days

days running and weeks running; months running; years running

days in a series; months in a series; etc. (Follows a number.) I had a bad cold for five days running. For two years running, I brought work home from the office every night.

See also: running

for days on end

Fig. for many days. We kept on traveling for days on end. Doctor, I've had this pain for days on end.

See also: end

good old days

back in an earlier time which everyone remembers as a better time, even if it really wasn't. Back in the good old days, during World War I, they used real cactus needles in record players. The good old days didn't start until they had indoor bathrooms.

See also: good, old

have seen better days

Euph. to be in bad condition. My old car has seen better days, but at least it's still running. She's seen better days, it's true, but she's still lots of fun.

See also: better, have, seen

in all my born days

Rur. in my entire life. I've never seen such fireworks in all my born days. That's the best party I was ever at in all my born days.

See also: born

in one's salad days

Fig. in one's youth. (Usually formal or literary. Comparing the greenness of a salad with the greenness, or freshness and inexperience, of youth.) I recall the joys I experienced on school vacations in my salad days. In our salad days, we were apt to get into all sorts of mischief on the weekends.

See also: salad

live out one's days and live out one's life

to live for the remainder of one's life. (Usually with some reference to a place.) Where do you plan to live out your days? I will live out my life in sunny Florida.

See also: live, out

nine days' wonder

Fig. something that is of interest to people only for a short time. Don't worry about the story about you in the newspaper. It'll be a nine days' wonder and then people will forget. The elopement of Bob and Anne was a nine days' wonder. Now people never mention it.

See also: nine, wonder

one of these days

someday; in some situation like this one. One of these days, someone is going to steal your purse if you don't take better care of it. You're going to get in trouble one of these days.

See also: one, these

One of these days is none of these days.

Prov. If you say you will do something "one of these days," you probably do not seriously intend to do it, and therefore it will not get done. Alan: When are you going to fix the garage door? Jane: One of these days. Alan: One of these days is none of these days. Jill: One of these days, I'll pay you the money I owe you. Jane: One of these days is none of these days.

See also: none, one, these

one's days are numbered

Fig. one is facing death or dismissal. If I don't get this contract, my days are numbered at this company. Uncle Bill has a terminal disease. His days are numbered.

See also: number

Those were the days.

Cliché The days we have been referring to were the greatest of times. Ah, yes. The eighties. Those were the days! Those were the days. Back when people knew right from wrong.

See also: those

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somebody'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

somebody'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

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.

See also: salad

[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

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, have, 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: never

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

the dog days

the hottest days of the summer

Usage notes: Some people believe there is a star called the dog star which can only be seen during a hot period in the summer.

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

See be done like a dinner, put on the dog, Why keep a dog and bark yourself?, work like a dog

See also: dog

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

Usage notes: Halcyon days are two weeks of good weather during the winter when the days are the shortest in the year.

(often + of ) She recalled the halcyon days of childhood. That was in the halcyon days of the 1980's when the economy was booming.

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

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somebody'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

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, have, 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

one of those days

a bad day not your 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: one, those

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

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