Read Webster's New World American Idioms Handbook Online
Authors: Gail Brenner
Webster's New World American Idioms Handbook (5 page)
Adults
Adults are often categorized as
young adults
(people in their 20s and 30s),
middle aged
(people in their 40s and 50s), and
seniors
(people in their 60s and beyond). The following are some idioms that refer to these stages.
Young Adults
20-something
somewhere between the ages of 20 and 29 ♦
This music appeals to the
20-something
crowd.
30-something
somewhere between the ages of 30 and 39 ♦
Many of my
30-something friends
are settling down to have families.
Note:
The expressions
20-something
and
30-something
are used as adjectives, as in the examples above. They can also be used as nouns, as in this example:
A lot of
20-somethings
work at this company.
in one’s 20s
aged 20 to 29 ♦
She was
in her 20s
when she started her own business.
in one’s 30s
aged 30 to 39 ♦
Most people
in their 30s
have already started their careers.
in the prime of life
in the best years of one’s life, at the peak of one’s success or power ♦
I have everything I’ve always wanted, and I’m still
in the prime of my life. ♦
That boy had so much to look forward to, but he was killed
in the prime of his life.
Note:
Today this idiom is sometimes applied to people who are middle aged, too.
Middle-Aged Adults
People who are middle aged are sometimes said to experience a
midlife crisis;
a sense of anxiety and uncertainty about one’s identity, values, and relationships. A midlife crisis is generally characterized by inappropriate or irresponsible behavior, oftentimes acting younger than one’s age. For example, “He seemed to be having a
midlife crisis
when he left his family and hitchhiked around the country.”
Midlife crisis
is often used jokingly, such as “I wanted the red convertible, but then I thought, ‘Uh oh,
midlife crisis!
’ So, I bought the sensible sedan.”
Another term that’s often used humorously is
over the hill
. It alludes to the top of the hill as age 40 or midlife, and implies that from there life goes downhill or deteriorates. Here are two examples:
- Of course I can play volleyball with you. I’m not
over the hill
yet! - Now that he’s turned 40, his kids say he’s
over the hill.
Two more terms that may be used when referring to people who are middle aged are
the big four-oh
and
the big five-oh
, referring to the fortieth and fiftieth birthdays as major milestones in life. For example, “Lynn just celebrated
the big four-oh,
but she still looks great!”
Seniors
Age 62 marks the official
senior citizen
age — the legal age at which one can retire or collect Social Security benefits.
Senior
, the most common term for an older adult, is short for
senior citizen. Mature adult
is another term used to refer to an older adult. People tend to talk about old age with idioms and expressions, and they generally prefer not to use the word
old.
But here are some common idioms that do include the word
old
.
Grammar Note:
In these examples all of the following idioms are used as nouns, except
as old as the hills,
which is a simile and an adjective. The expressions
old age
and
old folks
can also be used as adjectives.
old timer
♦
I like to talk with the other
old timers
down at the Veterans Hall.
oldster
♦
This movie is for youngsters and
oldsters
alike.
old age
♦
We want to be healthy when we reach
old age.
old folks
(always plural) ♦
There were lots of
old folks
at the memorial picnic.
as old as the hills (adj)
♦
He’s
old as the hills,
but you should see him play the fiddle!
Similar, but more negative, terms are
old geezer
and
old codger,
sometimes just said as
geezer
or
codger.
These are slang expressions for a grouchy, tough, or eccentric old man: “Grandpa is an
old geezer,
but we love him.”
Today, many adults in their 60s and 70s (or older) are very active, health conscious, and financially secure. So, some derogatory expressions used to describe people in this age group don’t always apply. One such expression is
past one’s prime,
meaning no longer in the prime of life, no longer active or a fully productive member of society. Here are some examples:
- These old board members are
past their prime.
They should resign and let some younger ones take over. - I may be
past my prime,
but I can still beat you at tennis!
Sometimes this term is applied to a younger person who can no longer perform a physical skill as well as before, for example:
- Professional athletes are often
past their prime
by age 30.
The following expressions all refer metaphorically to the final stage of one’s life, but they have different connotations:
declining years
a period of declining health ♦
He enjoyed writing his memoirs in his
declining years. ♦
Her
declining years
were happy, though she was not very well.
Little Old Ladies
While old men might be called
old timer
and
old geezer,
old women are often called
little old ladies.
This expression implies a small, fragile old woman who may be meek, but also possibly outspoken. The word
little
alludes to the fact that many older women (and men) shrink and lose weight as they age, so they literally become shorter and smaller.
Note:
Some people consider this expression demeaning, though it is often used endearingly.
- People sometimes wonder how a
little old lady
like Mother Teresa could have so much impact on the world. - Don’t treat me like a
little old lady.
I’m quite capable of caring for myself!
golden years
used to imply richness, happiness, and security in the later years of life ♦
They spent their
golden years
traveling to many parts of the world.
