That joke is as old as the hills.
old as the hills
idiomExtremely old.
Origin
disputed originPossibly a reference to Job 15:7 in the Bible (King James Version; spelling modernized): “Art thou the first man that was born? Or wast thou made before the hills?”
My grandmother lives in a house that is as old as the hills, but she loves it.
The traditions practiced by the villagers are as old as the hills, having been passed down through countless generations.
- 01
any old nook or cranny
Alternative form of any nook or cranny.
- 02
bad old days
The past, seen as a time when things were worse.
- 03
big old
Emphatically or impressively big; really big.
- 04
chip off the old block
Someone who takes after one of their parents; (generally) a person similar to another.
- 05
come the old soldier
Often followed by with: to deceive, impose upon, or take advantage of someone, as if exploiting one's superior age or experience.
- 06
every old nook and cranny
Alternative form of every nook and cranny.
- 07
give someone the old heave-ho
Alternative form of give someone the heave-ho.
- 08
gold in them thar hills
An opportunity for something to be profitable and/or beneficial.
Last updated April 17, 2026