"Titchy little snapperwhippers like you should not be higgling around with an old sage and onions who is hundreds of years more than you."

Does anyone happen to know what "an old sage and onions" means? This, coincidentally, is the second time in one day I've come across this wording. Only thing I can come up with is Cockney rhyming slang ...bunion, (Paul Bunyon/tall tale)? Or, my first instinct sage/wise and onion/many layered?

Insights, anyone?