старость не радость

• СТАРОСТЬ НЕ РАДОСТЬ{{}}

[saying]

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⇒ (said with regret, and sometimes in jest, when a middle-aged or older person thinks or talks about his age and the effects it has on his health, physical strength etc; may be said by a young person as a joke) being or getting old is difficult and unpleasant:

- - it's no fun getting (to get) old;

- old age is no fun;

- getting old is no picnic (no fun);

- [in limited contexts] I'm <НЕЪ etc> not as young as I (he etc) used to be.

     ♦ [Матрёна:] ...На старости лет кто пожалеет. Старость не радость (Толстой 1). [М.:] ... In your old age who's going to feel sorry for you? It's no fun to get old (1a).

     ♦ Ноги у Петра Васильевича сделались ватными. Трясущимися руками отодвинув щеколду, он растерянно бормотал перед запертой дверью: "Сейчас, Вадя... Сейчас... Вот старость не радость... Руки не слушаются..." (Максимов 3). Pyotr Vasilievich's legs went weak. He released the catch with trembling fingers, and mumbled through the open door without knowing what he was saying "Coming, Vadya coming... Not as young as I used to be. ...Hands won't do what I want" (3a).