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MUSCOVITE Posted 14 years ago
Vocabulary

to be past it

Hi,

According to my Longman, this expression means:

too old to be able to do what you used to do, or too old to be useful

( Ex: People seem to think that just because I'm retired, I'm past it.)

Besides, the dictionary warns this phrase is only used in (spoken) British English.

How to convey the same idea in AmEng, then?

Thank you!

mus-te
  

Top answer

Perhaps "past my prime"?

— Vorpar

  • Perhaps "past my prime"?
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5 Answers
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Perhaps "past my prime"?
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Hi guys

Would you accept this sentence?

People (seem to) think that that I'm a write-off just because I'm retired.

I know that "a write-off" is usually said of people who have lost their job and now it's difficult for them to land a new one. (even though they may not be too old)
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IvanhrI know that "a write-off" is usually said of people who have lost their job and now it's difficult for them to land a new job. (even though they may not be too old)
Calling someone a write-off means they are hopeless. Maybe "useless" is better.
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Many thanks to everybody for their input!
All the three versions ("...past my prime" - to be a write-off" - "... over the hill") look great to me ... and are worth memorizing of course
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