50 Idioms About the Past With Meanings & Sentences
Idioms About The Past
1. Back in the day
Meaning: A time long ago, usually remembered fondly.
In a Sentence: Back in the day, we didn’t have smartphones. / Grandpa always talks about life back in the day.
Other Ways to Say: In the old days, A long time ago
2. Once upon a time
Meaning: Referring to a past time, often in a storytelling manner.
In a Sentence: Once upon a time, my town was full of open fields. / Once upon a time, I loved playing outside all day.
Other Ways to Say: Long ago, Many years ago
3. A thing of the past
Meaning: Something that no longer exists or is no longer used.
In a Sentence: VHS tapes are a thing of the past. / Handwritten letters are becoming a thing of the past.
Other Ways to Say: Outdated, Obsolete
4. Ancient history
Meaning: Something that happened a very long time ago.
In a Sentence: That argument is ancient history now. / Don’t worry about high school – it’s ancient history.
Other Ways to Say: Long gone, Way back
5. Water under the bridge
Meaning: Something bad that happened in the past and is now forgiven or forgotten.
In a Sentence: Our fight last year is water under the bridge. / That misunderstanding is water under the bridge.
Other Ways to Say: Let bygones be bygones, Forgiven and forgotten
6. Dwell on the past
Meaning: To keep thinking about something that already happened.
In a Sentence: Don’t dwell on the past, just move forward. / She often dwells on the past and gets sad.
Other Ways to Say: Live in the past, Can’t let go
7. Cry over spilled milk
Meaning: To be upset about something that has already happened and cannot be changed.
In a Sentence: It’s no use crying over spilled milk. / We missed the bus, but let’s not cry over spilled milk.
Other Ways to Say: It’s done, Move on
8. A blast from the past
Meaning: Something or someone from the past that appears again.
In a Sentence: Seeing my old toys was a blast from the past. / That song is a blast from the past!
Other Ways to Say: Flashback, Memory jolt
9. Dig up the past
Meaning: To bring up past events, often negative.
In a Sentence: Stop digging up the past during arguments. / She always digs up the past to prove a point.
Other Ways to Say: Rehash old stuff, Revisit history
10. In days gone by
Meaning: In earlier times.
In a Sentence: People used to write letters in days gone by. / Life was slower in days gone by.
Other Ways to Say: Back then, In former times
11. A bygone era
Meaning: A period that has passed and is no longer current.
In a Sentence: That mansion reflects a bygone era. / The fashion of the 1920s belongs to a bygone era.
Other Ways to Say: Historical period, Olden days
12. Long in the tooth
Meaning: Old or aging (especially people or things).
In a Sentence: That computer is getting long in the tooth. / He’s a bit long in the tooth for extreme sports.
Other Ways to Say: Getting old, Aging
13. The good old days
Meaning: A time in the past remembered as better or simpler.
In a Sentence: I miss the good old days of childhood. / Those were the good old days!
Other Ways to Say: Golden times, Happy memories
14. Ancient as the hills
Meaning: Extremely old.
In a Sentence: That book is ancient as the hills. / My grandfather’s stories are ancient as the hills.
Other Ways to Say: Very old, Timeworn
15. Live in the past
Meaning: To be stuck in old memories or ways.
In a Sentence: He always talks about high school—he lives in the past. / Don’t live in the past, embrace the present.
Other Ways to Say: Can’t move on, Nostalgic
16. Put something behind you
Meaning: To forget or stop being affected by something unpleasant from the past.
In a Sentence: She put the breakup behind her. / It’s time to put the past behind us.
Other Ways to Say: Move on, Let go
17. Dated
Meaning: Out of style or old-fashioned.
In a Sentence: That hairstyle looks dated now. / Her opinions seem a bit dated.
Other Ways to Say: Old-school, Outdated
18. Rusty
Meaning: Out of practice due to time passing.
In a Sentence: I haven’t played guitar in years—I’m rusty. / My Spanish is a bit rusty.
Other Ways to Say: Out of practice, Sluggish
19. In retrospect
Meaning: Looking back and thinking about something in the past.
In a Sentence: In retrospect, I should’ve studied harder. / In retrospect, it was a great decision.
Other Ways to Say: Looking back, On second thought
20. History repeats itself
Meaning: The same events tend to happen again.
In a Sentence: Wars prove that history repeats itself. / If we’re not careful, history will repeat itself.
Other Ways to Say: Recurring events, Repeated mistakes
21. Let bygones be bygones
Meaning: Forget past arguments or offenses.
In a Sentence: We had our differences, but let’s let bygones be bygones and move on.
Other Ways to Say: Forgive and forget, Move on from the past
22. Skeletons in the closet
Meaning: Secrets from someone’s past.
In a Sentence: Every family has some skeletons in the closet they don’t talk about.
Other Ways to Say: Hidden secrets, Past scandals
23. Over the hill
Meaning: Past the peak or prime of life or usefulness.
