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old bird

British  

noun

  1. humorous a wary and astute person

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Scientists are now able to extract some genetic material from old bird specimens by scraping the pads of the toes.

From New York Times • Aug. 31, 2021

Why would you want a tough old bird?

From Time • Nov. 20, 2015

Mandell's Solomon, his hands aflutter as though dancing on the keys of an adding machine, traverses the stage like an old bird on twig-like legs that are about to snap.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 22, 2015

"It must be a fairly smart old bird to have survived all that," he said.

From BBC • Dec. 12, 2014

Young, old, bird, boy, girl, dog—companionship was comforting.

From "Frightful's Mountain" by Jean Craighead George