Having a youthful outlook, enthusiasm, or spirit regardless of one's actual age.
This phrase became popular in the early 20th century, though the concept is much older. It gained significant cultural prominence after the 1953 song 'Young at Heart' by Johnny Richards and Carolyn Leigh, which was famously performed by Frank Sinatra and helped cement the phrase in popular consciousness.
What's remarkable about this phrase is how it separates chronological age from psychological age, suggesting that youthfulness is more about attitude than years. The phrase became a kind of cultural permission slip for older adults to embrace playfulness and curiosity, challenging ageist assumptions about how people 'should' behave at different life stages.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.