• ripe old age

• pick holes in it

• all ears

• ggod rest his soul

• walls have ears

• be all ears

• a tall order

• get away from it all

• not fit to hold a candle

• salt it away

• a golden age

• small fry

• lull him into a false sense of security

• soldier on

• call a halt to it

• small wonder

• a false alarm

• drive him up the wall

• hold water

• fall on deaf ears

• when all is said and done

• an old maid

• knock him cold

• hold it down

• hold one's peace

• kill the goose that lays the golden eggs

• not all there

• a rolling stone gathers no moss

• feel small

• an old boy

• a cold sweat