English is full of fun and interesting phrases. Some of the most common ones are Old Idioms — these are expressions about age, old people, or things that are not new.
If you want to understand native speakers better, learning idioms for old is a great step!
In this article, we will look at 50 simple idioms. Each one includes a short meaning and an example sentence. Let’s begin!
50 Old Idioms with Meaning and Examples
1. Over the hill
Meaning: No longer young; past your best age
Example: My uncle feels he’s over the hill now that he’s 60.
2. Long in the tooth
Meaning: Getting old
Example: That dog is getting a bit long in the tooth to go for long walks.
3. Past your prime
Meaning: Not as strong or active as before
Example: He was a great footballer, but he’s past his prime now.
4. No spring chicken
Meaning: Not young anymore
Example: She’s no spring chicken, but she still runs every day.
5. Getting on in years
Meaning: Becoming older
Example: My grandmother is getting on in years and needs more help.
6. Ancient history
Meaning: Very old (sometimes joking)
Example: That phone is ancient history now!
7. Old as the hills
Meaning: Very old
Example: This book looks as old as the hills.
8. An old soul
Meaning: Someone young who acts wisely like an older person
Example: My daughter is only ten, but she’s such an old soul.
9. Over the age hill
Meaning: Past the middle age
Example: He’s over the age hill, but still works full-time.
10. Age before beauty
Meaning: A polite way to let an older person go first
Example: “You go first.” “No, age before beauty!”
Discover additional idioms by reading this article: 50 Essential Tree Idioms.
11. In your twilight years
Meaning: In the last years of life
Example: He enjoys gardening in his twilight years.
12. Overripe
Meaning: Too old or too mature
Example: The fruit was overripe, just like that old idea.
13. As old as time
Meaning: Very old
Example: This tradition is as old as time.
14. Old hat
Meaning: Old-fashioned, not new
Example: That style is old hat now.
15. From the old school
Meaning: Traditional or old-fashioned
Example: My teacher is from the old school and doesn’t use computers.
16. Behind the times
Meaning: Not modern; old-fashioned
Example: My dad’s clothes are really behind the times.
17. Older than dirt
Meaning: Extremely old (often funny)
Example: My grandpa says he’s older than dirt!
18. Golden oldie
Meaning: Something old but still liked
Example: That song is a golden oldie.
19. Elder statesman
Meaning: An old, respected person
Example: He’s an elder statesman of the music world.
20. Old fogey
Meaning: An old person with old ideas
Example: Don’t be such an old fogey!
Discover additional idioms by reading this article: Discover 35 Laugh Idioms.
21. Rusty
Meaning: Out of practice or old
Example: I’m a bit rusty at playing the piano.
22. Old-timer
Meaning: An elderly person
Example: He’s a real old-timer in this town.
23. Age is just a number
Meaning: Being old doesn’t mean you can’t do things
Example: She started dancing at 70 — age is just a number!
24. Greying
Meaning: Becoming older
Example: The population is greying fast in that city.
25. Time-worn
Meaning: Very old and used
Example: That coat looks time-worn but still good.
26. Like an old shoe
Meaning: Comfortable, familiar
Example: Being with him is like an old shoe — easy and calm.
27. Aged to perfection
Meaning: Getting better with age
Example: That cheese is aged to perfection.
28. Methuselah years
Meaning: Very old (Biblical reference)
Example: She has lived a Methuselah life!
29. In your second childhood
Meaning: Acting childishly in old age
Example: He’s in his second childhood, playing with toy trains again.
30. Dusty
Meaning: Old and forgotten
Example: I found some dusty books in the attic.
Discover additional idioms by reading this article: 45 Stress Idioms Explained.
31. Senior moment
Meaning: A moment of forgetfulness
Example: I forgot my keys again — must be a senior moment!
32. Cane age
Meaning: Old enough to use a cane
Example: He’s reached cane age but still walks fast.
33. Wrinkly
Meaning: A very old person (informal)
Example: The kids call grandpa a lovable wrinkly.
34. Seen better days
Meaning: Old and worn out
Example: That sofa has seen better days.
35. Geriatric
Meaning: Related to very old people
Example: He lives in a geriatric care home.
