IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchVieux comme Hérode
Meaning: Extremely ancient.
Literally: Old as Herod
Example: “Cette blague sur les belles-mères est vieille comme Hérode.” — That mother-in-law joke is as old as the hills.
English equivalent: As old as the hills
Equivalents in other languages
English: as old as the hills
Origin: Herod the Great died in 4 BC, which supplies the antiquity. French has a small stock of these — vieux comme le monde, vieux comme Mathusalem — and Herod is the least flattering of them.
More French idioms
- Un coup de Jarnac An unexpected decisive stroke, delivered within the rules but not quite sportingly.
- Jeux de mains, jeux de vilains Horseplay ends badly.
- On ne peut être juge et partie Nobody may rule on a matter in which they have an interest.
- Un jugement de Salomon A ruling of great wisdom that exposes the truth by testing it.
- C'est kif-kif It makes no difference at all.
- Une fine lame A highly skilled practitioner.
Explore another collection: Proverbs
Short sayings of timeless wisdom from more than 50 cultures, each with its meaning and origin.
- On récolte ce que l'on sème Your actions bring consequences that match them.
- Charbonnier est maître chez soi Everyone, however humble, is in charge in their own home.
- Faute d'un point, Martin perdit son âne A tiny mistake can cost you dearly.
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