the old soldier
1
7.2
- idiom
:
el viejo soldado
- With his extensive experience, the old soldier was frequently consulted for advice on strategic decisions.
- the old soldier
Examples
-
The two old soldiers look frail in the falling rain.
Fiction book (2002) -
Durrance, I've become like one of those old soldiers we used to laugh at.
Fiction book (2002) -
Wren stayed out of the old soldier's way, content to have him busily engaged in something besides questioning her.
Fiction book (1993) -
Wren stayed out of the old soldier's way, content to have him busily engaged in something besides questioning her.
Fiction book (1993) -
And that the priest, or the Rex as the priest was called, was an old soldier, Lucius, a Roman centurion who worshipped Lord Apollo.
Fiction book (2002) -
"They were both old soldiers, so they didn't show their emotions too much when they put Dall's corpse into the necro chamber and readied the ship for takeoff.
Fiction book (1993) -
The old soldier shared his stories of bravery and cunning, teaching younger recruits valuable lessons.
-
After years of service, the old soldier knew how to navigate the complexities of military life with ease.
Synonyms
153
4.1
Having long experience and skill in a job or activity
4
7.0
A person with many years of experience in a job or field
1
6.9
An experienced reliable person who has worked in a job for a long time
1
3.7
An older person respected for their knowledge and good sense
1
3.7
A person with a lot of experience in a job or activity
1
5.1
A person who has done a job or activity for many years and knows it well
A person who has a lot of experience in a job or activity
Antonyms
How Experienced
1
7.2
184
3.8
1
3.7
138
2.1
120
4.0
46
3.4
Surface Forms
Morphology
The core meaning 'an experienced person' is directly derived from combining 'old' (experienced) with 'soldier' (a military person), so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer 'veteran' or 'experienced soldier'. The additional nuance about using experience or cunning for advantage is a pragmatic extension but does not prevent the basic meaning being transparently understood.
Etymology
The old soldier may come from the image of a soldier who has been in many battles and is now old, so he knows all the tricks and how to survive. That's why calling someone the old soldier means they are 'experienced' and may use their experience 'to gain advantage' in a situation.