Long in the Tooth – Meaning, Origin & Usage

Sometimes you might overhear someone say something along the lines of “I’m a little too long in the tooth for that”. The phrase is an idiom, and as such the meaning cannot be deduced from the individual words alone.

In this article, we’re going to unpack what is meant by the phrase, explain it’s equine origins, and explain through example how the phrase continues to be used today. We will then finish by listing several similar alternative phrases that you can use in its place if preferred.

And without further ado, let’s get straight to it.

What does the phrase “long in the tooth” mean?

If a person, an animal or a group of people or animals are being described as being “long on the tooth” they are simply being described as old, or too old. The idiom is a metaphor for age.

Origins of the phrase “long in the tooth”

Interestingly, the phrase “long in the tooth” has nothing to do with human teeth, but has a more equine origin. As horses age, their gums begin to recede through their constant grinding of their food, making their teeth appear a lot longer over the years. They can even start to lose bone around their teeth. For this reason, people would often judge the age of a horse by how long their teeth appeared, and that’s how the phrase “long ion the tooth” came to refer to old age.

The phrase “long in the tooth” has appeared in one form or another in Latin in the 1500’s, making it a very old saying. However, the earliest known citation in English didn’t come until 1852, in the works of William Makepeace Thackeray, where it was used metaphorically to describe an ageing woman.

How to use the phrase in everyday language

Here are some example sentences of the phrase in use:

• This software is long in the tooth, surely we’re due an upgrade.
• She’s getting too long in the tooth for this sport, it shows.
• No, no, I’m too long in the tooth for that sort of thing. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
• No, he’s not too long in the tooth. If anything his years of experience make him even more valuable.

Comparing similar sayings to “long in the tooth”

If you’re communicating with someone who may not necessarily be familiar with English idioms, there are several alternative phrases you can consider using in its place:

• Past one’s prime
• No longer young
• Outdated
• Obsolete
• Too old
• Over the hill
• No spring chicken
• Lot of mileage
• Getting on
• Getting up in years
• Long-established
• Time-worn
• Ancient
• Elderly

Final word

So, to summarise, the phrase “long in the tooth” is simply an idiom that’s used to humorously describe something or someone as being old, or too old for something. The phrase originates from people deducing a horse’s age by the length of their teeth due to their gums receding over time.