Mutton dressed as lamb
Meaning
An older person, especially a woman, who dresses or behaves in a way that attempts to appear much younger than they are, often to a noticeable and unflattering effect.
Origin
The phrase paints a vivid picture by contrasting the tough, mature meat of mutton with the tender, youthful meat of lamb. Appearing in the early 20th century, this idiom cleverly critiques an older person, typically a woman, who attempts to disguise their age through fashion choices more suited to a much younger individual. The stark, unflattering comparison highlights the perceived absurdity and often the unfortunate lack of grace in such an endeavor, implying a desperate, ill-fitting attempt to recapture lost youth, much like trying to pass off an older cut of meat as something fresh and young.
Examples
- Her grandmother, at the age of seventy, insisted on wearing sequined mini-skirts, truly looking like mutton dressed as lamb.
- The celebrity's attempt to rock teenage fashion trends at his fiftieth birthday party was widely described as a classic case of mutton dressed as lamb.