50 Idioms About Age With Meanings & Sentences
Idioms About Age
1. Over the Hill
Meaning: Past one’s prime, getting older.
In a Sentence: He jokes that he’s over the hill now that he’s turned 50.
Other Ways to Say: Past your peak, aging
2. Act Your Age
Meaning: Behave in a way suitable for one’s age.
In a Sentence: Mom told me to act my age when I started jumping on the couch.
Other Ways to Say: Grow up, be mature
3. No Spring Chicken
Meaning: Not young anymore.
In a Sentence: I’m no spring chicken, but I can still dance all night.
Other Ways to Say: Not young, getting older
4. Young at Heart
Meaning: Having a youthful spirit.
In a Sentence: Grandpa may be old, but he’s young at heart and loves to play with us.
Other Ways to Say: Playful, full of life
5. Long in the Tooth
Meaning: Getting old.
In a Sentence: That actor is getting a bit long in the tooth for action roles.
Other Ways to Say: Aged, elderly
6. Age Before Beauty
Meaning: A polite phrase allowing older people to go first.
In a Sentence: “After you,” he said with a smile, “age before beauty.”
Other Ways to Say: Respect your elders, seniority first
7. Golden Years
Meaning: Later years of life, usually post-retirement.
In a Sentence: Grandma is spending her golden years traveling.
Other Ways to Say: Retirement years, later years
8. Getting Up There
Meaning: Becoming older.
In a Sentence: Dad says he’s getting up there, but he still plays basketball.
Other Ways to Say: Aging, not young anymore
9. In One’s Prime
Meaning: At the peak of physical ability or life.
In a Sentence: She won five medals in her prime.
Other Ways to Say: At your peak, strongest years
10. Like Fine Wine
Meaning: Improving with age.
In a Sentence: Her singing has matured like fine wine.
Other Ways to Say: Better with age, seasoned
11. An Old Soul
Meaning: Someone who behaves wisely or maturely beyond their years.
In a Sentence: Even as a child, he was an old soul who loved classical music.
Other Ways to Say: Wise beyond years, mature
12. As Old as the Hills
Meaning: Very old.
In a Sentence: That castle is as old as the hills.
Other Ways to Say: Ancient, really old
13. Not Born Yesterday
Meaning: Not naive or easily fooled.
In a Sentence: You can’t trick me—I wasn’t born yesterday.
Other Ways to Say: Experienced, wise
14. Knee-High to a Grasshopper
Meaning: Very young.
In a Sentence: I’ve known you since you were knee-high to a grasshopper.
Other Ways to Say: A toddler, little kid
15. Wet Behind the Ears
Meaning: Inexperienced or young.
In a Sentence: He’s still wet behind the ears, but he’ll learn quickly.
Other Ways to Say: Newbie, rookie
16. A Whippersnapper
Meaning: A young person who is presumptuous or overconfident.
In a Sentence: That young whippersnapper thinks he knows everything!
Other Ways to Say: Know-it-all kid, cocky youngster
17. A Greybeard
Meaning: An old man, usually wise.
In a Sentence: The greybeard told tales of ancient wars.
Other Ways to Say: Elder, senior
18. Just a Pup
Meaning: Very young or immature.
In a Sentence: He was just a pup when he joined the team.
Other Ways to Say: Youngster, baby-faced
19. Older and Wiser
Meaning: Gained wisdom with age.
In a Sentence: Now older and wiser, she avoids toxic relationships.
Other Ways to Say: Matured, learned with age
20. Have One Foot in the Grave
Meaning: Near death or very old.
In a Sentence: He’s so frail he seems to have one foot in the grave.
Other Ways to Say: At death’s door, extremely old
21. Past One’s Prime
Meaning: No longer at your best.
In a Sentence: Athletes usually retire when they’re past their prime.
Other Ways to Say: Over the hill, faded glory
22. Still Got It
Meaning: Still capable despite age.
In a Sentence: Even at 70, she’s still got it on the dance floor!
Other Ways to Say: Still capable, full of life
23. Age is Just a Number
Meaning: Age doesn’t matter.
In a Sentence: She went skydiving at 80—age is just a number!
Other Ways to Say: Forever young, spirit matters more
24. Old Enough to Know Better
Meaning: Mature enough to act wisely.
In a Sentence: He’s old enough to know better than to skip work.
Other Ways to Say: Mature, should be responsible
25. Full of Years
Meaning: Lived a long life.
In a Sentence: She passed away peacefully, full of years.
