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Region: US | Usage example: At forty, he felt long in the tooth compared to his young team.

Long in the tooth

Meaning

Getting old.

Usage

A polite way to mention age.

Origin & History

Origin notes can vary by region and source; this page gives the commonly reported explanation and usage context.

Older horses show longer gums as teeth wear down.

Ranching term from the 19th century.

Related Idioms

For the long haul

Committed for a long time.

Not by a long shot

Not even close.

Fight tooth and nail

Struggle vigorously and aggressively to achieve something.

More Idioms

Break the ice

To do or say something to relieve tension or get conversation going in a social situation.

Cut to the chase

Skip ahead to the most important or exciting part of something.

The ball is in your court

It is now your turn to take action or make a decision.

Throw in the towel

To concede defeat or admit a struggle isn't worth continuing.