old fogey
An old and overly conservative person.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Don't be such an old fogey about the new music.”
“My grandfather is a bit of an old fogey who refuses to use a smartphone.”
“Despite his relative youth, he acted like an old fogey, constantly complaining that modern technology had ruined the art of conversation.”
first recorded 19th c.
Recorded in 1811, the term served as a nickname for an invalid or wounded soldier. The origin is linked to the French *fougueux*, meaning fierce or fiery, suggesting a temperament that survived the body's utility. Alternatively, the term invites comparison with the noun *fogey*.
- 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
green old age
A person's elderly years that are active or full of vitality.
Last updated August 10, 2026