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UKonce in a blue moon
/wˈɒns ɪn ɐ blˈuː mˈuːn/
/wˈʌns ɪn ɐ blˈuː mˈuːn/once in a blue moon
[PHRASE]
What is the origin of the idiom "once in a blue moon" and when to use it?
The idiom "once in a blue moon" has its origins in astronomy and the lunar calendar. It became popular in the 19th century and the connection between the rare blue moon and the infrequent event led to the phrase being used to express rarity in general. This phrase can be applied to a wide range of scenarios, such as rare family gatherings, infrequent visits to a particular place, a seldom-seen natural phenomenon, or something that happens only on special occasions.
Examples
1. If I'm gonna have a soda, which I have once in a blue moon, it will be the real thing.
2. This sort of thing only happens like this once in a blue moon.
3. Pyramid Head only really shows up once in a blue moon to help the protagonist confront repressed trauma or whatever.
4. Once in a blue moon, the ball just slips out of a fielder's hand.
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