Many people talk about past events in fun and interesting ways. They don’t always say things directly. Sometimes they use special phrases called idioms. These are words that have a different meaning than what they sound like. Idioms can help us share feelings or thoughts more clearly, especially when talking about what happened before.
In this article, we will look at idioms that talk about the past. These idioms are often used in everyday conversations, books, and movies. By learning these phrases, you can better understand what others say and also use them when you talk or write. Let’s explore these idioms about the past and see what they mean.
Idioms about The Past
1. A blast from the past
Meaning: Something or someone from the past that you remember.
Give an Instance: I saw my old toy car, and it was a real blast from the past. / Hearing that song was a blast from the past.
Substitute Meaning: Old memory / Something from long ago
2. Once upon a time
Meaning: A phrase used to begin a story about the past.
Give an Instance: Once upon a time, there was a brave knight. / Once upon a time, I had a pet turtle.
Substitute Meaning: Long ago / In the past
3. Back in the day
Meaning: Referring to a time in the past.
Give an Instance: Back in the day, we used to play outside all evening. / Back in the day, phones had cords.
Substitute Meaning: In earlier times / A while ago
4. The good old days
Meaning: A time in the past remembered as better or happier.
Give an Instance: Grandpa talks about the good old days when gas was cheap. / I miss the good old days of summer camp.
Substitute Meaning: Happy past times / Better days
5. Water under the bridge
Meaning: Something that happened in the past and is no longer important.
Give an Instance: We had a fight, but that’s water under the bridge now. / Forget about the mistake; it’s water under the bridge.
Substitute Meaning: Forgiven past / Not important anymore
6. Ancient history
Meaning: Something that happened a long time ago and is not relevant now.
Give an Instance: That argument is ancient history. / My old phone is ancient history now.
Substitute Meaning: Very old news / Not current
7. A thing of the past
Meaning: Something that no longer exists or is used.
Give an Instance: Typewriters are a thing of the past. / Dial-up internet is a thing of the past.
Substitute Meaning: Outdated / No longer in use
8. Turn back the hands of time
Meaning: To wish to go back to the past.
Give an Instance: I wish I could turn back the hands of time to fix my mistake. / She wants to turn back the hands of time to relive her childhood.
Substitute Meaning: Go back in time / Revisit the past
9. Dwell on the past
Meaning: To think too much about past events.
Give an Instance: Don’t dwell on the past; focus on today. / He keeps dwelling on the past and feels sad.
Substitute Meaning: Overthink old events / Stuck in the past
10. Let bygones be bygones
Meaning: To forget past disagreements and move on.
Give an Instance: Let’s let bygones be bygones and be friends again. / They decided to let bygones be bygones after the argument.
Substitute Meaning: Forgive and forget / Move on
11. In the nick of time
Meaning: Just before it’s too late.
Give an Instance: We arrived in the nick of time for the movie. / She finished her homework in the nick of time.
Substitute Meaning: Just in time / At the last moment
12. Time flies
Meaning: Time passes quickly.
Give an Instance: Time flies when you’re having fun. / The school year flew by; time flies!
Substitute Meaning: Time goes fast / Quickly passing time
13. A trip down memory lane
Meaning: Remembering past events fondly.
Give an Instance: Looking at old photos is a trip down memory lane. / Visiting my old school was a trip down memory lane.
Substitute Meaning: Reminiscing / Remembering the past
14. Hindsight is 20/20
Meaning: It’s easy to see what you should have done after something has happened.
Give an Instance: I should have studied more; hindsight is 20/20. / Hindsight is 20/20; now I know the answer.
Substitute Meaning: Easy to see mistakes after / Clear after the fact
15. Back to square one
Meaning: To start over from the beginning.
Give an Instance: The plan failed, so we’re back to square one. / I lost my work and have to go back to square one.
Substitute Meaning: Start over / Begin again
16. History repeats itself
Meaning: Events tend to happen again over time.
