Haven't seen him in donkey's ears!

This is an example of an expression that has altered its spelling over time. "Not for donkey's ears" means not for a very long time and refers to the length of a donkey's ears. However, they gradually stretched from the "donkey" and turned "ears" into "years". The meaning of the expression is the same, if it does make rather less sense than the original......I always thought it was "donkey's years", but that is the Dorset dialect for "ears" ;-))

Gudrun, Daniel Palacin, @ngélique ❤️, and 37 other people have particularly liked this photo

53 comments - The latest ones

Keith Burton ^club

Every day is a schoolday on here Rosa...............a delightful Donkey portrait and some fascinating Donkey facts :-))

Just noticed it's one from Sidmouth!

5 years ago. Edited 5 years ago.

Rosalyn Hilborne ^club has replied to Keith Burton ^club

I have learnt something too Keith....the saying makes sense now....well almost ;-))
Yes it is Sidmouth. Thanks for your great comments.

5 years ago.

HappySnapper

They have the edge on me Rosalyn, I can't remember half the time who I saw or where I went yesterday :-)))

5 years ago. Edited 5 years ago.

Rosalyn Hilborne ^club has replied to HappySnapper

Ha ha...me too Maurice!!

5 years ago.

Erika Akire

...I want to be a Donkey !!! ;-)...

5 years ago.

Rosalyn Hilborne ^club has replied to Erika Akire

Ha ha...when everything they are good at is failing, sounds a good idea ;-))

5 years ago.

Nicole Merdrignac ^club

Très belle photo. Nicole.

5 years ago.

Rosalyn Hilborne ^club has replied to Nicole Merdrignac ^club

Thank you very much Nicole.

5 years ago.

Frans Schols ^club

Schitterende opname,Rosa,met een uitstekende uitleg en beschrijving.
Vriendelijke groeten..........Frans.

5 years ago.

Rosalyn Hilborne ^club has replied to Frans Schols ^club

Thank you for your kind comments Frans. I hope it translated well enough to understand!
Kind regards, Rosa.

5 years ago.

Nick Weall ^club

Educational Rosa I've learnt a thing or two ~ Thank you :)

5 years ago.

Rosalyn Hilborne ^club has replied to Nick Weall ^club

Thank you Nick. Me too!

5 years ago.

Peter Castell ^club

I dread to think what your explanation will say when the translator has finished with it !!

5 years ago.

Rosalyn Hilborne ^club has replied to Peter Castell ^club

Oh so do I Peter!! :-))

5 years ago.

Doug Shepherd ^club

Very nice shot of the donkey Rosa. Certainly used the expression donkey's years many times but I never heard realised it was about the ears, but it makes sense! The donkey facts are very educational, thanks for posting.

5 years ago.

Rosalyn Hilborne ^club has replied to Doug Shepherd ^club

I came across the explanation quite by chance Doug and thought it would fit this picture, which I wasn't going to upload...but glad I did now. Thank you so much for your kind comments.
Best wishes, Rosa.

5 years ago.

Joe, Son of the Rock ^club

Lovely details in the fur, Rosa, and beautifully warm lighting. Cheers, Joe

5 years ago.

Rosalyn Hilborne ^club has replied to Joe, Son of the Rock ^club

Thank you for your kind comments Joe.
Cheers, Rosa.

5 years ago.

Ulrich John ^club

I love donkeys ! A very nice series, Rosa !

5 years ago.

Rosalyn Hilborne ^club has replied to Ulrich John ^club

I do too Ulrich. The Donkey Sanctuary is a wonderful place.

5 years ago.

neira-Dan ^club

superbe !! et merci pour les infos !! Les ânes sont merveilleux

5 years ago.

Rosalyn Hilborne ^club has replied to neira-Dan ^club

I agree Dan, they are wonderful and thank you for your kind words.

5 years ago.

Jaap van 't Veen ^club

Beautiful animal portrait Rosa.

5 years ago.

Rosalyn Hilborne ^club has replied to Jaap van 't Veen ^club

Thank you Jaap.

5 years ago.

Nouchetdu38 ^club

Beautiful tribute to this very endearing animal that is still one of the main means of transport in many countries!
Bonjour de France.

5 years ago.

Rosalyn Hilborne ^club has replied to Nouchetdu38 ^club

Yes it is Nouchet and they are so poorly treated in many countries unfortunately. There are some heartbreaking stories in the Donkey Sanctuary, but at least they have a good life now....the lucky ones!

5 years ago.

