Meaning of “Age Before Beauty”
This phrase “age before beauty” means that old people should be served first, and the beautiful and young should be served or assisted later. However, it is mostly used by old people in a funny way to flatter the young people.
Origin of “Age Before Beauty”
Like a few other phrases, the origin of this phrase is also indefinite. It is believed that the phrase might have emerged during the Victorian period when a newspaper, the Decatur Republican, had used it. Later, this phrase is known as a conversation between an American writer and politician, Dorothy Parker and diplomat, Clare Booth Brokow. While Clare said, ‘Age before beauty,’ Parker retorted immediately, “Pearls before swine.” Robert Hendrickson has mentioned the same anecdote in his book, God Bless America: The Origins of Over 1,500 Patriotic Words and Phrases.
Examples in Literature
Example #1
Age Before Beauty by Aldo Kraas
Age before beauty my friend
But I don’t know what age has to do with friendship?
This short poem by Aldo Krass explains the meanings of this phrase. The poet has asked a question in the second line, which is an answer in itself though highly ironic. It is because age and beauty don’t always matter when it comes to friendship.
Example #2
Age Before Beauty by The Ides Of March
Back in ‘67 we had barely begun,
We thought we were the Beatles,
So we followed the sun,
Youth wasn’t wasted on the young,
As the years went by,
It was a matter of will,
A little bit older, still chasin’ the thrill,
Still burnin’ rubber flyin’ over that hill.And it’s age before beauty,
Strength over time,
Down in a blaze of glory,
The fountain of youth is a state of mind,
So move over cutie,
It’s age before beauty,
Forget about the fashion,
Let them pass you by,
They come around full circle,
In a blink of an eye,
Flower power, bell bottoms, ticket to ride.And it’s age before beauty,
Strength over time,
Down in a blaze of glory,
The fountain of youth is a state of mind,
So move over cutie,
It’s age before beauty,
Forget about the fashion,
Let them pass you by,
They come around full circle,
In a blink of an eye,
Flower power, bell bottoms, ticket to ride.Clear as day, I can still remember,
They turned it up and called it rock and roll,
Three chords strong and a rebel spirit,
Baby we’re still learning,
We’ll keep that fire burning,
Baby there ain’t nothing new under the sun.And it’s age before beauty,
Strength over time,
Down in a blaze of glory,
The fountain of youth is a state of mind,
So move over cutie,
It’s age before beauty,
Forget about the fashion,
Let them pass you by,
They come around full circle,
In a blink of an eye,
Flower power, bell bottoms, ticket to ride.
This song has been performed by an American rock band, The Ides of March. The band has compared two different eras in terms of the situation of the young and the old and then again about love and social relations. The use of the phrase “age before beauty” demonstrates different meanings. During the 60s, it was used in different senses, as it says, “And it’s age before beauty / Strength over time.” However, in other stanzas, it refers to beauty as fashion and sometimes as a young person. It shows how meanings are relevant to eras in which the phrases are used.
Example #3
Age Before Beauty by Virginia Smith
This novel by Virginia Smith is the second in the sequel of the Sister-to-Sister series. It is the story about family, fun, and religion. Allie Harrod has to face various difficulties to keep her job, household, and family secure. Although her sister advises her to become religious to solve her problems, she does not pay attention to her. The use of the phrase in the title shows that the book demonstrates the same lighthearted meanings of the words in the storyline.
Example #4
Atonement or Fallen and Rise by Rudolph Leonhart
“On the principal, “Age before beauty,” let us begin with the elder lady. By this, we do not mean that she is void of beauty. On the contrary, considering her age, which we judge to be about thirty-five, she is uncommonly beautiful. She is tall and fair proportions, although her form is a little angular to pass for perfect.”
Written by a German-American author in 1852, this novel sheds light on the migration of the white people and the indigenous Sioux nation. This short paragraph occurs at the beginning of the novel where it shows the use of this phrase and also explains it concerning the beauty of the lady the first-person narrator comes across.
Examples in Sentences as Literary Devices
Example #1: “Although it is a general rule to allow age before beauty, here it is beauty before age in the actual sense.” The phrase uses a literary device, chiasmus. It has been reversed to ‘beauty before age’ to create a comic effect.
Example #2: “A woman in her 40s walked into the coffee shop, she saw a teenage girl chatting on the phone instead of placing an order. The woman asked the girl to move and added ‘Age before beauty, my girl.’
Example #3: The school announced that the guests would perform first tonight and then the participants. The principal mentioned it is ‘age before beauty’ and they re-wrote the agenda.
Example #4: Gene looked at his uncle, tending his sore hands. “I am going to win the next game.” Gene laughed “It’s an age before beauty’ thing, Uncle! You should sit back.” He teased him and ran away.
Example #5: While waiting for the check at a restaurant, Lilly called the manager and said ‘I am waiting for the check since 15 mins, you have to put ‘age before beauty,’ or else I’ll die waiting’. The manager broke into laughter and offered her a discount.