Today, we are going to look at 29 useful age idioms that you can use in your everyday English to sound like a native English speaker.
Let’s get started…
29 Useful Idioms About Age (Meaning & Examples)
Act (one’s) Age
- Meaning: to behave in accordance with one’s maturity level. It is usually said to someone who is acting younger than they really are.
- Example: Will you act your age! Your acting like a child.
A Grand Old Age
- Meaning: very old; a great age
- Example: He died at the grand old age of 99.
A Coon’s Age
- Meaning: a very long time.
- Example: I haven’t been to New York in a coon’s age.
At The Ripe Old Age
- Meaning: the condition of being very old. Usually used to describe someone who has lived a healthy life.
- Example: She passed away at the ripe old age of 95.
Awkward Age
- Meaning: early teenage years usually characterized by shyness and awkwardness.
- Example: Sorry, she is just at that awkward age, but she will soon grow out of it.
To Come Of Age
- Meaning: to reach maturity.
- Example: My parents came of age in the 1920s.
In This Day And Age
- Meaning: The present time period.
- Example: When I was a child, we used to be able to leave the doors unlocked, but you can’t do that in this day and age.
To Feel One’s Age
- Meaning: to realize that a person is getting older.
- Example: I am so sore from playing football last night. I am definitely starting to feel my age.
Golden Age
- Meaning: a period of time when something or someone was very successful.
- Example: My grandma grew up in the golden age of good American Literature.
At The Tender Age Of
- Meaning: at a young age.
- Example: She was able to play the piano at the tender age of 6 years old.
To Be Pushing An Age
- Meaning: to be approaching a certain age.
- Example: Wow, Greg looks old, he’s got to be pushing 50 now.
On The Wrong Side Of An Age
- Meaning: used to say that someone is older than a certain age.
- Example: He is on the wrong side of 30.
To Look (One’s) Age
- Meaning: to have the appearance of the age that you are.
- Example: He is starting to look his age.
Over The Hill
- Meaning: no longer young. Not able to do things as before. Usually used in a funny way.
- Example: How do you feel now that you are 50 years old? I feel like I am officially over the hill.
Put Years On Someone
- Meaning: to cause someone to feel or look older.
- Example: All that stress has put years on him.
To Be Young At Heart
- Meaning: to act or behave younger than one’s age. Usually used in a positive sense.
- Example: Even though grandpa is older now, he still is young at heart.
I wasn’t born yesterday
- Meaning: to not be easily deceived.
- Example: He can’t fool me. You know, I wasn’t born yesterday.
Getting On In Years
- Meaning: to get older.
- Example: She is definitely getting on in years, but she still looks good for her age.
Leave The Nest
- Meaning: to move out of one’s parent’s house.
- Example: He finally left the nest at 25 years old.
Empty Nester
- Meaning: used to describe a parent whose children have left the house.
- Example: It was difficult for her to be an empty nester because she missing seeing her children every day.
Long In The Tooth
- Meaning: to be too old to do something.
- Example: He is a little long in the tooth to be out on the dance floor don’t you think?
To Be No Spring Chicken
- Meaning: to no longer be young.
- Example: I’m no spring chicken, but I can beat you in football any day.
To Rob The Cradle
- Meaning: to be in a romantic relationship with someone that is much younger than you are.
- Example: He is 35 years old and yet he is dating a 25-year-old. Talk about robbing the cradle.
To Have A Senior Moment
- Meaning: when someone forgets something; typically common in older people.
- Example: I must be having a senior moment because I can not remember where I put my car keys.
To Be Wise Beyond (One’s) Years
- Meaning: to be smarter than your age.
- Example: Even though he is young, he has demonstrated to be wise beyond his years.
To Be Past (Your/Its) Prime
- Meaning: after the best or most successful years of life.
- Example: He showed that he can still play basketball, but he is definitely past his prime.
You Can’t Put An Old Head On Young Shoulders
- Meaning: a phrase to say that you can’t expect a young person to have the wisdom of an older person.
Young Blood
- Meaning: a young person or person who has a lot of energy and fresh ideas.
- Example: We need to get some young blood on our team.
UnderAge
- Meaning: to be too young to participate in something legally.
- Example: There need to be better laws to combat underage drinking.
There you have it! 29 Age Idioms. Which one is your favorite? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.
