PHRASES, etc.: A WEEK OF SUNDAYS = an indefinite time: spec. seven Sundays, hence seven weeks: also MONTH OF SUNDAYS; THE INSIDE OF A WEEK = from Monday till Saturday; A PARSON’S WEEK = from Saturday to Monday; TO KNOCK ONE INTO THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK = to punish severely, knock out of time, DO FOR (q.v.); AN ATTACK OF THE WEEK’S (or MONTH’S) END = impecuniosity, hard-uppishness; WHEN TWO SUNDAYS COME IN A WEEK = never: a left-handed assent.
1800. T. PRICE, Letter, in Life of H. F. Carey, i. 144. Get my duty done for a Sunday, so that I may be out a ‘PARSON’S WEEK.’
1851. How Mike Hooter Came Very Near ‘Wolloping’ Arch Coony, in Polly Peablossom’s Wedding and Other Tales. Arch would fetch him er side wipe on the head, and KNOCK HIM INTO THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK.
1850. C. KINGSLEY, Alton Locke, xxvii. I haven’t heard more fluent or passionate English this MONTH OF SUNDAYS.
1888. BOLDREWOOD, Robbery under Arms, xl. ‘I ain’t been out of this blessed hole,’ he says, ‘for a MONTH OF SUNDAYS.’
1892. W. E. HENLEY and R. L. STEVENSON, Deacon Brodie, Sc. 2. p. 7. A MONTH OF SUNDAYS.
