forever and a day

1. Incessantly, ceaselessly, as in Will this racket never end? It's been going on forever and a day . [ Colloquial ; first half of 1900s]

2. For a very long time, as in He's been working on that book forever and a day . This hyperbolic expression probably originated as a corruption of the now obsolete for ever and ay . Shakespeare used it in The Taming of the Shrew (4:4): “Farewell for ever and a day.” Today it is mainly a substitute for “very long time.” [c. 1600]

Example Sentences

“What a baby,” Briggs said, stretching out his voice so the vowels took forever and a day.

From Literature

"The people of Coniston will have Bluebird, as they deserve, and my dad's remains forever and a day."

From BBC

“I don’t think it should take forever and a day,” the governor said.

From Seattle Times

As far as retirement for the Rudd/Stephens siblings, 40 years can feel like forever and a day.

From Seattle Times

The self-proclaimed “huge Swiftie” has been listening to her music for “forever and a day,” but the class includes a range of fans.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• durable
• enduring
• long-lasting
• perpetual
• stable