at a/the ripe old age
At an especially old age. Even at the ripe old age of 90, my grandmother still loves to go shopping. A: "I can't believe they plan to get married! Aren't they both at a ripe old age?" B: "Yep, they're 83 and 85." Wow, you've got some good genes if your parents both died at the ripe old age of 90!
be ripe for the picking
To be in an ideal position or at the perfect stage to be utilized, benefited or profited from, taken advantage of, exploited, etc. (Alludes to fruit being at the right stage to be harvested.) Assert our brand early and aggressively enough, and this new market will be ripe for the picking. I heard that massive company just dropped their current PR team—that contract is ripe for the picking! This land is ripe for the picking if we can get the locals to sign over the rights to it.
be ripe for the taking
To be in an ideal position or at the perfect stage to be obtained, utilized, exploited, profited from, etc. Assert our brand early and aggressively enough, and this new market will be ripe for the taking. I heard GlobalCorp just dropped their current PR team—that contract is ripe for the taking! This land is ripe for the taking if we can get the locals to sign over the rights to it.
cherry ripe
slang
1. A pipe. The term comes from rhyming slang in which "ripe" rhymes with "pipe." Primarily heard in UK. I can still see Grandpa sitting in his study, smoking a cherry ripe, just like the good ol' days. OK, you do realize that detectives today don't wear deerstalker hats and smoke cherry ripes, right? They're not Sherlock Holmes. He can't stop coughing, so I bet this is the first time he's smoked a cherry ripe in his life.
2. Nonsense; foolish talk. The term comes from rhyming slang in which "ripe" rhymes with "tripe." Primarily heard in UK. You can't believe a word Ian says—he's always spouting some cherry ripe. A: "You can take that cherry ripe for what it's worth." B: "Nothing?" A: "Pretty much." He's just a wacky old man on a street corner. Don't take a cherry ripe from him too seriously.
early ripe, early rotten
proverb A child prodigy will likely lose their abilities as they age. A: "But you played the piano so beautifully when you were younger." B: "I know. I guess it's true what they say—early ripe, early rotten." A: "She was a brilliant student in grade school. Did she ever go on to do anything?" B: "I have no idea. 'Early ripe, early rotten,' perhaps." "Early ripe, early rotten" hardly applies to every child prodigy. What about Mozart, hmm?
like a ripe plum
Easily; with very little resistance. After a few months of being cut off from supplies, the city will fall into our hands like a ripe plum.
live to a ripe old age
To live to an especially old age. You won't be living to a ripe old age if you keep eating all that junk food! My grandmother on my dad's side lived to the ripe old age of 108.
ripe for (something)
In the condition that most invites or calls for something to happen, or particularly ready or in need of something. In the absence of the dictator's authoritarian regime, the country is ripe for the rise of extremist groups. The industry claims that it has instituted safety standards, but in reality it is ripe for reform.
ripe for the taking
In an ideal position or at the perfect stage to be obtained, utilized, exploited, profited from, etc. Assert our brand early and aggressively enough, and this new market will be ripe for the taking. I heard GlobalCorp just dropped their current PR team—that contract is ripe for the taking! This land looks ripe for the taking. We just need to get the locals to sign over the rights to it.
ripe old age
A very old age. Even at the ripe old age of 90, my grandmother still loves to go shopping. All I want at the end of my life is to die at a ripe old age surrounded by my family.
the time is ripe
Now is the best moment or most favorable time to do something. With prices so low, the time is ripe to buy up real estate in the city. Public sentiment is on our side. The time is ripe for revolution!
to a/the ripe old age
To an especially old age. You won't live to a ripe old age if you keep eating all that junk food! My grandmother on my dad's side lived to the ripe old age of 108.
when the time is ripe
When the most opportune or favorable time to do something has arrived. Let's begin gathering the necessary resources and personnel so that when the time is ripe, we will be able to strike without delay. We actually had the product ready for launch several months ago, but we wanted to wait until the time was ripe.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
Early ripe, early rotten,
and Soon ripe, soon rotten.Prov. A child with extraordinary talent or intelligence will probably lose those qualities by the time he or she grows up. Jill: Philip was such a fine young boy; I'm surprised he's become such a good-for-nothing adult. Jane: Early ripe, early rotten. Jane: You must be very proud of your little boy. He seems so mature for his age. Ellen: I'm afraid it won't last. You know what they say: "Soon ripe, soon rotten."
ripe old age
a very old age. Mr. Smith died last night, but he lived to a ripe old age—99. All the Smiths seem to reach a ripe old age.
time is ripe
Prov. It is the most favorable time to do something. You ought to buy a house this year. Prices are so low, and you have enough money saved for a down payment. The time is ripe. Since Joe was in a good mood, I judged that the time was ripe to ask him for the favor I needed.
when the time is ripe
Fig. at exactly the right time. I'll tell her the good news when the time is ripe. When the time is ripe, I'll bring up the subject again.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.