Beauty before age

Posted by Bob on September 21, 2005

In Reply to: Beauty before age posted by David FG on September 21, 2005

: : What does the phrase, "beauty before age" mean?

: It is a variation on a phrase used when two people simultaneously try to do something (pass through a doorway for example) and one defers to the other saying 'beauty before age' (ie, that you are better looking and younger than I, therefore you should go first.)

: I am more familiar with the less polite version, 'age before beauty'.

: DFG

Of course, there was the famous encounter with Claire Booth Luce and Dorothy Parker. Both approached a doorway, and Luce stepped back to defer to Parker, saying "Age before beauty." Parker without hesitation sailed through the doorway saying "Pearls before swine."