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UKlong in the tooth
/lˈɒŋ ɪnðə tˈuːθ/
/lˈɑːŋ ɪnðə tˈuːθ/long in the tooth
[PHRASE]1
describing an individual who has lived for a very long time and is not able to do certain activities due to old age
What is the origin of the idiom "long in the tooth" and when to use it?
The idiom "long in the tooth" has its origin in the practice of estimating a horse's age by examining its teeth, as horses' teeth grow longer as they age. Today, it is used figuratively to describe people who are older or show signs of aging. It can refer to a person's physical age or be used metaphorically to describe someone who seems outdated or out of touch, often employed in informal contexts to humorously highlight someone's age or experience.
Examples
1. The cat is long in the tooth, with its gray whiskers and slow movements, but it still purrs and enjoys a warm spot in the sun.
2. The old dog is long in the tooth, but still brings joy and companionship to its owner with its gentle demeanor and loyal nature.
3. So even though we never know, is somebody aware of the demographic average that is the average age of marriage, he was aware that he was getting a little long in the tooth.
4. I spend a lot of time in India, and in India you're raised with this feeling that you're a spiritual being who happens to be in a physical body, whereas we in the West are much more into our physical bodies, and then if we get old enough and long in the tooth enough, we kind of get interested in spirit.
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