Understanding idiomatic expressions about age can enhance your English fluency. Here are 20 idioms and phrasal verbs related to age, each with a short meaning and example sentence.
1. Act your age
Meaning: Behave suitably
Example: Stop being childish and act your age.
2. Age before beauty
Meaning: Older people go first
Example: You first, age before beauty.
3. Come of age
Meaning: Reach adulthood
Example: She came of age at eighteen.
4. In one’s prime
Meaning: Best age period
Example: He’s still in his prime.
5. At a ripe old age
Meaning: Very old
Example: She lived to a ripe old age.
6. An old hand
Meaning: Experienced person
Example: He’s an old hand at fishing.
7. Over the hill
Meaning: Past prime
Example: At fifty, he’s over the hill.
8. In one’s twilight years
Meaning: Later years
Example: He’s in his twilight years now.
9. Born yesterday
Meaning: Naive
Example: I wasn’t born yesterday, you know.
10. Age is just a number
Meaning: Age is irrelevant
Example: For him, age is just a number.
11. Underage
Meaning: Below legal age
Example: She’s still underage to vote.
12. Age gracefully
Meaning: Age with dignity
Example: She is aging gracefully.
13. Be of age
Meaning: Legal adult
Example: She will be of age soon.
14. Golden years
Meaning: Retirement age
Example: He’s enjoying his golden years.
15. Long in the tooth
Meaning: Old
Example: He’s getting long in the tooth.
16. Young at heart
Meaning: Lively spirit
Example: She’s seventy but young at heart.
17. Young blood
Meaning: Youthful energy
Example: We need some young blood in here.
18. Past one’s prime
Meaning: Beyond best age
Example: She’s past her prime.
19. New age
Meaning: Modern period
Example: He’s into new age music.
20. Come of age
Meaning: Mature
Example: Their business came of age.
