old hand

IPA/ˌəʊld ˈhænd/
IPA/ˌəʊld ˈhænd/

old hand — noun

1. a person who has done a particular job or activity for many years and is very sk

1.名詞B2
釋義

a person who has done a particular job or activity for many years and is very skilled at it

例句

After fifteen years in the legal team, Linh is an old hand at handling contracts.

an old hand at + gerund phrase

You need an old hand to guide the new staff through their first field assignment.

同義詞
  • veteran

    more formal; often used in military, political, or professional contexts

  • old-timer

    more informal and folksy; emphasises long presence rather than proven skill

  • expert

    broader term focusing on deep knowledge, not necessarily hands-on experience

反義詞
  • novice

    someone completely new to an activity, with no experience at all

  • beginner

    someone just starting to learn; the opposite end of the experience scale

文法句型

an old hand at + noun/gerund

an old hand with + noun

用法筆記

Usually followed by 'at' + activity (what the person is good at) or 'with' + tool or system. The phrase suggests not just experience but reliable skill built up over a long time.

常見錯誤

❌He is an old hand of cooking.
✅He is an old hand at cooking.
💡Use 'at' for activities, not 'of'.
❌She is old hand with computers.
✅She is an old hand with computers.
💡The article 'an' is always needed before 'old hand'.