36. Not as young as you used to be
Meaning: Getting older
Example: Be careful lifting that box — you’re not as young as you used to be!
37. Crusty
Meaning: Old and a bit grumpy
Example: That old man is a bit crusty but kind inside.
38. Walking antique
Meaning: A joking way to say someone is very old
Example: He says he’s a walking antique!
39. Ripe old age
Meaning: Living to be very old
Example: She passed away at the ripe old age of 98.
40. In the sunset of life
Meaning: At the end of life
Example: He found peace in the sunset of life.
Discover additional idioms by reading this article: 35 Mountain Idioms You Need to Know.
41. Past it
Meaning: Too old to do something
Example: I think I’m past it for nightclubs.
42. On your last legs
Meaning: Very old or tired
Example: That car is on its last legs — like me!
43. Out to pasture
Meaning: Retired, not active
Example: He was put out to pasture last year.
44. The old guard
Meaning: People with old ideas or traditions
Example: The old guard in the company didn’t want to change.
45. Senior citizen
Meaning: A polite way to say an old person
Example: Discounts are available for senior citizens.
Discover additional idioms by reading this article: 50 Popular Beach Idioms.
46. Set in your ways
Meaning: Not open to change
Example: My grandfather is very set in his ways.
47. Older generation
Meaning: People from earlier times
Example: The older generation didn’t grow up with phones.
48. The silver years
Meaning: The time after retirement
Example: They travel a lot during their silver years.
49. Gramps/Gran
Meaning: Friendly name for grandparents
Example: Gramps tells the best stories.
50. In the olden days
Meaning: A long time ago
Example: In the olden days, people didn’t have electricity.
For more idioms, take a look at this article: 80 Money Idioms Explained.
Exercises to Practice Old Idioms
📝 Exercise 1: Match the Idiom to Its Meaning
Match the idiom with the correct meaning. Write the letter next to the number.
Idioms
- Over the hill
- Senior moment
- Set in your ways
- Old hat
- Long in the tooth
Meanings
A. Old and out of fashion
B. Past your best age
C. Very used to doing things a certain way
D. A moment of forgetfulness
E. Getting older
📝 Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks
Choose the correct idiom from the box to complete the sentences.
Idiom Box:
no spring chicken – twilight years – golden oldie – older than dirt – ripe old age
- My dad still plays tennis, but he’s __________ now.
- She lived to the __________ of 100!
- That song is a __________. I love it.
- He’s always joking that he’s __________.
- My grandparents enjoy traveling in their __________.
📝 Exercise 3: Choose the Correct Idiom
Choose the best idiom for each sentence.
- My grandmother is still very active even though she’s 85.
a) Time-worn
b) Age before beauty
c) Age is just a number - This chair is very old and broken.
a) Seen better days
b) Elder statesman
c) Like an old shoe - He always wears the same old coat.
a) From the old school
b) Old hat
c) Geriatric - You forgot your phone again!
a) Crusty
b) Second childhood
c) Senior moment
📝 Exercise 4: Idioms in Sentences – True or False
Read the sentences and decide if the idiom is used correctly. Write True or False.
- “That movie is a golden oldie” – The speaker means the movie is still good even though it’s old.
- “She’s in her twilight years” – She is a teenager.
- “He’s past it” – He is still young and strong.
- “My teacher is from the old school” – My teacher uses modern methods.
- “That phone is as old as the hills” – The phone is very new.
For more idioms, take a look at this article: 45 Angry Idioms You Need to Know.
Answers to Exercises for Practicing Old Idioms
Exercise 1: Matching
1 – B
2 – D
3 – C
4 – A
5 – E
Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks
- no spring chicken
- ripe old age
- golden oldie
- older than dirt
- twilight years
Exercise 3: Choose the Correct Idiom
1 – c) Age is just a number
2 – a) Seen better days
3 – b) Old hat
4 – c) Senior moment
Exercise 4: True or False
1 – True
2 – False
3 – False
4 – False
5 – False
Conclusion:
Now you’ve seen 50 great Old Idioms with meanings and examples. These idioms for old are helpful when you want to speak about age, experience, or something that has been around for a long time.
Try to use them in your speaking and writing. The more you practice, the more natural your English will sound!
For more idioms, take a look at this article: 45 Colorful Art Idioms.
