till the cows come home

Definition & Meaning of "till the cows come home"in English

till the cows come home
01

used to describe a prolonged or indefinite period of time, often implying that something will continue for a very long duration

(till|until) the cows come home definition and meaning
IdiomIdiom
InformalInformal

What is the origin of the idiom "till the cows come home" and when to use it?

The origin of the idiom "till the cows come home" can be traced back to rural and agricultural settings. In farming communities, cows are typically brought back to the barn or milking area at the end of the day. The phrase likely originated from the observation that cows often take their time to return home, moving slowly or grazing along the way. As a result, the expression came to represent a prolonged or indefinite period of time. It has been used in literature and everyday language for centuries to convey the idea of a lengthy or seemingly endless duration.

example
Examples
They will talk about their favorite TV show till the cows come home if you let them.
We waited for the bus until the cows came home, and it never arrived.
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