moon

bay at the moon clamour or make an outcry to no effect.

☞ The barking of dogs at a full moon has been a metaphor for futile activity since the mid 17th century.

cry (or ask) for the moon ask for what is unattainable or impossible. British

☞ The moon in this expression, which dates from the mid 16th century, stands for something distant and unattainable, as it does in promise someone the moon below.

the man in the moon: seeman.

many moons ago a long time ago. informal

☞ The reference here is to the phases of the moon marking out the months.

once in a blue moon: seeblue.

over the moon extremely happy; delighted. informal

☞ This phrase comes from an old nursery rhyme which includes the lines Heigh diddle diddle, the cat and the fiddle, the cow jumped over the moon.

promise someone the moon (or earth) promise something that is unattainable. British

2009Gotta Get Drunk They … filled their hearts with enthusiasm and instilled in their minds a new zest for life. They gave them hope! They promised them the moon, but alas, invariably they brought them to their doom.