English Idioms

Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms

Until the cows come home

Meaning

The idiom "until the cows come home" means that something will happen or continue to happen for a very long time, possibly even forever. It's an expression used to describe a situation that is expected to persist beyond a reasonable amount of time.

Usage

I told her she could borrow my car for the weekend, but she said she didn't need it until the cows come home.
He promised to finish the project by Friday, but he was still working on it last night. It looks like it will be a while before he's done.
The storm had been going on for hours and it seemed like the rain would never stop. We sat inside waiting until the cows come home.
I told her she could borrow my earphones if she wanted, but she said she didn't need them until the cows come home.
They promised to arrive at the meeting on time, but they were late by an hour. I hope we don't have to wait until the cows come home for them to show up.

Roots and History

The origin of the phrase "until the cows come home" is unclear, but it has been in use since at least the 16th century. One theory suggests that it comes from a superstition that if you leave your cow outside at night, it will wander off until morning when it sees its own reflection in the pond or stream. Another theory is that it was used to describe the long time it took for cows to come home after being grazed on distant fields. The phrase has undergone some changes over time. In older times, people would say "until the cows come home" as a way of expressing impatience or frustration. Today, the idiom is used more often to describe something that will happen indefinitely or forever.

Synonyms in English

Until the end of time.
Forever and ever.
Until kingdom come.
As long as I draw breath.
Until the day I die.

Synonyms in other languages

En français : jusqu'à la fin des temps.
In italiano : fino alla fine del mondo.
In Spanish : hasta que venga el fin del mundo.
In German : bis zum Ende der Zeit.
In Dutch : totdat het eind van de tijd is.