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long in the tooth
01
describing an individual who has lived for a very long time and is not able to do certain activities due to old age
Humorous
Idiom
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 It can refer to a person's physical age or be used metaphorically to describe someone who seems outdated or out of touch, often employed in informal contexts to humorously highlight someone's age or experience.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
I'm getting a bit long in the tooth to climb mountains.
