Have you ever heard someone say, “That’s water under the bridge”? They might not be talking about water or a bridge at all. Idioms like this help people talk about the past in fun and interesting ways. These sayings don’t always mean what the words sound like. Instead, they have special meanings that help us understand stories, feelings, or old events in a different way.
In this article, we will explore common idioms that are used to talk about the past. These idioms are used in everyday conversations. Learning them can help you understand what others mean and make your own speaking more colorful and clear. Let’s take a look at these idioms and see how they work.
Idioms about The Past
1. Water under the bridge
Meaning: Something from the past that doesn’t matter anymore
Within a Sentence: We used to argue, but that’s water under the bridge now. / My lost toy is water under the bridge I don’t miss it anymore.
In Other Words: It happened before and we’ve moved on.
2. A thing of the past
Meaning: Something that no longer happens
Within a Sentence: CDs are a thing of the past now that we have streaming. / Landlines are a thing of the past in most homes.
In Other Words: We don’t use or do that anymore.
3. Ancient history
Meaning: Something that happened a long time ago
Within a Sentence: That old fight is ancient history. / My love for that cartoon is ancient history now.
In Other Words: It happened way back.
4. Dwell on the past
Meaning: Keep thinking or talking about old things
Within a Sentence: Don’t dwell on the past it’s over. / She keeps dwelling on the past mistakes.
In Other Words: Stop thinking too much about old stuff.
5. Once upon a time
Meaning: A long time ago, often used in stories
Within a Sentence: Once upon a time, there was a brave dog. / Once upon a time, my grandpa rode horses to school.
In Other Words: Long ago in the past.
6. In days gone by
Meaning: In the past
Within a Sentence: In days gone by, people wrote letters. / In days gone by, we didn’t have cell phones.
In Other Words: In older times.
7. Back in the day
Meaning: Talking about earlier times
Within a Sentence: Back in the day, we used chalkboards. / Back in the day, cartoons were on Saturday mornings.
In Other Words: A time before now.
8. A blast from the past
Meaning: Something that reminds you of old times
Within a Sentence: That song is a blast from the past! / Seeing my old backpack was a blast from the past.
In Other Words: It brings back memories.
9. Live in the past
Meaning: Always thinking about or missing old times
Within a Sentence: He lives in the past, always talking about his school days. / Stop living in the past and enjoy today.
In Other Words: Not moving on.
10. In the old days
Meaning: A time long ago
Within a Sentence: In the old days, kids played outside all day. / In the old days, we had only a few TV channels.
In Other Words: A time before now.
11. Let bygones be bygones
Meaning: Forget old problems or fights
Within a Sentence: Let’s let bygones be bygones and be friends again. / They let bygones be bygones after the big game.
In Other Words: Let’s stop being mad about the past.
12. A walk down memory lane
Meaning: Remembering happy or old times
Within a Sentence: Looking at those photos was a walk down memory lane. / We had a walk down memory lane when we visited our old school.
In Other Words: It helped us remember the past.
13. Over and done with
Meaning: Something is finished and won’t come back
Within a Sentence: That project is over and done with. / Our fight is over and done with now.
In Other Words: It’s all finished.
14. Bring back memories
Meaning: Make you think of past times
Within a Sentence: This old song brings back memories. / That smell brings back memories of grandma’s house.
In Other Words: Helps you remember.
15. A chapter closed
Meaning: A part of life that has ended
Within a Sentence: My time at summer camp is a chapter closed. / That was fun, but it’s a closed chapter now.
In Other Words: That part is over.
16. From another time
Meaning: Belonging to a different, earlier period
Within a Sentence: This phone looks like it’s from another time. / Her stories feel like they’re from another time.
In Other Words: Very old or from the past.
17. In the rearview mirror
Meaning: Left behind, in the past
Within a Sentence: That mistake is in the rearview mirror. / We left that problem in the rearview mirror.
In Other Words: It’s behind us.
18. Out of date
Meaning: No longer used or current
Within a Sentence: Those rules are out of date. / This game is fun, but out of date.
