# old as the hills

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/old-as-the-hills
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Extremely old.

## Examples

- That joke is as old as 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.

## Origin

Possibly a reference to the Bible, specifically the King James Version of Job 15:7, which enquires: “Art thou the first man that was born? Or wast thou made before the hills?” The phrase suggests a degree of antiquity that predates human memory, though the attribution remains a matter of probability rather than settled record. (disputed)

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.