come the old soldier

Meanings

1. Often followed by with: to deceive, impose upon, or take advantage of someone, as if exploiting one's superior age or experience.

Etymology

From come (“to behave in the manner of; to pretend to be”) + the + old soldier (“former soldier, or one who has served for a long time; one with a lot of experience in something”), in the sense of one taking advantage of their age or experience over someone else.