Donkey Years or Donkey's Ears?

[Moses25]

First of all, what do an animal's ears have to do with the passage of time?

Secondly, which one is it?

Growing up, I always heard the former from my parents. Being under British rule at one point, I'm guessing that the phrase was misunderstood by South Asians at the time, probably due to unfamiliarity with the English accent...

However, I was watching the movie "Sexy Beast" with the subs on the other day, and the phrase is indeed Donkey's Ears.

Can any loyal subjects, past or present, help me out with this one?

Much oblidged. Cheers.😀

P.M.S. For those who need context ---> "Oh, that pin has been a family heirloom for donkey's ears."

 

[milagros317]

My thesaurus is the Miriam-Webster, edited in the U.S. It has "donkey's years" as a synonym for: aeon, eternity, dog's age.

It has no listing for "donkey's ears".

British usage is often different.

 

[sole seeker]

The phrase is "donkey's years".

 

[Moses25]

Thanx you two. Donkey's years it is.

Cheers.😀