old bean
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
An old friend; an old chap or fellow.
Register: dated, slang
Examples
[…] it is really an uncommon piece of exaggerative imagination which we find in the description of this old bean's elaborate costume, with its pads, straps, strings […]
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “old bean” mean?
An old friend; an old chap or fellow.
Is “old bean” formal or informal?
old bean is generally dated, slang.