long in the tooth

Idioms  

1. Getting on in years, old, as in Aunt Aggie's a little long in the tooth to be helping us move. This expression alludes to a horse's gums receding with age and making the teeth appear longer. [Mid-1800s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

long in the tooth

Some investors are worried that this AI-powered bull market might be getting a little long in the tooth as it approaches its fourth birthday.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026

Plenty of analysts have pointed out that this bull market is getting long in the tooth.

From Barron's ● Jan. 16, 2026

“The metal’s been overextended and long in the tooth for weeks, so some profit-taking or even a shakeout like this can help to clear out the tourists before a potential next leg higher,” said Koos.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 21, 2025

Let’s just say there’s a lot of Murphy programming on television these days, and the majority of the series are long-winded, long-running or just plain long in the tooth.

From Salon ● Dec. 16, 2024

“Well, well, we all get long in the tooth in time,” said Major Flint charitably.

From Miss Mapp by E. F. (Edward Frederic) Benson

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