days

someone's/something's days are numbered

if someone's or something's days are numbered, they will not exist for much longer. As our local cinema struggles to survive, it seems clear that its days are numbered.

See also: number

[days/months/weeks etc.] on end

if something happens or continues for days, months etc. on end, it continues for several days, months, or weeks without stopping. We sometimes don't see each other for months on end, but we're still good friends.

See also: end, month, week

the dog days

the hottest days of the summer. At times, during the dog days of summer, the stream dries up completely. (usually + of)

See also: dog

someone's/something's glory days

a time in the past when someone or something was very successful. The book focusses on the glory days of the jazz scene in the early 1940's and 1950's.

See also: glory

the good old days

if you talk about the good old days, you mean a time in the past when you believe life was better. I wish my grandma would stop going on about the good old days. In the good old days, we used to tell stories round the fire.

See also: good, old

the halcyon days (literary)

a very happy or successful period in the past. She recalled the halcyon days of childhood. (often + of) That was in the halcyon days of the 1980's when the economy was booming.

have seen better days (humorous)

if something or someone has seen better days, they are not in such a good condition as they used to be. Our washing machine has seen better days. We were met at the hotel entrance by an ageing porter who had evidently seen better days.

See also: better, seen

I've never [felt/heard/seen etc.] something in all my (born) days! (old-fashioned)

something that you say when you are shocked or very surprised by something. There were two men kissing in the street. I've never seen anything like it in all my born days!

See also: all, felt, hear, never, seen

it's early days (yet) (British & Australian)

something that you say which means that it is too soon to make a judgement about something. Both teams are near the bottom of the league, but it's early days yet.

See also: early, it's

your salad days (old-fashioned)

the time when you were young and had little experience of life. But that was in my salad days, before I got married and had children.

Those were the days!

something that you say which means life was better at the time in the past that you are talking about. We had no money but we were young and madly in love. Oh, those were the days!

See also: those

---

someone's/something's days are numbered

someone or something will not exist for much longer. I know my car's days are numbered, but I hope it will last just a little while longer. My days are numbered, but I hope I can live long enough to see my grandchild.

See also: number

the glory days (of something)

a time in the past when something was very successful. The pace of American dance music has slowed considerably since the glory days of disco.

Usage notes: sometimes also used in the form someone's glory days: The song is a joyous nod to the group's glory days.

See also: glory

have seen better days

something is in bad condition because of heavy use. The airport building had seen better days and needed a lot of repairs.

See also: better, seen

it's early days (yet)

it is too soon to make a judgment about something. It looks like we will earn a profit, but it's early days yet and we can't be sure.

See also: early, it's

one of those days

a bad day. I missed breakfast, got to work late, and got caught in the rain at lunchtime — it was just one of those days!

Usage notes: often used in the phrase it was just one of those days with the same meaning

See also: those

those were the days

life was better in the past. The band's new songs are nowhere near as good as their ‘80s tunes. Man, those were the days.

Usage notes: used for emphasis when talking about something particular in the past

See also: those