# old school

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/old-school
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Preceded by the: a group of people characterized by being conservative or traditional; also, a method for accomplishing a task, a style, or a way of thinking that was employed in a former era, remembered either for its inferiority to the current method, or for its superiority over the new way.

## Examples

- My grandfather is very old school about his manners.
- He prefers using a paper map instead of a phone, which is a bit old school.
- While the rest of the industry embraced digital automation, the firm remained proudly old school, insisting that every contract be signed by hand.

## Origin

The term is likely a shortening of *old school of thinking* or *old school of thought*. In this context, *school* derives from the sense of a body of followers adhering to a particular doctrine or way of thinking, rather than a physical institution for children. The adjective emerged as an attributive use of this noun phrase. While the exact date of the idiom's first use is not recorded, it functions as a compound of *old* and *school*. The transition from a literal description of one's education to a metaphorical description of one's philosophy remains the prevailing explanation for the term's development. (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.