silver fox

American  

[sil-ver foks] / ˈsɪl vər ˈfɒks /

noun

1. a red fox in the color phase in which the fur is black with silver-gray ends on the longer hairs.

2. an attractive older person with gray or silver hair, especially a man.

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silver fox British  

noun

1. an American red fox in a colour phase in which the fur is black with long silver-tipped hairs

2. the valuable fur or pelt of this animal

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Usage

What else does silver fox mean? A silver fox is a slang term for an older man, generally with gray or graying hair, who is considered attractive, charming, and classy.How is term pronounced?[ sil-ver foks ]

Etymology

Origin of silver fox

First recorded in 1760–70

Example Sentences

Clooney, long celebrated as the quintessential "silver fox," exudes the same effortless charm he’s maintained for decades in the film.

From BBC

The world is full of Black, brown and Asian silver foxes who are north of 70.

From Salon

Belyayev found that after multiple generations of controlled breeding silver foxes on Prince Edward Island, the animals began to develop traits associated with domesticity: Docility, floppy ears, spotted coats and curled tails.

From Salon

A new study in mice, but with implications for people and published Wednesday in the journal Nature, provides a clearer picture of the cellular glitches that turn us into silver foxes and vixens.

From New York Times

Also known as silver foxes, they are not native to the wild in the UK, but domesticated and kept as exotic pets.

From BBC