Other Ways to Say: Long-lived, elderly
26. Wise with Age
Meaning: Gaining wisdom over time.
In a Sentence: He’s wise with age and always gives the best advice.
Other Ways to Say: Mature, insightful
27. Aged Like Cheese
Meaning: Gotten older, not necessarily better.
In a Sentence: That joke aged like cheese—it stinks now.
Other Ways to Say: Outdated, didn’t age well
28. Age Before Beauty
Meaning: Letting an elder go first.
In a Sentence: “After you,” she said, “age before beauty.”
Other Ways to Say: Seniority rules, respectful gesture
29. Time-Worn
Meaning: Aged or showing signs of age.
In a Sentence: His coat looked time-worn and frayed.
Other Ways to Say: Weathered, worn out
30. From the Old School
Meaning: Traditional or old-fashioned.
In a Sentence: He’s from the old school and still writes letters by hand.
Other Ways to Say: Traditional, conservative
Idioms About Bad Things Happening
31. At a Ripe Old Age
Meaning: Reaching an advanced age.
In a Sentence: She lived to a ripe old age of 98.
Other Ways to Say: Long life, well-aged
32. Elder Statesman
Meaning: A respected older person.
In a Sentence: He’s an elder statesman of the music world.
Other Ways to Say: Wise elder, senior leader
33. Age Like a Rock Star
Meaning: Age gracefully and stylishly.
In a Sentence: She’s aging like a rock star—full of energy and charm.
Other Ways to Say: Cool with age, confident elder
34. Wrinkled but Wise
Meaning: Aged and full of experience.
In a Sentence: That wrinkled but wise teacher changed my life.
Other Ways to Say: Experienced, seasoned
35. Youth is Wasted on the Young
Meaning: Young people don’t appreciate their youth.
In a Sentence: As I deal with back pain, I believe youth is wasted on the young.
Other Ways to Say: Young don’t value time, ironic aging truth
36. Old Hat
Meaning: Something outdated or familiar.
In a Sentence: That trick is old hat—we’ve seen it before.
Other Ways to Say: Dated, old news
37. Older Than Dirt
Meaning: Extremely old (humorous).
In a Sentence: He jokes that he’s older than dirt.
Other Ways to Say: Ancient, prehistoric (jokingly)
38. Born Yesterday
Meaning: Naive or inexperienced.
In a Sentence: I wasn’t born yesterday—I know what you’re up to!
Other Ways to Say: Gullible, clueless
39. Seasoned Veteran
Meaning: Someone experienced, especially with age.
In a Sentence: The seasoned veteran guided the younger team members.
Other Ways to Say: Experienced elder, wise one
40. Silver-Haired
Meaning: Having gray or white hair, usually older.
In a Sentence: The silver-haired woman still danced with grace.
Other Ways to Say: Gray-haired, elderly
41. Bent with Age
Meaning: Physically curved due to aging.
In a Sentence: He walked slowly, bent with age.
Other Ways to Say: Frail, stooped
42. Beyond One’s Years
Meaning: More mature than expected for age.
In a Sentence: She has insight far beyond her years.
Other Ways to Say: Mature, wise
43. Golden-Agers
Meaning: Older adults, often retirees.
In a Sentence: The community center offers programs for golden-agers.
Other Ways to Say: Seniors, retirees
44. Senior Moment
Meaning: A lapse in memory, usually due to age.
In a Sentence: I forgot my keys again—must be a senior moment!
Other Ways to Say: Memory slip, forgetfulness
45. Not Getting Any Younger
Meaning: Acknowledging the passing of time.
In a Sentence: I better take that trip—I’m not getting any younger!
Other Ways to Say: Time is ticking, aging
46. Ancient History
Meaning: Something from the very distant past.
In a Sentence: That breakup is ancient history now.
Other Ways to Say: Long gone, forgotten
47. Grumpy Old Man
Meaning: Stereotype of a grouchy older man.
In a Sentence: Stop acting like a grumpy old man!
Other Ways to Say: Cranky elder, sour senior
48. Wise as an Owl
Meaning: Extremely wise, often associated with age.
In a Sentence: Grandma is wise as an owl and always has great advice.
Other Ways to Say: All-knowing, experienced
49. Getting On in Years
Meaning: Becoming old.
In a Sentence: He’s getting on in years but still walks every morning.
Other Ways to Say: Aging, elderly
50. Sage of Age
Meaning: Someone respected for their wisdom in old age.
In a Sentence: The sage of age, Uncle Amir, always knows what to say.
Other Ways to Say: Wise elder, old sage