The surprising origins of the phrase "once in a blue moon"
In short: We use the term to describe rare events, but its earliest usage was actually a way to mock gullibility. This video explores how the expression evolved from a tool used to challenge religious claims.
The earliest recorded instance of the phrase dates back to 1528, appearing in an anti-clerical pamphlet written by William Roy and Jeremy Barlowe. Rather than describing an astronomical event, the phrase was used to satirize priests who expected people to accept even the most absurd statements as truth.
The expression functioned similarly to the idiom about the moon being made of green cheese, serving as a way to suggest that only a fool would believe what was being said.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: What a Blue Moon Really is and How the Expression “Once in a Blue Moon” Came About
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