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Cows are notoriously languid creatures and make their way home at their own unhurried pace. That's certainly the imagery behind 'until the cows come home', but the precise time and place of the coining of this colloquial phrase isn't known. It was certainly before 1829 though, and may well have been in Scotland. The phrase appeared in print in The Times in January that year, when the paper reported a suggestion of what the Duke of Wellington should do if he wanted to maintain a place as a minister in Peel's cabinet:
If the Duke will but do what he unquestionably can do, and propose a Catholic Bill with securities, he may be Minister, as they say in Scotland "until the cows come home."
Groucho Marx was never one to pass up an opportunity for a play on words and this occurs in his dialogue of the 1933 film Duck Soup:
"I could dance with you till the cows come home. Better still, I'll dance with the cows and you come home."
Source: The Phrase Finder
Another possible origin comes from the 12th century scotish laird Thomas the Rhymer in one of his predictions he states
When the Cows of o' Gowrie come to land The Judgement Day is near at hand"The Cows of Gowrie, two boulders near Invergowrie protruding from the Firth of Tay, are said to approach the land at the rate of an inch a year. Ref. Wikipedia, Thomas the Rhymer
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What does the saying till the cows come home mean?
till the cows come home means when you are waiting pacentlly
What is the meaning of the saying 'when the cows come home'?
The saying 'when the cows come home' means for a very long time or indefinitely, as cows typically come back to the barn at the end of the day, signifying a prolonged wait or delay.
According to the saying if you do something for a long time you do it till the cows what?
Come Home
When was Till the Cows Come Home created?
Till the Cows Come Home was created in 1997.
What actors and actresses appeared in Till the Cows Come Home - 2009?
The cast of Till the Cows Come Home - 2009 includes: Kim Emerson as Mr. Carlyle Oliver Singer as Jim
How do you say We'll party till the cows come home in German?
ENGLISH: We'll party till the cows come home. GERMAN: Wir feiern bis die Kühe nach Hause kommen.
A sentence for till?
You can whine till the cows come home, I'm not buying you a newer model phone.
What are the release dates for Alaska The Last Frontier - 2011 Till the Cows Come Home 2-11?
Alaska The Last Frontier - 2011 Till the Cows Come Home 2-11 was released on: USA: 19 May 2013
When do the cows come home?
The phrase "till the cows come home" is an idiomatic expression that means for a very long time or indefinitely. It is often used to convey the idea of waiting for something that may never happen or for an extended period. The origin of this phrase is unclear, but it likely refers to the cows returning to the barn at the end of the day, which can take a long time due to their grazing habits.
What is the square root of two?
the square root of 2 is unknown. it is an irrational number, meaning it goes on and on till the cows come home
Who dance better Samoan or tongans?
There is no correct or incorrect answer for this question. You can debate it till the cows come home, but the truth be told, Tongans would say they are, and Samoans would say the same, that Samoans are better.
What do these idioms mean Run off at the mouth Have the gift of gab Be a chatterbox Talk till the cows come home?
These all generally mean excessively talkative, verbose, or loquacious. "Run off at the mouth" means babbling or chattering, also known as logorrhea. "Have the gift of gab" is more positive, meaning elocution or effective speech. "Be a chatterbox" indicates nonstop, i.e. almost mechanical chattering. "Talk till the cows come home" means lengthy, extended talking or conversation.
