phrase · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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General-American:/ænd ə ˈpɑɹtɹɪd͡ʒ ən ə ˌpɛɚ ˈtɹi/
1
phrase
Meaning 1
Used at the end of a list of items to emphasize its length.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: humorous
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From the traditional Christmas song “The Twelve Days of Christmas” first published around 1780, in which earlier lines are repeated and added to with every succeeding line that is sung. The last round of one version of the song that is commonly sung today ends: “On the twelfth day of Christmas, / My true love sent to me / Twelve drummers drumming, / Eleven pipers piping, / Ten lords a-leaping, / Nine ladies dancing, / Eight maids a-milking, / Seven swans a-swimming, / Six geese a-laying, / Five golden rings, / Four calling birds, / Three French hens, / Two turtledoves / And a partridge in a pear tree.”
Across languages
Translations
5 source translations are retained for this English entry.
French:
alouette
— used at the end of a list of items to emphasize its length
Hungarian:
és egy csíz a csupasz körtefán
— used at the end of a list of items to emphasize its length
Polish:
i kuropatwa na gruszy
— used at the end of a list of items to emphasize its length
Spanish:
y la abuela
— used at the end of a list of items to emphasize its length
Spanish:
y pare usted de contar
— used at the end of a list of items to emphasize its length