English · Proverb Attested

once an adult, twice a child

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

One is born as a child, grows to adulthood, and consequently enters old age, when one deteriorates and reverts to a childlike state.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Một người sinh ra là đứa trẻ, lớn lên thành người lớn và cuối cùng bước vào tuổi già, khi đó người đó suy giảm và trở lại trạng thái như trẻ em

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

Two couples whose combined ages total 300 years were playing cards today and the nerve strain caused by the game was too much for the tired heart and nerves of one and she grew angry and ran home in tears. Once an adult, twice a child.

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).

Topics: Children

Common questions

What does “once an adult, twice a child” mean?

One is born as a child, grows to adulthood, and consequently enters old age, when one deteriorates and reverts to a childlike state.

Is “once an adult, twice a child” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.