That old car is getting a bit long in the tooth.
long in the tooth
idiomOld; aged.
Origin
disputed originPossibly from the practice of examining the length of horses’ teeth when estimating their ages: an old horse has long, rectangular incisors, and their occlusion angle is steep. Compare don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
My computer is getting long in the tooth, so it takes forever to open simple files.
Although the actor is becoming long in the tooth, he still delivers a powerful performance that captivates the entire audience.
- 01
a little of something goes a long way
Only a small amount of something is usually required to produce a great effect.
- 02
a week is a long time in politics
In politics, much change can occur in a short space of time.
- 03
an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth
compensation for injury caused by a person, in the form of inflicting of an identical injury on that person.
- 04
as the day is long
Unceasingly; very; thoroughly; to a very high degree.
- 05
clean as a hound's tooth
Very clean.
- 06
come a long way
To make significant progress.
- 07
draw a long bow
To lie; to exaggerate.
- 08
draw the long bow
To exaggerate; to tell tall tales.