Give an Instance: Wars show that history repeats itself. / Fashion trends prove history repeats itself.
Substitute Meaning: Things happen again / Patterns return
17. In days gone by
Meaning: In the past.
Give an Instance: In days gone by, people wrote letters. / In days gone by, kids played outside more.
Substitute Meaning: Long ago / In earlier times
18. From time immemorial
Meaning: Since a very long time ago.
Give an Instance: People have told stories from time immemorial. / Traditions have existed from time immemorial.
Substitute Meaning: Since forever / Very long ago
19. Many moons ago
Meaning: A long time ago.
Give an Instance: I visited that park many moons ago. / Many moons ago, we met in kindergarten.
Substitute Meaning: Long ago / In the past
20. In the mists of time
Meaning: Something that happened so long ago it’s hard to remember.
Give an Instance: The origins of the festival are lost in the mists of time. / The story dates back to the mists of time.
Substitute Meaning: Very ancient / Hard to recall
21. Over the hill
Meaning: Past one’s prime or best years.
Give an Instance: He jokes that he’s over the hill at 40. / She feels over the hill but still runs marathons.
Substitute Meaning: Getting older / Past prime
22. Behind the times
Meaning: Not keeping up with current trends.
Give an Instance: That phone is behind the times. / He’s behind the times with his music taste.
Substitute Meaning: Old-fashioned / Outdated
23. Auld Lang Syne
Meaning: Times long past; often used to remember old friendships.
Give an Instance: We sang Auld Lang Syne on New Year’s Eve. / The song reminds us of Auld Lang Syne.
Substitute Meaning: Old times / Days gone by
24. Out of date
Meaning: No longer current or fashionable.
Give an Instance: That magazine is out of date. / Her clothes are out of date.
Substitute Meaning: Old-fashioned / Not current
25. Past its prime
Meaning: No longer at its best.
Give an Instance: The building is past its prime. / That athlete is past his prime.
Substitute Meaning: Not as good as before / Aging
26. Burn one’s bridges
Meaning: To do something that makes it impossible to return to the past.
Give an Instance: He burned his bridges by quitting without notice. / Don’t burn your bridges with old friends.
Substitute Meaning: Cut ties / No going back
27. Let the past be the past
Meaning: To stop focusing on past events.
Give an Instance: Let’s let the past be the past and move on. / She decided to let the past be the past.
Substitute Meaning: Move forward / Forget old issues
28. Live in the past
Meaning: Focus too much on things that already happened
Give an Instance: She always talks about middle school; she lives in the past. / He still wears his old team shirt and lives in the past.
Substitute Meaning: Can’t move on / Stuck remembering
29. From the old school
Meaning: Likes old ways or ideas
Give an Instance: My grandpa writes letters—he’s from the old school. / She uses books, not the internet, because she’s from the old school.
Substitute Meaning: Old-fashioned / Traditional
30. In a bygone era
Meaning: From a time long ago
Give an Instance: That dress looks like it’s from a bygone era. / The castle was built in a bygone era.
Substitute Meaning: Long ago / Ancient times
31. Stand the test of time
Meaning: Still good or popular after a long time
Give an Instance: His advice has stood the test of time. / This book has stood the test of time.
Substitute Meaning: Lasts long / Still matters
32. A walk down memory lane
Meaning: Remembering the past happily
Give an Instance: Watching old cartoons was a walk down memory lane. / Going to the fair again was a walk down memory lane.
Substitute Meaning: Look back fondly / Happy memory
33. Ring a bell
Meaning: Sounds familiar or brings a memory
Give an Instance: That name rings a bell. / This music rings a bell from last summer.
Substitute Meaning: Reminds me / Sounds familiar
34. Out of the ark
Meaning: Very old
Give an Instance: That phone looks like it’s out of the ark. / His shoes are so worn, they’re out of the ark.
