穷年累月qióng nián lěi yuè指接连不断,时间长久{year in, year out; for years on end; year after year; for many years; for a long time}: 从前农民们～地辛苦劳动,但生活仍旧很苦。{In the old days farmers toiled in the field year in, year out, yet they were barely able to keep heart and soul together.}