young (redirected from youngness)

*young at heart

having a youthful spirit no matter what one's age. (*Typically: act ~; be ~; keep someone ~; stay ~.) I am over 70 but I still feel young at heart.

See also: heart

(The) good die young.

Prov. Good people tend to die at an early age. Marshall's twenty-year-old son died in a car crash; it did not comfort Marshall to think that the good die young. Jill: It doesn't seem fair that Laurie is dead. She was such a wonderful person. Jane: They always say that the good die young.

See also: die, good

Better be an old man's darling than a young man's slave.

Prov. A young woman should prefer to marry an old man who dotes on her rather than a young man who may treat her badly. When Mr. Nash proposed to me, I thought he was too old, but my mother advised me, "Better be an old man's darling than a young man's slave." When Marion's friends objected that her fiance was much too old for her, she said, "Better be an old man's darling than a young man's slave."

See also: better, old, slave

not as young as one used to be

Fig. getting old. Aunt Lila isn't as young as she used to be. She can't take a lot of trips anymore. Don't walk so fast! I'm not as young as I used to be. It takes me awhile to catch up.

See also: one, used

Whom the gods love die young.

Prov. Virtuous or gifted people die at an early age, because the gods want those people to be with them in the afterlife. So many brilliant authors and artists died before the age of fifty that it's easy to believe that whom the gods love die young.

See also: die, god, love, whom

Young men may die, but old men must die.

Prov. Young people may be killed by accidents or disease, but old people cannot avoid dying for very long, simply because they are old. When Grandfather was so sick, he told us, "Don't feel too bad if I pass on; it's my time. Young men may die, old men must die." I'm afraid old Mr. Ferris won't live much longer. Young men may die, but old men must die.

See also: but, die, may, men, must, old

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an old head on young shoulders  also a wise head on young shoulders

a child or young person who thinks and talks like an older person who has more experience of life My little nephew said people who dislike other people don't like themselves very much. That's an old head on young shoulders.

See also: head, old, shoulder

young blood

young people in an organization who will provide new ideas and energy These companies are suffering from a lack of young blood.

See also: blood