más viejo que Matusalén
Lemma Details
Translation: as old as Methuselah; older than dirt; ancient; extremely old
Part of Speech: idiom
Etymology: This Spanish idiom refers to the biblical figure Methuselah (Matusalén in Spanish), who according to the Bible lived to be 969 years old, making him the longest-lived person mentioned in the text. The expression literally means 'older than Methuselah' and is used to describe something or someone extremely old. The English equivalent 'as old as Methuselah' draws from the same biblical reference.
Commonality: 60%
Guessability: 70%
Register: informal
Example Usage
Ese chiste es más viejo que Matusalén.
That joke is as old as Methuselah.
Mi abuelo tiene una radio más vieja que Matusalén que todavía funciona.
My grandfather has a radio as old as Methuselah that still works.
No me vengas con esa excusa, es más vieja que Matusalén.
Don't give me that excuse, it's older than dirt.
Mnemonics
- Remember Methuselah was the oldest person in the Bible, living 969 years.
- Think of 'Matusalén' as 'Ma-TOO-sa-LEN' - 'too' old for 'length' of time.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
This expression is commonly used in Spanish-speaking countries when referring to something extremely old or outdated. It's part of a series of hyperbolic expressions that use biblical or historical references to emphasize age. The expression is understood across all Spanish-speaking cultures due to the shared Judeo-Christian heritage.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: Both idioms express extreme age, but 'más viejo que Matusalén' references the biblical figure while 'más viejo que el andar a pie' (older than walking on foot) references a basic human activity.
Confused word:
Esa tradición es más vieja que el andar a pie.
That tradition is older than walking on foot.
Notes: Both expressions are hyperbolic and used in similar contexts, but 'más viejo que Matusalén' might be more widely recognized internationally due to the biblical reference.
Mnemonic: Matusalén is a person (biblical), while 'andar a pie' is an action (walking).