come the old soldier | Meaning of come the old soldier in English with examples - infoAnew" /> come the old soldier" /> come the old soldier" /> come the old soldier definition" /> come the old soldier in a sentence" />

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come the old soldier definition

Overview

Define the meaning of the English word come the old soldier below. Come the old soldier is a verb. Examples of how to use come the old soldier in a sentence are shown. Also define these 0 related words and terms: .

English

Etymology

From come (to behave in the manner of; to pretend to be) + the + old soldier (former soldier, or one who has served for a long time; one with a lot of experience in something),[1] in the sense of one taking advantage of their age or experience over someone else.[2]

Pronunciation

Verb

come the old soldier (third-person singular simple present comes the old soldier, present participle coming the old soldier, simple past came the old soldier, past participle come the old soldier)

  1. (intransitive, idiomatic, informal) Often followed by with: to deceive, impose upon, or take advantage of someone, as if exploiting one's superior age or experience.
    Synonyms: act the old soldier, play the old soldier
    Don’t come the old soldier with me, sunshine! Do you think I was born yesterday?

Translations

References

  1. ^ to come (also act, play, etc.) the old soldier (over a person)” under “old soldier, n.”, in OED Online , Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, June 2022.
  2. ^ Charles James (1816), “SOLDIER”, in An Universal Military Dictionary in English and French: [], 4th edition, London: [] [C. Roworth] for T[homas] Egerton, [], →OCLC, page 838, column 1: “Old Soldier, a familiar phrase used in the British army to signify a shrewd and intelligent person. It sometimes means an individual who will not scruple to take advantage of the credulity or inexperience of others. Hence to come the old soldier over you.”