English idiom

long in the tooth

Register · Neutral CEFR C1

Post

Figurative meaning

old or growing old, especially when age affects suitability for something

Word picture

Age is pictured as visible in teeth that have become noticeably long.

Example

“At thirty-five, the striker was considered long in the tooth for professional football.”

Dictionary details

Component words

long tooth

Tags

time

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

fight tooth and nail

To struggle with fierce determination, using every available effort to succeed.

cut your teeth on

to gain your first experience of something, usually early in your career

bright and early

at the very start of the morning

early bird

someone who prefers beginning the day before most other people

hang on a minute

used to ask someone to wait, or to express surprise or objection

so far so good

used to say that things have gone well up to now

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

External links

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