Meaning & use
long in tooth
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Meaning
phraseidiominformal
Old, especially when age is seen as a disadvantage or cause for amusement.
Grammar: Used after the verb 'be' or 'get': 'He is long in tooth.' It is not used before a noun.
Patterns
- be long in tooth
- get long in tooth
The car is getting a bit long in tooth, but it still runs well.
Some people say the senator is long in tooth, but he has years of experience.
That joke is long in tooth; everyone has heard it before.
Common combinations
- a bit long in tooth
- The actor is a bit long in tooth for the role of a teenager.
- getting long in tooth
- My laptop is getting long in tooth and needs replacing.
- rather long in tooth
- The dog is rather long in tooth and sleeps most of the day.
Synonyms and how they differ
- old
- 'Old' is the plain, neutral word; 'long in tooth' is informal and often adds a hint of criticism or humor.
- aging
- 'Aging' is neutral and factual; 'long in tooth' is more evaluative and suggests that age is a drawback.
- elderly
- 'Elderly' is a polite word for people; 'long in tooth' is informal and can sound disrespectful if used about a person.
Opposites
Commonly confused: long in tooth or long in the tooth?
long in tooth vs long in the tooth
The standard idiom is 'long in the tooth', with 'the'. 'Long in tooth' without 'the' is less common but understood.
Practice
What does 'long in tooth' mean in the sentence: 'The old professor is long in tooth but still sharp'?
Choose one answer.
'Long in tooth' means old. It does not mean having long teeth, being angry, or being tall. The phrase is used informally to comment on someone's age.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “long in tooth”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.