Ser perro viejo
To be an old dog.
to be an old hand; **to be an old hand**; **to know the ropes**; **to be nobody's fool**; **to be an old-timer** (in some contexts); **to be streetwise**
Ser perro viejo means to be highly experienced, streetwise or difficult to fool because of long experience.
No intentes engañarlo; es perro viejo.
Don't try to fool him; he's nobody's fool.
Lleva cuarenta años en este oficio. Es perro viejo.
He's been in this trade for forty years. He's an old hand.
Mi abuelo era perro viejo y veía venir los problemas.
My grandfather had seen it all.
Con ese inspector no cuela: es perro viejo.
That inspector knows all the tricks.
The expression usually conveys respect, although it may sometimes hint at cunning.
- has many years of practical experience
- cannot easily be deceived
- has "seen it all"
- quickly recognises tricks or lies
- knows how things really work
The expression comes from the observation that older dogs are harder to surprise or train than young ones.
After years of experience, they recognise dangers and tricks more easily.
Spanish transferred this image to people, especially those whose experience makes them cautious and difficult to deceive.
Calling someone perro viejo is usually complimentary.
It praises experience acquired through life rather than through books.
The expression often appears in working environments, politics and negotiations.
Spanish uses dogs in many idiomatic expressions, but with very different meanings:
- Ser perro viejo → to be highly experienced.
- Llevar una vida de perros → to have a miserable life.
- Trabajar como un perro → to work extremely hard.
The same animal can symbolise wisdom, suffering or hard work depending on the expression.
Do not translate the expression literally.
Although English also has old dog, it is usually found in sayings such as:
You can't teach an old dog new tricks.
That is not the same idea.
In Spanish, ser perro viejo focuses on experience and the ability to avoid being fooled.
Better translations are:
- He's an old hand.
- She's nobody's fool.
- He knows the ropes.
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