not born yesterday

not born yesterday

Not naïve or inexperienced; knowledgeable, intelligent, or shrewd. Don't think you can fool me with that old ruse—I wasn't born yesterday, you know. I know you think Mom is clueless about these things, but she wasn't born yesterday.
See also: born, not, yesterday
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

not born yesterday

Fig. experienced; knowledgeable in the ways of the world. I know what's going on. I wasn't born yesterday. Sally knows the score. She wasn't born yesterday.
See also: born, not, yesterday
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

not born yesterday

More experienced and less naive than one appears to be, as in Don't think you can fool me; I wasn't born yesterday. This term gained currency from the title of Garson Kanin's popular Broadway play, Born Yesterday, which was made into an even more popular film. In both, Judy Holliday played a stereotypical dumb blonde who shows more common sense than her sophisticated acquaintances. [Early 1800s]
See also: born, not, yesterday
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

not born yesterday

If you say that someone wasn't born yesterday you mean that they have enough experience to not be easily tricked. Listen, I wasn't born yesterday. This looks like a work of fiction to me. Note: This expression is often varied. For instance, you can say that someone must think you were born yesterday if they treat you as if you are stupid. They must think I was born yesterday if they think I'd fall for a trick like that.
See also: born, not, yesterday
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

born yesterday, not (I wasn't)

Not naive; more experienced than one might think. Already a popular saying by the early nineteenth century, it appeared on both sides of the Atlanti “I warn’t born yesterday,” said Thomas Haliburton’s Sam Slick in one of his Wise Saws (1843). Approximately a century later Garson Kanin used the phrase for the title of a Broadway play that became extremely popular, as did the later (1950) film version. In both, actress Judy Holliday played the quintessential dumb blonde who, despite seeming unsophistication, is graced with enormous good sense.
See also: born, not
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • be born yesterday
  • What do you take me for?
  • born yesterday
  • born yesterday, not (I wasn't)
  • know which end is up
  • not know which end is up
  • I wasn't born yesterday
  • (my) mama didn't raise no dummy
  • My mama didn’t raise no dummy
  • dummt
References in periodicals archive
Since we were not born yesterday, there was a strong sense that issues larger and more compelling than complaints about difficulties in governance were behind the bill's passage.
What's the plan for Palawan?
President, we put the PDEA and BOC on notice that we were not born yesterday,'' he said in his speech.
PDEA to file charges against 'Jacky Co' after the drug lord left the country
I was not born yesterday and I am blessed with grandchildren in the age group of 8-9-year-olds.
Cyprus' Eurovision video not a reflection of real Cypriot values
First, Chancellor Angela Merkel and SchEnuble were not born yesterday. If Macron's people imagine a federation-lite as an entering wedge for full-blown political integration, so will Merkel, SchEnuble, and the reinvigorated Free Democrats (who will most likely join a coalition government with Merkel's Christian Democrats after the September federal election).
Europe's gradualist fallacy
The electorate was not born yesterday. Voters put their faith in Labour and their promises before.
Labour tax vow can't be trusted
The halls are adorned with oil paintings, and the driveways are lined with "large majestic oak and maple trees [that] signal that Highridge was not born yesterday," Cookson writes.
Class conscious: how high schools condition students to accept their lot
"It reminds people that we come from somewhere, that we were not born yesterday, and that we have a rich history of civilization and democracy that we can build upon, as we chart course for a new Syria," Moubayed said.
Facebook pages share memories of happier times in Syria
NNA - 7/12/2011 - MP Nabil De Freij said Wednesday that quarrels between government components were not born yesterday but they have been ongoing ever since the government was formed.
Politics - De Freij: Government quarrels not born yesterday
Indeed, it is no secret that the team which "stormed" the airport, based on the description of some media outlets, was not born yesterday. It is also no secret that its security, judicial, media and partisan apparatuses are established on the border of the state, i.e.
Storming of the State
Eoe1/4EoI am not born yesterday. Last week Chelsea lost to Manchester City for the first time after winning 30 continuous games.
Oman deserve to go to Qatar: Le Roy
DAVY RUSSELL was not born yesterday. Of the 16 riders who set out to tackle the unique 32 obstacles of the near-4m Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, Russell was the only one who had done his homework properly, writes Graham Dench.
Russell's canny move spells a shortcut to success on Dix Villez
Hey big shot, I was not born yesterday! I think it's a very serious matter knowing that I was also mistaken for a person who was also complaining about the same issue.
Messages nuisance
Some of us were not born yesterday, and we have seen a full measure of cynical calculations from politicians of every stripe.
Motive, fallout
The judge told Hardman: "I like to think I am experienced and not born yesterday. I have 18 years experience and I saw your demeanour when you left the dock and your genuine fear, regret and remorse at the thought of going to prison.
For crying out loud; JUDGE JAILS GLASSING YOB ..THEN FREES HIM AFTER HE SOBS IN DOCK
Pope was not born yesterday. "I knew she was lying.
My Left Breast