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While recently reading an article I stumbled upon this phrase. From the context of the article, I cannot find the definition of this phrase as most results are irrelevant. Answers?

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    It's Cockney rhyming slang: donkey's ears == donkey's years == years == a long time. You can google it for more details.
    – Dan Bron
    Jun 4, 2015 at 18:02
  • Donkey's years is practically indistinguishable from donkey's ears in speech. /y/ normally merges when it occurs before or after /i/ at speed.
    – John Lawler
    Jun 4, 2015 at 18:19

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The Free Dictionary:

donkey's years A long time, as in I haven't seen her in donkey's years. This expression punningly alludes to the considerable length of the animal's ears.

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