World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesAge-before-beauty
/eɪdʒ bɪˈfɔːr ˈbjuː.ti/Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
1 sense- 1
A humorous or polite formula used to invite an older person to go first, acknowledging their seniority over youth or appearance.
"As they reached the narrow doorway, he stepped back, smiled, and said, 'Age before beauty,' gesturing for her to enter."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Originating in late 19th-century British slang, this humorous idiom emerged as a playful, slightly ironic polite formula. It reflects traditional social hierarchies prioritizing seniority over physical appearance or youth when granting precedence, such as entering a doorway or being served first.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Age-before-beauty"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "Age-before-beauty" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
aux anciens les honneurs
Transliteration: oh zɑ̃.sjɛ̃ le.z‿o.nœʁ
"Après vous, aux anciens les honneurs."
das Alter geht vor
Transliteration: das ˈaltɐ ɡeːt foːɐ̯
Script: Das Alter geht vor.
"Gehen Sie nur rein, das Alter geht vor."
prima i più anziani
Transliteration: ˈpriːma i pju anˈtsjaːni
"Prego, entri pure, prima i più anziani."
los mayores primero
Transliteration: los maˈʝoɾes pɾiˈmeɾo
"Pase usted, los mayores primero."
os mais velhos primeiro
Transliteration: uz majʃ ˈveʎuʃ pɾiˈmejɾu
"Entre primeiro, os mais velhos primeiro."
बड़ों को प्राथमिकता
Transliteration: baṛoṁ ko prāthamikatā
"दरवाजे से पहले आप निकलें, बड़ों को प्राथमिकता।"
尊老爱幼
Transliteration: zūn lǎo ài yòu
"您先请，尊老爱幼嘛。"
연장자 우선
Transliteration: yeonjangja useon
"먼저 들어가세요, 연장자 우선입니다."
長幼の序
Transliteration: chōyō no jo
"どうぞお先に、長幼の序ですから。"
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