50 Idioms for Old with Meaning & Sentences
Idioms for Old
1. Long in the tooth
Meaning: To be old or aging.
In a Sentence: My grandpa may be a bit long in the tooth, but he still loves to tell stories from his youth.
Other Ways to Say: Getting up there in age.
2. Over the hill
Meaning: Past one’s prime; getting old.
In a Sentence: He’s feeling a bit over the hill now that he’s turned 50.
Other Ways to Say: Past the peak of youth.
3. No spring chicken
Meaning: Not young anymore.
In a Sentence: She may be no spring chicken, but she still hikes every weekend.
Other Ways to Say: A bit older now.
4. Past one’s prime
Meaning: Not as youthful or energetic as before.
In a Sentence: The actor is past his prime but remains a legend.
Other Ways to Say: Beyond the glory days.
5. Getting on in years
Meaning: Becoming older.
In a Sentence: My parents are getting on in years but still go dancing.
Other Ways to Say: Growing older.
6. Senior moment
Meaning: A brief lapse in memory due to aging.
In a Sentence: I had a senior moment and forgot why I walked into the room.
Other Ways to Say: Age-related memory slip.
7. In one’s twilight years
Meaning: In the final phase of life.
In a Sentence: He enjoys gardening in his twilight years.
Other Ways to Say: Golden years.
8. As old as the hills
Meaning: Extremely old.
In a Sentence: That story is as old as the hills.
Other Ways to Say: Ancient.
9. An old soul
Meaning: A person who has wisdom beyond their years.
In a Sentence: Even as a child, she was an old soul.
Other Ways to Say: Wise beyond years.
10. Age before beauty
Meaning: Said humorously to let an older person go first.
In a Sentence: “Age before beauty,” he said, holding the door open for his elder.
Other Ways to Say: Respect your elders.
11. Ancient history
Meaning: Something very old or in the distant past.
In a Sentence: That relationship is ancient history now.
Other Ways to Say: Long gone past.
12. Getting gray
Meaning: Aging, especially with graying hair.
In a Sentence: He’s getting gray, but his spirit is youthful.
Other Ways to Say: Going silver.
13. Older than dirt
Meaning: Extremely old (used humorously).
In a Sentence: My uncle jokes that he’s older than dirt.
Other Ways to Say: Really ancient.
14. Born before the flood
Meaning: Very old or outdated.
In a Sentence: That phone looks like it was born before the flood!
Other Ways to Say: Out of date.
15. Rusty with age
Meaning: Not as sharp or efficient due to aging.
In a Sentence: I’m a bit rusty with age when it comes to playing piano.
Other Ways to Say: Slowing down with time.
16. Feeling one’s age
Meaning: Becoming aware of aging through fatigue or limitations.
In a Sentence: After hiking all day, I’m really feeling my age.
Other Ways to Say: Aware of aging.
17. Timeworn
Meaning: Worn out or aged with time.
In a Sentence: The timeworn chair still held stories of the past.
Other Ways to Say: Weathered by age.
18. Aged like fine wine
Meaning: Improving with age.
In a Sentence: She’s aged like fine wine—wiser and more elegant.
Other Ways to Say: Better with time.
19. A face like a road map
Meaning: Deep lines/wrinkles from age.
In a Sentence: His face was like a road map from a life well lived.
Other Ways to Say: Deeply wrinkled.
20. Walking antique
Meaning: A person who is very old (humorous).
In a Sentence: My cousin jokingly called me a walking antique.
Other Ways to Say: Living relic.
21. Seen better days
Meaning: Used to be in better shape/youth.
In a Sentence: That jacket has seen better days.
Other Ways to Say: Worn out with age.
22. Not as young as one used to be
Meaning: A polite way to admit aging.
In a Sentence: I can’t party like before—I’m not as young as I used to be.
Other Ways to Say: Getting older.
23. Wearing the years
Meaning: Showing signs of aging.
In a Sentence: He’s wearing the years gracefully.
Other Ways to Say: Carrying age well.
24. On the wrong side of forty
Meaning: Over 40 years old.
In a Sentence: Now that I’m on the wrong side of forty, I need more sleep.
Other Ways to Say: Over the hill.
25. Not born yesterday
Meaning: Wise from age and experience.