♦
We look forward to the contentment and security of our
golden years.
twilight years
the very last years of one’s life. Alludes to the time of late evening just before night; implies a period of less activity and worsening health. ♦
In her
twilight years
she made many friends at the retirement home.
♦
I want my parents to be comfortable in their
twilight years.
autumn of one’s life
a period of maturity and gradual decline, but a happy and active period ♦
No one wants to have financial troubles in the
autumn of his or her life. ♦
He said, “I hope to spend the
autumn of my life
with children and grandchildren nearby.”
Ages and Ages
Certain life stages are sometimes expressed as
an
age.
The following are some common idioms that use the word
age
to mean a period or stage of life:
awkward age
(n)
adolescence, puberty; refers to the awkward and often difficult transition from childhood to teen years; often phrased
that
awkward age
♦
He’s at
that awkward age,
and afraid to talk to girls.
♦
We all went through
that awkward age.
in-between age
(n)
any transition age from one life stage to the next for young people; adolescence; the period between adolescence and older teen, or teen and young adult ♦
He’s at that
in-between age
— not a child, but not yet an adult.
♦
Three is really an
in-between age
from babyhood to childhood.
underage
(adj)
not old enough to legally do activities such as driving, voting, and drinking ♦
There’s not much for
underage
kids to do at night for entertainment.
♦
The restaurant can lose its liquor license if it serves alcohol to anyone who’s
underage.
voting age
(adj)
old enough to vote, 18 years old; often phrased
of voting age
♦
If you’re
of voting age
, then remember to register to vote.
♦
I’ll be
voting age
next year, and I intend to vote.
college age
(adj)
approximately 18 to 22 years old, the age of traditional students attending college ♦
Cancun is filled with
college-age
kids during spring break
. ♦
Most of the people living in these apartments are
college age.
ripe old age
(n)
quite old; implies relative good health in old age ♦
My aunt lived to the
ripe old age
of 103.
♦
I hope I live to
a
ripe old age.
Blue Hairs
The older set are sometimes referred to by their hair color, as in “The auditorium was filled with
gray hairs
for the senior talent show.” Older ladies who use white or gray dye on their hair often end up with hair that is slightly blue or purple. This common phenomenon inspired the idiom “blue hairs” for old ladies.
- All the little
blue hairs
were there at the senior center luncheon.
Note:
Depending on the tone of voice or context, these names could be considered disrespectful, though seniors sometimes use them to describe themselves.
In the following examples, the word
age
does not refer to a stage of life, as in the preceding section. Here, age simply refers to the process of aging or to a chronological age:
age gracefully
(v)
to age with dignity; to look good or youthful even while one is aging ♦
Many movie stars
age gracefully. ♦
My grandmother has
aged
very
gracefully;
she is one cute lady!
act one’s age
(v)
to behave appropriately to one’s age; usually said to children in an effort to improve their behavior, but can also be said of adults ♦
Stop whining, Tommy, and
act your age! ♦
He’s trying to dress like the college kids. He should
act his age.
look one’s age
(v)
to appear no older or younger than one actually is; generally used in the negative to say that one doesn’t look as old as one is. This expression can be said as a compliment to an older person or simply as a statement of fact. ♦
You don’t
look your age.
That’s why they always ask you to show your ID in clubs.
♦
I thought she was much younger than she is. She sure doesn’t
look her age.
show one’s age
(v)
to appear to be aging or to look old; implies that one actually looks older than his or her age. This idiom is said of people middle aged or older. ♦
He looked youthful into his 70s. He certainly didn’t
show his age. ♦
Boy, look at these wrinkles! I’m really beginning to
show my age.
be ageless
(adj)
to seem not to grow old or look one’s age, to seem not to be associated with any particular age; implies that one doesn’t act like an old person ♦
No one can figure out how old he really is.
He’s
ageless. ♦
She seems
ageless,
and has friends of all ages.
Talking about My Generation
People born during a specific time period belong to the generation connected to that era. Generations are commonly referred to by nicknames that say something about the era in which those people were born. Here is a list of generation names:
the Greatest Generation:
people born in the ’20s and ’30s who experienced the Great Depression and World War II.
the Post-War Generation:
people born after World War II. Also called
Baby Boomers
.
Baby Boomers:
people born after World War II during a great increase (or “boom”) in the birth rate. The years from 1945 to the late ’50s are sometimes referred to as the
Baby Boom.
the Me Generation:
may include people born in the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s. This group of people and the era is sometimes characterized as being materialistic and self-serving (only concerned about “me” — oneself).
Generation X:
people born in the ’60s and ’70s; the children of Baby Boomers. Also referred to as
Gen
Xers
. Some Xers say that
X
refers to having nothing big with which to identify — no war or other significant historical event.
Generation Y:
a somewhat unofficial name for people born in the ’80s. Some people of this generation say that
Y
is a sarcastic follow up to
X
of Generation X.
Y
can also stand for the question
why?