act one's age, not one's shoe size

verb

Synonym of act one's age (“to behave in a mature manner; to avoid being childish”).

“You should act your age, not your shoe size!”

Similar
act one's age
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Meanings

verbact one's age, not one's shoe size (third-person singular simple present acts one's age, not one's shoe size, present participle acting one's age, not one's shoe size, simple past and past participle acted one's age, not one's shoe size)

present singular third person acts one's age, not one's shoe size · participle present acting one's age, not one's shoe size · participle past acted one's age, not one's shoe size · past acted one's age, not one's shoe size

  1. idiomaticimperativeusuallySynonym of act one's age (“to behave in a mature manner; to avoid being childish”).

    You should act your age, not your shoe size!

    Synonyms: act one's age

Synonyms & antonyms

verbSynonym of act one's age (“to behave in a mature manner; to avoid being childish”).

Similar
act one's age

Origin

In reference to a person's shoe size (in the US or UK shoe size systems) usually being much lower than their age.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

act one's age, not one's shoe size. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/act%20one's%20age%2C%20not%20one's%20shoe%20size

MLA

“act one's age, not one's shoe size.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/act%20one's%20age%2C%20not%20one's%20shoe%20size. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “act one's age, not one's shoe size,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/act%20one's%20age%2C%20not%20one's%20shoe%20size.

Source: act one's age, not one's shoe size on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.