Substitute Meaning: Very old / Outdated
35. Second childhood
Meaning: Acting like a child in old age
Give an Instance: Grandpa is in his second childhood playing video games! / She’s in her second childhood enjoying cartoons again.
Substitute Meaning: Like a kid again / Playful elder
36. The sands of time
Meaning: Time passing
Give an Instance: We all age with the sands of time. / Memories fade with the sands of time.
Substitute Meaning: Time going by / Passing years
37. Back in the stone age
Meaning: A very old time or outdated way
Give an Instance: This computer feels like it’s from the stone age. / He acts like we’re back in the stone age with no internet.
Substitute Meaning: Very old-fashioned / Outdated
38. Carry a torch (for someone)
Meaning: Still feel love for someone from the past
Give an Instance: He still carries a torch for his first crush. / She carries a torch for her old boyfriend.
Substitute Meaning: Still in love / Remember with care
39. The past comes back to haunt you
Meaning: Old mistakes cause new problems
Give an Instance: His cheating came back to haunt him. / The lie came back to haunt her.
Substitute Meaning: Old trouble returns / Past mistake hurts now
40. Not born yesterday
Meaning: Not easy to fool because of experience
Give an Instance: I wasn’t born yesterday I know that trick! / Don’t try that on me; I wasn’t born yesterday.
Substitute Meaning: Not naive / Knows better
41. Cry over spilled milk
Meaning: Worry about something that already happened
Give an Instance: It’s done, don’t cry over spilled milk. / She forgot her lunch, but crying won’t help it’s just spilled milk.
Substitute Meaning: Regret won’t fix it / Don’t worry over it
42. Dated
Meaning: From the past and no longer modern
Give an Instance: That hairstyle looks dated. / Her slang is a bit dated.
Substitute Meaning: Old-fashioned / Out of style
43. As old as the hills
Meaning: Very old
Give an Instance: That joke is as old as the hills. / His boots are as old as the hills.
Substitute Meaning: Very old / Ancient
44. Out of fashion
Meaning: Not popular anymore
Give an Instance: Bell bottoms are out of fashion. / That game is fun, but it’s out of fashion now.
Substitute Meaning: Not trendy / Old trend
45. Over and done with
Meaning: Finished and in the past
Give an Instance: The test is over and done with. / That problem is over and done with.
Substitute Meaning: Finished / All done
Find the “Idioms about the past”
Reading Passage
It was the day of the school reunion, and everyone was feeling excited. Mrs. Carter said, “Let’s take a trip down memory lane.” The class laughed and started sharing funny stories. “Back in the day,” said Tom, “we used to trade snacks under the lunch table.” Everyone nodded those were the good old days.
Jenna found an old photo and said, “Wow, that’s a real blast from the past!” They all smiled and agreed not to dwell on the past, even if some memories were a little embarrassing. “Let’s let bygones be bygones,” said Marcus, remembering a time he teased Tim.
Ms. Lopez added, “It’s like we’re from the old school. Look at our flip phones!” They all joked that their music tastes were a thing of the past. As they packed up, someone whispered, “Time flies it feels like yesterday we were in this room.”
On the way out, they heard the school bell. “That sound still rings a bell,” said Kim. They all waved goodbye, feeling a little older, but happy.
Directions for Students
Read the passage again. Find and underline or list all the idioms about the past.
Answer Key
- A trip down memory lane
- Back in the day
- The good old days
- A blast from the past
- Dwell on the past
- Let bygones be bygones
- From the old school
- A thing of the past
- Time flies
- Rings a bell
Conclusion
Idioms about the past help us talk about memories, old habits, or things that no longer happen. They can make stories more colorful and easier to understand. Many people use these phrases without even thinking about it.
When you learn idioms like “back in the day” or “let bygones be bygones,” you get better at talking and writing in ways that feel real. These phrases can help you tell stories and share ideas in a fun and simple way. Keep an ear out you’ll hear them more often than you think.
