golden oldie: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal, conversational. Common in journalism and popular culture.
Quick answer
What does “golden oldie” mean?
A thing from the past, especially a piece of music, film, or performer, that is still popular and widely known.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A thing from the past, especially a piece of music, film, or performer, that is still popular and widely known.
A person, idea, or object from an earlier era that remains appreciated, often evoking nostalgia.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slightly more common in UK usage, but widely understood in both. In the US, "oldie but goodie" is a common variant.
Connotations
Generally affectionate and nostalgic in both variants.
Frequency
High frequency in entertainment/culture contexts; medium in general use.
Grammar
How to Use “golden oldie” in a Sentence
play a golden oldiebe a real golden oldielisten to golden oldiesfull of golden oldiesVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “golden oldie” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The DJ has a fantastic golden-oldie collection.
American English
- It's a golden-oldie radio station, playing hits from the 70s and 80s.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in marketing to describe a long-selling product.
Academic
Very rare.
Everyday
Common when discussing music, films, TV.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “golden oldie”
- Using it for objects that are merely old but not cherished (e.g., 'My broken phone is a golden oldie'). Confusing with 'golden age'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it can refer affectionately to an older person, especially a performer, but be mindful of context as it can be seen as cheeky.
Yes, it is informal and conversational. Not suitable for formal academic or technical writing.
'Classic' is more formal and implies acknowledged high quality. 'Golden oldie' is more informal and emphasizes nostalgia and enduring popularity from a specific past era.
Yes, it can be extended to other items like cars, fashion, or even jokes, provided they are from the past and still popular.
A thing from the past, especially a piece of music, film, or performer, that is still popular and widely known.
Golden oldie: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡəʊl.dən ˈəʊl.di/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡoʊl.dən ˈoʊl.di/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “oldie but goodie”
- “blast from the past”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of GOLDEN as valuable and OLD as from the past. A 'golden oldie' is a valuable thing from the past.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS VALUE (old things can be as valuable as gold).
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase is a common variant of 'golden oldie' in American English?