of a certain age

English

Etymology

Perhaps a calque of French d’un certain âge.[1]

Prepositional phrase

of a certain age

  1. (euphemistic, chiefly of a person) Middle-aged or older.
    Synonyms: geriatric, long in the tooth, on in years; see also Thesaurus:elderly
    a lady of a certain age
    • 1989, Graham Lyle, Albert Hammond (lyrics and music), “I Don't Wanna Lose You”, in Foreign Affair, performed by Tina Turner:
      Women of a certain age / They learn to rely and your job is responses / Having played the mating game

Usage notes

The implied age range is not fixed and has varied over time, partly due to lengthening of the life span.[2]

References
  1. John Ayto, editor (2009), The Oxford Dictionary of English Idioms, →ISBN
  2. William Safire (1995 July 2) “A Woman of a Certain Age”, in The New York Times‎, →ISSN
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