the grand old man of (something)

the grand old man of (something)

The most senior and respected man in a particular organization, society, etc. His decades of hosting charity balls and galas have made him the grand old man of London.See also: grand, man, of, old

a (or the) grand old man of

a man long and highly respected in a particular field. Recorded from 1882 , and popularly abbreviated as GOM, Grand Old Man was the nickname of the British statesman William Ewart Gladstone ( 1809–98 ), who went on to win his last election in 1892 at the age of eighty-three.See also: grand, man, of, old

a/the ˌgrand old ˈman (of something)

an old man who is very experienced and respected in a particular profession, etc: At eighty, he is the grand old man of the British film industry.See also: grand, man, old