhood friends once in a blue moon. I want grow up once again. 

06:27 AM Apr 30 2015 |

Shoba

Shoba

Sri Lanka



When I was young, I preferred to study my books once in a blue moon. Of course, I had no such luck. My father made me study every day. 



S&W

S&W

China

I only eat mutton once in a blue moon.

Likes (15):

See all >

Share this lesson:

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Bebo
  • Share on Myspace
  • Share on Twitter
  • Email this to a friend
  • Share on Sina

Post Ebaby! lessons on your blog:

Ebaby! Cast