In a Sentence: Don’t try to fool me—I wasn’t born yesterday.
Other Ways to Say: Experienced.
26. The sands of time
Meaning: The passage of time and aging.
In a Sentence: You can’t escape the sands of time.
Other Ways to Say: Time’s flow.
27. Wrinkled with wisdom
Meaning: Wrinkles as a sign of life experience.
In a Sentence: Her face was wrinkled with wisdom and love.
Other Ways to Say: Lined with age.
28. Time has taken its toll
Meaning: Age has affected appearance or health.
In a Sentence: Time has taken its toll on his knees.
Other Ways to Say: Aged through wear.
29. Cane carrier
Meaning: Someone elderly, often needs a cane.
In a Sentence: My granddad, a proud cane carrier, walks daily.
Other Ways to Say: Walking aid user.
30. Out of date
Meaning: Old-fashioned or no longer current.
In a Sentence: That slang is so out of date!
Other Ways to Say: Behind the times.
31. Elder statesman
Meaning: An older, respected person.
In a Sentence: He’s the elder statesman of our group.
Other Ways to Say: Senior leader.
32. Silver-haired
Meaning: Having gray or white hair due to aging.
In a Sentence: The silver-haired man smiled warmly.
Other Ways to Say: Gray-haired.
33. Seen it all
Meaning: Someone with vast life experience.
In a Sentence: She’s seen it all in her years as a nurse.
Other Ways to Say: Worldly wise.
34. Showing one’s age
Meaning: Looking older.
In a Sentence: He’s starting to show his age around the eyes.
Other Ways to Say: Appearing aged.
35. Golden years
Meaning: Retirement years or later life.
In a Sentence: They’re enjoying their golden years traveling the world.
Other Ways to Say: Twilight years.
36. Weathered with time
Meaning: Worn or changed by aging.
In a Sentence: Her hands were weathered with time.
Other Ways to Say: Time-touched.
37. Living fossil
Meaning: Someone or something very old (humorous).
In a Sentence: He called himself a living fossil at the reunion.
Other Ways to Say: Ancient being.
38. Been around the block
Meaning: Very experienced, likely due to age.
In a Sentence: Trust her advice—she’s been around the block.
Other Ways to Say: Seasoned.
39. Not built for speed
Meaning: Moving slowly due to age.
In a Sentence: I’m not built for speed anymore—let’s take it slow.
Other Ways to Say: Slower with age.
40. Memory like a sieve
Meaning: Forgetful, often due to aging.
In a Sentence: I’ve got a memory like a sieve these days.
Other Ways to Say: Forgetful.
41. Time-walked
Meaning: Marked by the passage of time.
In a Sentence: His eyes looked time-walked, full of stories.
Other Ways to Say: Timeworn.
42. Lived a full life
Meaning: Experienced much in life.
In a Sentence: She passed away having lived a full life.
Other Ways to Say: Well-lived.
43. Outlived the calendar
Meaning: Extremely old.
In a Sentence: He jokes he’s outlived the calendar.
Other Ways to Say: Older than time.
44. Carrying the weight of years
Meaning: Physically or emotionally impacted by age.
In a Sentence: His steps showed the weight of years.
Other Ways to Say: Age-worn.
45. Like a vintage car
Meaning: Old but well-maintained.
In a Sentence: He may be old, but like a vintage car, he’s still classy.
Other Ways to Say: Classic and aged.
46. Been through the ages
Meaning: Has seen many eras or changes.
In a Sentence: That book has been through the ages.
Other Ways to Say: Time-traveled.
47. Aging like an oak
Meaning: Growing stronger or more graceful with age.
In a Sentence: She’s aging like an oak—steady and wise.
Other Ways to Say: Strong with age.
48. Wiser with age
Meaning: Gaining wisdom through years.
In a Sentence: I’ve become wiser with age and experience.
Other Ways to Say: Matured.
49. Veteran of life
Meaning: Someone who has lived long and faced many experiences.
In a Sentence: He’s a true veteran of life with countless stories.
Other Ways to Say: Life-experienced.
50. Wrinkled but wise
Meaning: Aged but intelligent and experienced.
In a Sentence: Her wrinkled but wise face was full of calm.
Other Ways to Say: Aged and insightful.
