The Village Idiom

in all one's born days

The idiom "in all one's born days" expresses the idea of someone's entire lifetime or existence. It emphasizes the length of time a person has lived and implies surprise or disbelief at a particular event or experience.

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In a sentence

  • I have never seen a more beautiful sunset in all my born days.
  • In all my born days, I have never seen such a talented musician perform.
  • He told the most outrageous stories I've ever heard in all my born days.

Where it comes from and how it is used

In all one's born days is an idiom that is used to emphasize that something has never happened or will never happen in a person's entire life. This idiom is commonly used in informal speech and writing, particularly in American English.

The phrase "born days" refers to the entirety of a person's life from the day they were born until the present moment. It encompasses all the days a person has lived and suggests a comprehensive time frame.

When someone says "in all one's born days," they are making a statement about a particular experience or event that has never occurred throughout their entire existence. It conveys a sense of incredulity or amazement at the rarity or unusualness of the situation.

The idiom "in all one's born days" is frequently used in storytelling or anecdotes to emphasize the uniqueness or unexpectedness of an event. It can also be used in a more negative context to express disbelief or astonishment at a negative outcome or unfortunate situation.

This idiom has its origins in the phrase "all one's life's worth," which means the total value or significance of someone's life. It relates to the idea of "born days" by emphasizing the importance of every day in one's life, and how the absence of a certain experience contributes to the overall worth of that life.

The concept of "all one's life's worth" is closely related to "in all one's born days" because both idioms revolve around the idea of never experiencing a certain event or situation. However, "all one's life's worth" places more emphasis on the overall value or significance of a person's life, while "in all one's born days" focuses on the rarity or unusualness of the specific event or experience.

While "in all one's born days" emphasizes the absence or rarity of an event, "time of one's life" celebrates the presence of a memorable and enjoyable experience.

These idioms, "all one's life's worth" and "time of one's life," provide additional context and nuance to the idiom "in all one's born days." They highlight the value and significance of a person's life as a whole, as well as the various experiences they may or may not have had throughout their lifetime.

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