Phrase guide

old hand

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A person who is experienced at a certain activity.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • Near-synonyms: insider, initiate; habitué
  • My tax advisor is an old hand at dealing with auditors.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: veteran, warhorse, insider, initiate, habitué

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: person

2

noun

Meaning 2

an experienced person who has been through many battles; someone who has given long service

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: veteran, old-timer, oldtimer, warhorse, old stager, stager

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: expert

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

20 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Czech: mazák — experienced person at certain activity
  • Czech: starý kozák — experienced person at certain activity
  • Dutch: oude rot — experienced person at certain activity
  • Finnish: vanha tekijä — experienced person at certain activity
  • Finnish: konkari — experienced person at certain activity
  • German: alter Hase — experienced person at certain activity
  • German: Routinier — experienced person at certain activity
  • Italian: veterano — experienced person at certain activity
  • Italian: esperto — experienced person at certain activity
  • Latin: veterātor — experienced person at certain activity
  • Polish: wyjadacz — experienced person at certain activity
  • Polish: wyjadaczka — experienced person at certain activity
  • Polish: wyga — experienced person at certain activity
  • Polish: stary wróbel — experienced person at certain activity
  • Romanian: veteran — experienced person at certain activity
  • Serbo-Croatian: stari zec — experienced person at certain activity
  • Serbo-Croatian: stari lisac — experienced person at certain activity
  • Spanish: perro viejo — experienced person at certain activity
  • Spanish: veterano — experienced person at certain activity
  • Swedish: gammal räv — experienced person at certain activity