In Other Words: Not new anymore.
19. A faded memory
Meaning: Something from the past that you don’t remember well
Within a Sentence: That summer trip is just a faded memory now. / I have a faded memory of that place.
In Other Words: Hard to remember.
20. The good old days
Meaning: A happy time in the past
Within a Sentence: Grandpa always talks about the good old days. / The good old days were full of fun and games.
In Other Words: A fun past time.
21. Lost in time
Meaning: Forgotten or not remembered
Within a Sentence: That old show is lost in time. / Some old traditions get lost in time.
In Other Words: Not remembered much.
22. Not what it used to be
Meaning: Changed or less good than before
Within a Sentence: This playground is not what it used to be. / That store is not what it used to be anymore.
In Other Words: It’s not the same.
23. Out of the blue
Meaning: Happened suddenly and unexpectedly, often from the past
Within a Sentence: He called me out of the blue after years. / A memory came back out of the blue.
In Other Words: It just showed up.
24. Came flooding back
Meaning: Many memories returned quickly
Within a Sentence: The smell of cookies made memories come flooding back. / Her song made the memories come flooding back.
In Other Words: I suddenly remembered a lot.
25. Stuck in the past
Meaning: Always thinking about what used to be
Within a Sentence: He’s stuck in the past, still using a flip phone. / Don’t get stuck in the past move forward.
In Other Words: Can’t move on.
26. That ship has sailed
Meaning: The chance is gone
Within a Sentence: I wanted to join, but that ship has sailed. / The chance to fix it has sailed.
In Other Words: It’s too late.
27. Over the hill
Meaning: Older or past your best time
Within a Sentence: He jokes that he’s over the hill at 40. / She says she’s over the hill but still loves to play.
In Other Words: Not young anymore.
28. Yesteryear
Meaning: A time long ago
Within a Sentence: Those toys are from yesteryear. / He collects things from yesteryear.
In Other Words: From the past.
29. Ancient times
Meaning: Very long ago
Within a Sentence: Dinosaurs lived in ancient times. / Those tools are from ancient times.
In Other Words: A time far back.
30. Time stood still
Meaning: A moment that felt frozen in time
Within a Sentence: When I saw my old house, time stood still. / It was so quiet, it felt like time stood still.
In Other Words: It felt like nothing moved.
31. Wrote the book on it
Meaning: Knew or did something long ago
Within a Sentence: Grandpa wrote the book on fishing. / She wrote the book on sewing it’s from years ago.
In Other Words: Knows it well from the past.
32. Dated
Meaning: Belonging to an old time
Within a Sentence: That hairstyle looks dated. / These clothes feel dated now.
In Other Words: From long ago.
33. On the back burner
Meaning: Put off for later, often forgotten
Within a Sentence: That idea is on the back burner now. / We put that plan on the back burner last year.
In Other Words: We set it aside.
34. Written in history
Meaning: Something that became part of the past
Within a Sentence: That win was written in history. / Our class picture is written in history.
In Other Words: It became part of the past.
35. A forgotten chapter
Meaning: A past time people don’t remember
Within a Sentence: That old school is a forgotten chapter. / His summer job is a forgotten chapter.
In Other Words: A time we don’t talk about anymore.
36. Fell through the cracks
Meaning: Forgotten or missed
Within a Sentence: That old rule fell through the cracks. / My birthday card must’ve fallen through the cracks.
In Other Words: It got missed.
37. Time flew by
Meaning: Time passed very quickly
Within a Sentence: Summer break flew by. / Time flew by while we were playing.
In Other Words: It went fast.
38. A ghost from the past
Meaning: Something or someone remembered again
Within a Sentence: Seeing that photo was a ghost from the past. / That email felt like a ghost from the past.
In Other Words: A surprise from before.
39. Collecting dust
Meaning: Not used anymore
Within a Sentence: That old board game is collecting dust. / The old TV is just collecting dust now.
In Other Words: It’s not being used.
40. Locked in the past
Meaning: Not able to move forward
Within a Sentence: He’s locked in the past and won’t try new things. / That store is locked in the past.
