gray hair
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gray hair
1. Literally, hair that has lightened to a grayish color, typically due to aging. I'm only 30—how do I have gray hair already? Redheads tend to go white, so you might not end up with gray hair after all. Why am I still bothering to color my hair? Everyone my age has gray hair, and who really cares anyway?
2. By extension, negative or undesired physical effects (such as hair that has lightened) due to being exceedingly worried, stressed, or upset by or about something or someone. I'm getting gray hair from being around these screaming kids all day long. I'm going to get gray hair from my teenage daughter and all her wild behavior. I'm going to get gray hair from dealing with this stupid car breaking down all the time!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
*gray hair(s)
1. Lit. a lightening of the hair caused by aging or hereditary factors. (*Typically: get ~ have ~ give someone ∼.) I get more gray hair the older I get. I guess my genes give me gray hair.
2. Fig. a lightening of the hair caused by stress or frustration. (*Typically: get ~ have ~ give someone ∼.) I'm getting gray hairs because I have three teenage boys. I have gray hair from raising four kids.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.