mutton dressed up as lamb
Inappropriately youthful appearance
An older person, typically a woman, dressed or made up to appear much younger than she is.
The phrase is usually disparaging, suggesting the attempt is unconvincing or inappropriate: At sixty in that miniskirt, she's mutton dressed as lamb.
The image contrasts tough older sheep meat with tender young lamb—the packaging can't hide what's underneath.
- lamb chopsSmall cuts from young sheep
- anachronisticWrongly placed in time
- façadeFalse outward appearance
- overdressedAttired too elaborately
- appearanceOutward visible form
false advertising · ageism · age appropriate · outdated · persona · desperation · try-hard · middle-aged · stereotype · wrinkles · deception · beauty standards · old soul · young at heart · euphemism · tongue-in-cheek · sarcasm · wit
mutton dressed up as lambaging gracefully
Accepting life's later stages gracefully
age-appropriate · acting one's age · distinguished · silver fox · dignified
mutton dressed up as lambauthentic
Verified as original
genuine · unpretentious · true to oneself · comfortable in one's skin · what you see is what you get
mutton, dressed, dressing, dresses, dresser, undressed, redress