year (redirected from civil year)

autumn years (literary)

the later years of a person's life, especially after they have stopped working. He spent his autumn years surrounded by family and friends.

be light years away

to be a very long time in the future. A cure for all kinds of cancer is still light years away. Scientists are light years away from understanding (= it will be a very long time before scientists understand) the human brain. (often + from + doing something)

See also: away, light

be light years away from something

if something is light years away from something else, it has made so much progress that the two things are now very different. Modern computers are light years away from the huge machines we used in the seventies.

See also: away, from, light

donkey's years (informal)

a very long time. I've been doing this job for donkey's years.

from/since the year dot (British & Australian, American)

for a very long time. Children have been fascinated by ghost stories since the year dot.

See also: dot, from, since

put years on someone

to make someone look or feel much older. The breakup of his marriage put years on him.

the seven year itch (humorous)

if someone who is married gets the seven year itch, they become bored with their relationship after about seven years and often want to start a sexual relationship with another person. He keeps talking about all the women he knew before we were married - I think he's got the seven-year itch.

See also: seven

take years off someone

put years on someone - to make someone look or feel much older. Losing all that weight has taken years off her.

See also: take

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getting on in years

becoming old. She's getting on in years, but she's healthy.

in years

for a very long time. The February issue of the magazine is easily its best in years. The two friends hadn't seen each other in years.

year after year

repeatedly for many years. She got tired of performing the same music year after year. Aaron just did his job, year after year after year.

day after day

week after week

month after month

See also: after

year by year

every year. Year by year there has been an increase in violence shown in the movies and on TV.

day by day

week by week

month by month

year in, year out

every year for a long time. Year in, year out, he has been one of the best players in baseball.

(all) year round

during the whole year. The farm is open to the public year round on weekends. In the Southwest, it's a lot easier to get outside all year round.

See also: round