make old bones

make old bones (third-person singular simple present makes old bones, present participle making old bones, simple past and past participle made old bones)

1. (informal, chiefly in the negative) To live to an old age.

   With his heart condition, he'll never make old bones.

2. (informal, chiefly in the negative) To last a long time; to last or store well.

   It is a nice fruity wine, but it doesn't make old bones.

• not long for this world