English is obsessed with age. We measure it, joke about it, deny it, and occasionally lie about it on dating apps.
From the tender age of four to the twilight years when you start saying, “Back in my day…”, we’ve got idioms for every life stage.
Here are 15 age-related English idioms that are both useful and slightly cheeky. Use them carefully and you’ll sound natural. Use them at the wrong time and you’ll age ten years in one conversation.
15 Idioms About Age (From Baby to Ancient)
Bright young things
Young, fashionable, ambitious people.
London is full of bright young things pretending they aren’t broke.
Bridge the generation gap
Connect people of different ages or tastes.
The family karaoke night finally bridged the generation gap.
Get on in years
To be getting old.
Dad is getting on in years, but he still beats me at chess.
As old as the hills
Extremely old (usually a joke).
That meme is as old as the hills, mate.
Wet behind the ears
Young and inexperienced.
The new manager is a bit wet behind the ears.
No spring chicken
No longer young.
I’m no spring chicken, but I can still dance till midnight.
Ripe old age
A very old age.
Gran lived to the ripe old age of 96 and still complained about the weather.
Act your age
Behave appropriately for your age.
He’s 40 and still skateboards. His mum keeps telling him to act his age.
Age before beauty
Humorous way to let an older person go first.
After you—age before beauty.
Come of age
Reach adulthood or maturity.
You come of age at 18 in many countries.
Dirty old man
An older man who is too interested in much younger women.
He kept flirting with students and got labelled a dirty old man.
Twilight years
The last years of someone’s life.
He spent his twilight years by the sea, eating chips like a king.
Young at heart
You feel youthful even if you are older.
She’s 75 but still young at heart.
Long in the tooth
Old; past your best years.
I’m a bit long in the tooth for nightclub queues.
Tender age
Very young age.
He started coding at the tender age of six.
Quick Tips for Using Age Idioms
Be kind. Age jokes are fun, but English speakers are polite about it. Use these with friends, not in job interviews.
British humour loves understatement. Saying you’re “no spring chicken” is a gentle way to admit you’re not 21 anymore.
Use for yourself first. It’s safer (and funnier) to call yourself “long in the tooth” than to say it about your boss.
Want more age language? Try the Age vocabulary topic or the Age IELTS page for extra practice.
So whether you’re in your prime or approaching the twilight years, you’ve now got a handful of idioms to sound natural and slightly cheeky.