old school tie

noun

1. a necktie striped in the colors of a specific English public school, especially as worn by a graduate to indicate his educational background.
2. an alumnus of an English public school.
3. the clannishness and conservative manners, dress, and attitudes associated with students and graduates of the English public schools.
4. snobbishness, clannishness, or extreme conservatism.

old school tie

noun

1. a distinctive tie that indicates which school the wearer attended
2. the attitudes, loyalties, values, etc, associated with British public schools

Word History and Origins

Origin of old school tie¹

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

Unveiling the data, covering offers to students in England and Wales in the years 2010 to 2015, he described the universities as the "last bastion of the old school tie" and highlighted stark regional divisions.

From BBC

For Cho, performance–not personality, old school ties or blood relations–is the ultimate test.

From Forbes

Only one kid from our class, the actor Oliver Platt, grew up to be famous, and as far as I knew, he’d long since unleashed himself from any old school ties.

From Time

Unsurprisingly, the old school tie set at the ACB and Lord's dug in with blustery determination, setting in motion an explosive war of words.

From The Guardian

With her two Oxford blues for rowing, it would be easy to see the loyalist MP as part of the old school tie club that unites so many of the cabinet.

From The Guardian