moon (redirected from moons)

ask for the moon

Fig. to make outlandish requests or demands for something, such as a lot of money or special privileges. She's asking for the moon, and she's not going to get it. Don't ask for the moon. Be reasonable!

See also: ask

moon something away

Fig. to waste time pining or grieving. Don't moon the whole year away! You have mooned away half the year. Now pull yourself together!

See also: away

moon about someone or something and moon over someone or something

Fig. to pine or grieve about someone or something. Stop mooning about your cat. Cats always come back eventually. Jill is still mooning over Robert.

once in a blue moon

Cliché very seldom. Jill: Does your husband ever bring you flowers? Ellen: Once in a blue moon. Once in a blue moon, I buy a fashion magazine, just to see what people are wearing.

See also: blue, once

promise the moon (to someone) and promise someone the moon

to make extravagant promises to someone. Bill will promise you the moon, but he won't live up to his promises. My boss promised the moon, but never gave me a raise.

See also: promise

think someone hung the moon (and stars) and think someone is God's own cousin

Rur. to think someone is perfect. Joe won't listen to any complaints about Mary. He thinks she hung the moon and stars. Jim is awful stuck-up. He thinks he's God's own cousin.

See also: hung, think

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ask/cry for the moon

to want something that is not possible (usually in continuous tenses) There's no point hoping for a permanent peace in the area. It's like asking for the moon.

See also: ask

be over the moon  (informal)

to be extremely pleased about something Marie got the job. She's over the moon.

See promise the moon, reach for the moon

many moons ago  (old-fashioned)

a long time ago I only have the faintest memory of that time. It all happened many moons ago.

See also: many

once in a blue moon

very rarely My sister lives in Alaska, so I only get to see her once in a blue moon. I don't know why I bought that CD-ROM for my computer - I only ever use it once in a blue moon.

See once in a lifetime, once upon a time

See also: blue, once

promise (somebody) the moon  (British, American & Australian) also promise (somebody) the earth (British & Australian)

to promise something impossible He had promised her the earth but five years later they were still living in the same small house.

See also: promise

reach for the moon/stars

to try to achieve something that is very difficult If you want success, you have to reach for the moon.

See come to a crossroads

See also: reach

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once in a blue moon (spoken)

almost never Once in a blue moon I'll have a beer with friends, but it's not my regular drink.

Etymology: based on the informal phrase blue moon (the second time in one month that you can see the full disk of the moon )

See also: blue, once

over the moon

extremely pleased and happy When he sent me flowers and a note, I was over the moon.