As old as the hills
Posted by Smokey Stover on May 25, 2005
In Reply to: As old as the hills posted by Brian from Shawnee on May 24, 2005
: : Can we use 'as old as the hills' for a person? Or is it only for things?
: Sure, you can use it for a person. But be sure you are familiar with the sense of humor of the person you're using it on, especially if that person is female.
OED: "c. (as) old as the hills [perh. in allusion to Job 15:7 'Art thou the first man that was born? or wast thou made before the hills?'], exceedingly or immeasurably old.
[1st citation of several:] 1819 Metropolis I. iii. 58, I thought he was going to make a die of it! Why he's as old as the Hills. "
Actually, the phrase is most often used of a third person. I've rarely heard it used of a thing. In my high school there was a boy named Hill, who would never let you forget that he was as old as the Hills. SS