In a Sentence: He jokes that turning 50 means he’s over the hill.
Other Ways to Say: Past one’s prime, Not as young as before
24. That ship has sailed
Meaning: The opportunity has passed and is no longer available.
In a Sentence: I was thinking of applying, but the deadline’s gone—that ship has sailed.
Other Ways to Say: Too late, Missed the chance
25. Ancient history
Meaning: Something that happened long ago and is no longer important.
In a Sentence: Our argument is ancient history; we’ve both moved on.
Other Ways to Say: Water under the bridge, Long forgotten
26. In living memory
Meaning: Within the lifetime of people still alive.
In a Sentence: It was the worst flood in living memory.
Other Ways to Say: Recently remembered, Not too long ago
27. History repeats itself
Meaning: Events from the past tend to happen again.
In a Sentence: Wars keep breaking out—history repeats itself.
Other Ways to Say: Patterns repeat, Déjà vu
28. From days gone by
Meaning: From a time long ago.
In a Sentence: These photos remind me of days gone by.
Other Ways to Say: From the past, Nostalgic times
29. In the dim and distant past
Meaning: A very long time ago.
In a Sentence: That tradition started in the dim and distant past.
Other Ways to Say: Ages ago, Way back when
30. Time heals all wounds
Meaning: Emotional pain lessens as time passes.
In a Sentence: It was hard losing her, but time heals all wounds.
Other Ways to Say: Pain fades, Things get better over time
Idioms for Agreeing with Someone
31. A walk down memory lane
Meaning: Recalling past memories.
In a Sentence: Going through our yearbook was a walk down memory lane.
Other Ways to Say: Reminisce, Look back fondly
32. History in the making
Meaning: An event that will be remembered in the future.
In a Sentence: This election feels like history in the making.
Other Ways to Say: Historic moment, A significant time
33. As old as the hills
Meaning: Very old.
In a Sentence: That joke is as old as the hills!
Other Ways to Say: Ancient, Really old
34. In one’s heyday
Meaning: At the peak of success or popularity.
In a Sentence: She was a movie star in her heyday.
Other Ways to Say: At one’s prime, In the glory days
35. The sands of time
Meaning: The passing of time.
In a Sentence: The old clock reminded him of the sands of time slipping away.
Other Ways to Say: Passage of time, Time flowing
36. Back in the saddle
Meaning: Returning to something after a break.
In a Sentence: After months off, he’s back in the saddle at work.
Other Ways to Say: Back to business, Getting into the groove again
37. The good old days
Meaning: A time in the past remembered as better or simpler.
In a Sentence: He always talks about the good old days when life was slower.
Other Ways to Say: Golden years, Simpler times
38. Long in the tooth
Meaning: Getting old.
In a Sentence: He’s a bit long in the tooth for this kind of work.
Other Ways to Say: Aging, No longer young
39. Yesterday’s news
Meaning: No longer interesting or relevant.
In a Sentence: That celebrity scandal is yesterday’s news now.
Other Ways to Say: Outdated, Old story
40. Gone with the wind
Meaning: Lost or disappeared with time.
In a Sentence: Her dreams of stardom went with the wind.
Other Ways to Say: Vanished, No longer existing
41. Throwback
Meaning: Something reminiscent of the past.
In a Sentence: That dress is a real throwback to the 90s.
Other Ways to Say: Retro, Vintage reminder
42. Water under the bridge
Meaning: Past events that are no longer important.
In a Sentence: Our past fights are water under the bridge now.
Other Ways to Say: Forgotten, Moved on
43. Born yesterday
Meaning: Naive or inexperienced.
In a Sentence: I wasn’t born yesterday—I know a scam when I see one.
Other Ways to Say: Not gullible, I’m not that naïve
44. The writing is on the wall
Meaning: A sign that something bad is going to happen.
In a Sentence: Sales were dropping for months—the writing was on the wall.
Other Ways to Say: Obvious signs, Predictable outcome
45. Dated
Meaning: Out of style or from a previous era.
In a Sentence: That hairstyle looks a bit dated now.
Other Ways to Say: Old-fashioned, Out of date
46. A thing of the past
Meaning: No longer in use or relevant.
In a Sentence: Dial-up internet is a thing of the past.
Other Ways to Say: Obsolete, Gone
47. Come full circle
Meaning: Return to the original point.
In a Sentence: My career has come full circle—I’m back where I started.
Other Ways to Say: Back to the beginning, Completed the cycle
48. Put it behind you
Meaning: Stop thinking about something unpleasant from the past.
In a Sentence: It’s time to put it behind you and start fresh.
Other Ways to Say: Move on, Let go
49. Turn back the clock
Meaning: Return to an earlier time.
In a Sentence: Sometimes I wish I could turn back the clock.
Other Ways to Say: Go back in time, Rewind time
50. Out of date
Meaning: No longer current or fashionable.
In a Sentence: That phone model is totally out of date now.
Other Ways to Say: Old-fashioned, Obsolete
