old hand
Americannoun
noun
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a person who is skilled at something through long experience
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informal (in the 19th century) an ex-convict
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informal a person who is long established in a place
Etymology
Origin of old hand
First recorded in 1775–85
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.
Its episodic encores are currently airing on Fox as a lead-in to “The Faithful,” whose showrunner, René Echevarria, is an old hand at both network and cable, and whose work includes “The 4400.”
From Salon ● Mar. 29, 2026
Rashford, also bidding to earn a World Cup slot with England while on loan from Manchester United, will be experiencing an El Clasico for the first time, but Bellingham is an old hand.
From BBC ● Oct. 25, 2025
But Kimmel is by now an old hand at a highly specialized gig.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 4, 2024
“Those are butterflies,” says cousin Manuel Cavanaugh -- an old hand at mutton bustin’ at age 10.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2009
“I feel positively like an old hand at this,” Theodora said to Eleanor.
From "The Haunting of Hill House" by Shirley Jackson
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