Pat Del ^club

"I haven't seen him for donkey years" se traduirait en français par : "je ne l'ai pas vu depuis une éternité !"

5 years ago.

Rosalyn Hilborne ^club has replied to Pat Del ^club

Which means about the same Pat :) The saying was originally "donkey's ears" which makes more sense, but I didn't know ;-))

5 years ago.

Jeff Farley

A great shot and excellent info Rosa - gave me a smile !! Thank you for posting to FFF.

5 years ago.

Rosalyn Hilborne ^club has replied to Jeff Farley

Thank you very much Jeff.

5 years ago.

Rainer Blankermann ^club

A lovely portrait! Have a nice week, Rosa!

5 years ago.

Rosalyn Hilborne ^club has replied to Rainer Blankermann ^club

Thank you Rainer. I wish you a nice week too.

5 years ago.

gezginruh ^club

A very nice shot and explanation, Rosa!
Thank you for this beautiful sharing!

Best wishes
Füsun

5 years ago.

Rosalyn Hilborne ^club has replied to gezginruh ^club

Thank you for your very kind comment Füsun.

Best wishes, Rosa.

5 years ago.

Reyk ^club

Eine schöne Geschichte zu den kleinen Vierbeinern

5 years ago.

Rosalyn Hilborne ^club has replied to Reyk ^club

Thank you Reyk :)

5 years ago.

Jocelyne Villoing ^club

Wow comme il a l'air gentil et attentionné, je suis sûr qu'il attend sa petite récompense! allez vite un bisou !!!
Bonne soirée Rosalyn.

5 years ago.

Rosalyn Hilborne ^club has replied to Jocelyne Villoing ^club

Ha ha, they are such gentle creatures Jocelyne. I am very pleased that you like him, thank you :))
Wish you a good Wednesday.

5 years ago.

Sarah O' ^club

Hello Rosa, Ive enjoyed this shot and all the "donkey quotes"..:)) best wishes, Sarah

5 years ago.

Rosalyn Hilborne ^club has replied to Sarah O' ^club

I love to visit the Donkey Sanctuary when I am down that way Sarah. They are so well cared for and some have such sad back stories. They are in a good place now though.
Best wishes, Rosa.

5 years ago.

Peter_Private_Box ^club

Hi Rosa,

With ears like that I am not surprised he can hear another donkey at 4 miles!!!!
I do like the donkey quotes too,, Can I add one more for you please..
Confucius, he say "A donkey carrying a pile of holy books is still a donkey"...

Best Wishes
Peter

5 years ago.

Rosalyn Hilborne ^club has replied to Peter_Private_Box ^club

Hi Peter,

Ears to be proud of for sure! I think we need a bit of Confucianism right now....a very wise man :)

Best wishes, Rosa.

5 years ago.

Amelia ^club

I've always said Donkey's YEARS. Great quotations. :-))))

5 years ago.

Rosalyn Hilborne ^club has replied to Amelia ^club

Luckily it doesn't sound much different when spoken Amelia ;-))

5 years ago.

Valeriane ♫ ♫ ♫¨* ^club

beau portrait****************

5 years ago.

Rosalyn Hilborne ^club has replied to Valeriane ♫ ♫ ♫¨* ^club

Thank you :)

5 years ago.

tiabunna ^club

This belongs in Wikipedia, great information and matching image.

5 years ago.

Rosalyn Hilborne ^club has replied to tiabunna ^club

Thank you George. Always something to learn on Ipernity :)

5 years ago.

Christiane ♥.•*¨`*•✿

Very interesting !
You taught me something, Rosalyn. I am very interested in languages and I enjoyed your explanation about the saying. Thank you.

5 years ago.

Rosalyn Hilborne ^club has replied to Christiane ♥.•*¨`*•✿

Thank you dear Christiane. I am pleased you were able to understand them. I had thought about translating, but sometimes the translations are not so good :-)

5 years ago.

Christiane ♥.•*¨`*•✿ has replied to Rosalyn Hilborne ^club

You are very right, Rosalyn. If you don't have some knowledge of the language you want to translate into, it is more prudent not to translate, because not only do computer translators make mistakes, but sometimes the translation can be quite ridiculous (:o)).
Have a lovely week end, my dear friend. A lot of wind here at the moment ...

5 years ago.

Roger (Grisly) ^club

Interesting narrative which I shall remember Rosa,
nice shot by the way !

5 years ago.

Rosalyn Hilborne ^club has replied to Roger (Grisly) ^club

Thank you Roger. They are such lovely animals.

5 years ago.

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Haven't seen him in donkey's ears!

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