- Home
- Idioms
- moon
moon
blood moon
Earth's moon during a total lunar eclipse, that is, when a full moon is in exact alignment with the Earth and the sun, with Earth in between the two. Light refracted off of Earth's atmosphere appears on the moon in a dark-red hue, hence the name "blood moon." It is referred to in the Bible (Revelation 6:12–14) as a sign of the end of the world, and so it is regarded by many as an ill omen. The wind was howling, the sky was pitch black, and a blood moon loomed heavy over our heads. I knew something bad was coming our way.
think (someone) hung the moon and the stars
To consider someone to be extraordinary, the best, or exceptionally wonderful. Your little sister absolutely adores you; she thinks you hung the moon and the stars!
the moon on a stick
Anything and everything that one desires or can imagine wanting (i.e., above and beyond what would be normal or appropriate). Jim was so smitten with his co-worker that he'd probably try to get her the moon on a stick if she asked for it. Jonathan always wants the moon on a stick when it comes to relationships.
bark at the moon
To make appeals in vain. Good luck talking to the principal, but I think you'll just be barking at the moon—I doubt you'll get a better grade.
blue moon
A long, albeit vague, period of time. Often used in the phrase "once in a blue moon." I haven't seen you in blue moon, Pete! What are you doing these days?
cast beyond the moon
To consider unlikely or fantastical possibilities. Primarily heard in UK. I want you to cast beyond the moon as you dream about your future! May your wildest dreams come true!
cry for the moon
To make an impractical or unreasonable request, especially one that is unlikely to happen. Oh, you want a later curfew, huh? Well, you're crying for the moon—11 o'clock is late enough!
go between the moon and the milkman
To flee overnight, so as to avoid pursuit (often by creditors). The moon represents the night, and the milkman the morning. Primarily heard in Australia. Looks like Joe went between the moon and the milkman. He was here after dinner but he's gone this morning.
ask for the moon
To make requests or demands that are (or are perceived to be) extraordinary or unreasonable. I just asked them if we could go to lunch a little earlier, and they're acting like I'm asking for the moon! I'm not taking out all the green jellybeans for him, he's asking for the moon!
be over the moon
To be extremely happy. I've been over the moon ever since I got engaged—I just can't stop looking at my ring!
ask for the moon
Fig. to make outlandish requests or demands for something, such as a lot of money or special privileges. She's asking for the moon, and she's not going to get it. Don't ask for the moon. Be reasonable!
moon about someone or something
and moon over someone or somethingFig. to pine or grieve about someone or something. Stop mooning about your cat. Cats always come back eventually. Jill is still mooning over Robert.
moon something away
Fig. to waste time pining or grieving. Don't moon the whole year away! You have mooned away half the year. Now pull yourself together!
once in a blue moon
Cliché very seldom. Jill: Does your husband ever bring you flowers? Ellen: Once in a blue moon. Once in a blue moon, I buy a fashion magazine, just to see what people are wearing.
promise the moon (to someone)
and promise someone the moonto make extravagant promises to someone. Bill will promise you the moon, but he won't live up to his promises. My boss promised the moon, but never gave me a raise.
think someone hung the moon (and stars)
and think someone is God's own cousinRur. to think someone is perfect. Joe won't listen to any complaints about Mary. He thinks she hung the moon and stars. Jim is awful stuck-up. He thinks he's God's own cousin.
once in a blue moon
(spoken) almost never Once in a blue moon I'll have a beer with friends, but it's not my regular drink.
Etymology: based on the informal phrase blue moon (the second time in one month that you can see the full disk of the moon )
over the moon
extremely pleased and happy When he sent me flowers and a note, I was over the moon.
ask/cry for the moon
to want something that is not possible (usually in continuous tenses) There's no point hoping for a permanent peace in the area. It's like asking for the moon.
be over the moon
(informal) to be extremely pleased about something Marie got the job. She's over the moon.
See promise the moon, reach for the moonmany moons ago
(old-fashioned) a long time ago I only have the faintest memory of that time. It all happened many moons ago.
once in a blue moon
very rarely My sister lives in Alaska, so I only get to see her once in a blue moon. I don't know why I bought that CD-ROM for my computer - I only ever use it once in a blue moon.
See once in a lifetime, once upon a timepromise (somebody) the moon
(British, American & Australian) also promise (somebody) the earth (British & Australian) to promise something impossible He had promised her the earth but five years later they were still living in the same small house.
reach for the moon/stars
to try to achieve something that is very difficult If you want success, you have to reach for the moon.
See come to a crossroadsask for the moon
Make an unreasonable demand, request the unattainable, as in $1,000 for her birthday? Mary might as well be asking for the moon. This hyperbolic idiom appeared in the mid-1800s in slightly different form. Charles Dickens had it as cry for the moon (in Bleak House, 1852) and William Makepeace Thackeray as wish for the moon (in Lovell the Widower, 1860). Today ask is the most common version.
once in a blue moon
Rarely, once in a very long time, as in We only see our daughter once in a blue moon. This term is something of a misnomer, because an actual blue moon-that is, the appearance of a second full moon in the same calendar month-occurs every 32 months or so. Further, the moon can appear blue in color at any time, depending on weather conditions. [Early 1800s]
moon
1. n. the buttocks. He rubbed his plump moon where he had been kicked, but said no more.
2. tv. & in. to show (someone) one’s nude posterior through a window (usually of an automobile). (see also
mooner,
gaucho.)
When the plane flew over Cuba, this guy named Victor actually mooned a Russian MIG that flew by. once in a blue moon
mod. rarely. Once in a blue moon I have a little wine with dinner.
over the moon
In a state of great happiness.