separate the men from the boys
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Distinguish between mature, experienced individuals and novices, as in The picket line will separate the men from the boys in the union. The idiom is used without respect to gender. [c. 1930]
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Words nearby separate the men from the boys
separate, separate but equal, separately, separates, separate school, separate the men from the boys, separate the sheep from the goats, separate wheat from chaff, separating funnel, separation, separation anxiety
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
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