donkey
small pack animal with long ears
A small animal like a small horse, with long ears, that people use to carry things or pull carts.
a/an [adjective] donkey
- The farmer loaded the sacks onto the donkey and led it up the hill.
- Children were taking turns riding a donkey along the beach.
- We could hear a donkey braying loudly from the next field.
- The rescue center takes in old and injured donkeys.
- They still use donkeys to pull small carts through the narrow streets.
- The boy rides a donkey to school.
- The donkey carries water for the family.
- I saw a donkey at the farm yesterday.
- The donkey has long ears and makes a loud sound.
- They use a donkey to pull the cart.
stupid or annoying person
A rude word for someone who is acting very stupid or annoying.
[someone] is a donkey
- I felt like such a donkey when I sent the email to the wrong person.
- Stop driving like a donkey and pay attention to the road.
- He made a donkey of himself by forgetting his own boss’s name.
- Don’t be a donkey—read the instructions before you start.
- She called him a donkey for leaving his passport at home again.
- I was a real donkey and missed the last train.
- Don’t be a donkey. Check your work.
- He felt like a donkey after he broke the phone.
- She called him a donkey when he lost the keys.
- I looked like a donkey when I fell in front of everyone.
symbol of the US Democratic Party
The picture of a donkey that is used to stand for the Democratic Party in the United States.
the Democratic donkey
- The cartoon showed the donkey kicking the elephant to represent a Democratic win.
- Campaign posters often feature a blue donkey as the party’s symbol.
- In U.S. politics, the donkey stands for the Democrats and the elephant for the Republicans.
- The donkey is the symbol of the Democratic Party.
- On the poster, you can see a big blue donkey.
- In this picture, the donkey fights the elephant, showing the two main U.S. parties.
- Many political cartoons use the donkey to show the Democrats.
- The donkey and the elephant are famous symbols in American politics.
very bad poker player
In poker, a rude word for a very bad player who makes many stupid moves.
[someone] is a donkey at poker
- He’s a total donkey at the tables and calls every hand.
- If you play like a donkey in that tournament, you’ll be out in ten minutes.
- They were happy to sit with a couple of obvious donkeys at the cash game.
- He is a donkey at poker and loses a lot of money.
- Don’t play like a donkey; think before you bet.
- The good players love to play with a donkey.
- In poker chat, they called him a donkey.
- She stopped being a donkey after she studied the game.
- Base: donkey
- Plural: donkeys
donkey work
1the hard, boring parts of work
The hard, boring work that other people do not want to do, especially in a group project or job.
- I did all the donkey work for the report, but my boss gave the presentation.
- Interns often end up doing the donkey work in the office.
- She was tired of always being given the donkey work while others got the interesting tasks.
for donkey's years
1for a very long time
For a very long time, usually many years.
- We’ve lived in this house for donkey’s years.
- I haven’t seen him for donkey’s years; I think the last time was at school.
- That old pub has been on the corner for donkey’s years.
talk the hind legs off a donkey
1talk for an extremely long time
To talk so much and for so long that other people get tired of listening.
- She can talk the hind legs off a donkey once you get her started on her travels.
- My uncle will talk the hind legs off a donkey if you ask him about football.
- He’s friendly, but he does talk the hind legs off a donkey sometimes.
work like a donkey
1work very hard for long hours
To work very hard for a long time, often doing heavy or tiring work.
- He’s been working like a donkey to pay off his debts.
- They worked like donkeys all summer on the building site.
- She felt she worked like a donkey while her colleagues relaxed.