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Más viejo que Matusalén

/MAHS VYAY-hoh keh mah-too-sah-LEN/

To be extremely old, ancient, or outdated.

Level:B1Register:InformalCommon:★★★★☆

💡 Understanding the Idiom

Literal Translation:
"Older than Methuselah"
What It Really Means:
To be extremely old, ancient, or outdated.
English Equivalents:
As old as the hillsOlder than dirtFrom the year dotGoes back to the Stone Age

🎨 Literal vs. Figurative

💭 Literal
A literal depiction showing a modern person standing next to the biblical figure Methuselah, who looks ancient with a very long white beard.

Literally, this means 'older than Methuselah', a biblical figure who lived to be 969.

✨ Figurative
The figurative meaning, showing a person pointing to a very old, dusty, antique telephone in a modern room.

It's used to describe something or someone as being extremely old or outdated.

Key Words in This Idiom:

viejo
viejo
old
→
Matusalén

📝 In Action

Este ordenador es más viejo que Matusalén, ¡necesito uno nuevo!

B1

This computer is as old as the hills, I need a new one!

Esa idea es más vieja que Matusalén, ya nadie piensa así.

B2

That idea is older than dirt, nobody thinks like that anymore.

Mi abuelo bromea diciendo que su radio es más vieja que Matusalén.

B1

My grandfather jokes that his radio is older than Methuselah.

📜 Origin Story

This expression comes directly from the Bible. In the Book of Genesis, Matusalén (Methuselah in English) is the man with the longest lifespan mentioned, living to be 969 years old. Because of his legendary age, his name became the ultimate symbol for anything ancient. So, if something is 'older than Methuselah,' it's incredibly old.

⭐ Usage Tips

For People, Things, and Ideas

You can use this for anything you consider ancient: a person (usually humorously), a clunky old phone, a car that barely runs, or even an outdated idea. It's a versatile way to exaggerate age.

A Friendly Exaggeration

This phrase is a hyperbole, which is a fancy word for an exaggeration that's not meant to be taken literally. It adds color and humor to your language. No one actually thinks the object is over 969 years old!

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using it in Formal Settings

Mistake: "Using this expression in a formal essay or a serious business meeting."

Correction: This is a colloquial, informal phrase. While not slang, it's best saved for conversations with friends, family, or in casual situations. In formal writing, you would say 'muy antiguo' (very old) instead.

🌎 Where It's Used

🇪🇸

Spain

Extremely common and universally understood.

🌎

Latin America

Very common and widely understood across the entire continent. It's a standard part of the Spanish language due to the shared cultural-religious background.

🔗 Related Idioms

↔️Similar Meanings

ser del año de la pera

To be from the year of the pear (to be very old).

ser más viejo que el hilo negro

To be older than black thread (to be ancient).

⇆Opposite Meanings

ser de última generación

To be state-of-the-art / from the latest generation.

estar en pañales

To be in diapers (to be in its very early stages).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: Más viejo que Matusalén

Question 1 of 1

If you say your first car was 'más viejo que Matusalén', what do you mean?

🏷️ Tags

Time & AgeReligionCommonly Used

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it offensive to call a person 'más viejo que Matusalén'?

It really depends on your relationship and tone. If you say it jokingly to a friend or family member, it's usually fine. However, saying it to a stranger or an elderly person you don't know well could be considered rude. It's generally safer and more common to use it for objects or abstract ideas.