old maid

• Terme désignant une femme âgée qui ne s'est jamais mariée, souvent utilisé de manière quelque peu vieillie ou légèrement péjorative. Désigne aussi le jeu de cartes classique où les joueurs évitent de rester avec la seule dame sans paire.

A term referring to an older woman who has never married, often used in a somewhat outdated or mildly derogatory way. It is also the name of a classic card game where players try to avoid being left with the single unmatched queen.

1. Unmarried woman (dated)B2informal

   A term, now often considered outdated or offensive, for a woman who has never married and is considered past the typical age for marriage.

   vieille fille

   • In the past, an unmarried woman over thirty was often called an old maid.
   • She was unfairly labeled an old maid by her relatives.
   • The character in the novel was a lonely old maid.

2. A2informal

   A simple card game for two or more players where the goal is to avoid being left with the single unpaired queen.

   la vieille fille

   • The children played Old Maid on a rainy afternoon.
   • He was left holding the Old Maid card and lost the game.
   • Old Maid is a classic game for family gatherings.