Once in a Blue Moon

Once in a Blue Moon

Welcome to English in a Minute, where we teach you all about idioms in American English.

Have ever heard the American English idiom…

Once in a blue moon.

It doesn’t mean that the moon is blue.

So let’s listen to this American English conversation to find out how it is used:

Where did you say your brother lives?

He lives all the way in Minnesota, so I never get to see him.

I only get to see him once in a blue moon.

Once in a blue moon is a common way of saying that something does not happen often.

But what is a blue moon?

We typically see a full moon once a month.

And seeing two full moons in the same month is rare.

The second full moon in a particular month is called a blue moon.

One in a blue moon is an informal phrase.

And that’s English in a Minute!