he's fifty if he's a day

[Unregistered]

I don't understand the expression: he's fifty if he's a day.

What does it mean? I would appreciate if someone could translate it for me as I can't find it in any dictionary.

Thanks a lot

Kamila

 

[jamiep]

It means he's about 50 years old.

 

[mykwyner]

It means, "He's at least 50 years old, if he is more than one day old." The idea is that, of course, he is more than one day old.

 

[BobK]

:up: And you can use a similar construction with no reference to age, in the form '[statement] if [something obviously true]' or '[statement] or [something obviously not true]' - 'I'll get even or my name's not BobK'.

b