English Idioms
Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms
Yesterday’s man
Meaning
The idiom "yesterday’s man" is used to describe someone who is out of touch with modern times, someone who clings to old ways of thinking or behaving. It can also refer to someone who is no longer relevant or useful in the current context.
Usage
- The company hired a new CEO because the old one was yesterday's man and couldn't keep up with the changing market trends.
- My grandma always talks about how things were better in the past, but she's just yesterday's man when it comes to technology.
- The politician who opposed the new legislation was yesterday's man and didn't understand the needs of the modern world.
- I don't want to date someone who is stuck in the past and doesn't appreciate the current cultural trends, they're just yesterday's man.
- The scientist who failed to publish any recent research was yesterday's man and didn't keep up with the latest developments in his field.
Roots and History
The idiom "yesterday's man" dates back to the early 20th century, and its roots can be traced back to the British labor movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The term was used to describe workers who were resistant to change and unwilling to learn new skills or adapt to new working conditions. Over time, the idiom has come to be used more broadly to refer to anyone who is out of touch with modern times or clings to old ways of thinking or behaving.
Synonyms in English
- Out of touch
- Stuck in the past
- Clinging to old ways
- Luddite
- Unwilling to adapt
Synonyms in other languages
- In French, the idiom is "le temps perdu" which translates to "lost time." It refers to someone who spends too much time reminiscing about the past instead of living in the present.
- In German, the idiom is "der alter Mann im grünen Mantel" which translates to "the old man in the green coat." It refers to someone who wears outdated clothing and behaves in a similar manner.
- In Spanish, the idiom is "el hombre de la luna" which translates to "the man of the moon." It refers to someone who is out of touch with reality and lives in a fantasy world.
- In Italian, the idiom is "l'uomo della storia" which translates to "the man of history." It refers to someone who clings to old ways of thinking or behaving and is unable to adapt to modern times.
- In Chinese, the idiom is "老老说老话" which translates to "old men telling old stories." It refers to someone who is out of touch with modern times and spends too much time reminiscing about the past instead of living in the present.