In Other Words: Stuck in old ways.
41. From a bygone era
Meaning: From a time long ago
Within a Sentence: That music is from a bygone era. / Her dresses are from a bygone era.
In Other Words: From an older time.
42. On record
Meaning: Something remembered or saved from the past
Within a Sentence: That win is on record. / It’s on record that she finished first.
In Other Words: It’s been saved or remembered.
43. Buried in the past
Meaning: Something not talked about anymore
Within a Sentence: That mistake is buried in the past. / She buried that memory in the past.
In Other Words: Not thinking about it now.
44. Frozen in time
Meaning: Not changed for a long time
Within a Sentence: That room is frozen in time. / The old store looks frozen in time.
In Other Words: It hasn’t changed.
45. A relic of the past
Meaning: An old item or idea
Within a Sentence: That typewriter is a relic of the past. / His jokes are a relic of the past.
In Other Words: Something very old.
46. Old news
Meaning: No longer important or interesting
Within a Sentence: That story is old news now. / My broken toy is old news.
In Other Words: We’ve moved on.
47. Ancient tale
Meaning: A very old story
Within a Sentence: That’s an ancient tale from grandma. / She told us an ancient tale about her town.
In Other Words: A story from long ago.
48. Passé
Meaning: Out of style or fashion
Within a Sentence: Bell-bottom jeans are passé. / That dance move is passé.
In Other Words: No longer cool.
49. Before my time
Meaning: Happened before someone was born
Within a Sentence: That band was before my time. / Those shows were before my time.
In Other Words: It’s older than me.
50. History repeats itself
Meaning: Old events can happen again
Within a Sentence: They say history repeats itself. / History repeated itself when we lost the game the same way.
In Other Words: The past comes back.
51. Dust off memories
Meaning: Remember something again
Within a Sentence: I dusted off memories of my first bike. / That picture helped me dust off old memories.
In Other Words: I remembered again.
52. Turn back the clock
Meaning: Wish or imagine to go back in time
Within a Sentence: I wish I could turn back the clock to last summer. / We can’t turn back the clock, but we can remember.
In Other Words: Go back in time.
53. Living history
Meaning: Someone or something still around from the past
Within a Sentence: My grandpa is living history. / That building is living history.
In Other Words: Still here from long ago.
54. Memory fades
Meaning: Forget something over time
Within a Sentence: My memory of that trip fades a little each year. / As I get older, my memory fades.
In Other Words: It’s harder to remember.
55. Past its prime
Meaning: Not as good as it once was
Within a Sentence: That store is past its prime. / My shoes are past their prime.
In Other Words: Not new or strong anymore.
56. Saw better days
Meaning: Used to be in better shape
Within a Sentence: That bike saw better days. / My backpack has seen better days.
In Other Words: It’s a little worn out.
57. From the old school
Meaning: Doing things the old way
Within a Sentence: My teacher is from the old school he uses chalk. / Grandma is from the old school, she still writes letters.
In Other Words: Old-fashioned way.
58. In the shadow of the past
Meaning: Affected by what happened before
Within a Sentence: He grew up in the shadow of the past. / That town lives in the shadow of the past.
In Other Words: Still feeling the past.
59. Back where it began
Meaning: Return to the start
Within a Sentence: We’re back where it began our first school. / I went back where it began to remember my first game.
In Other Words: At the beginning again.
60. Yesterday’s news
Meaning: Something no longer exciting or new
Within a Sentence: That toy is yesterday’s news. / That story is yesterday’s news.
In Other Words: Nobody talks about it now.
True/False Quiz: Idioms about The Past
- “Water under the bridge” means something from the past that doesn’t matter now.
True / False - If something is “a thing of the past,” it means it still happens often.
True / False - “A blast from the past” means something reminds you of old times.
True / False - If someone says “in days gone by,” they are talking about the future.
True / False - “Let bygones be bygones” means to keep arguing about old problems.
True / False - “Out of date” means something is new and modern.
True / False - “The good old days” means a time in the past people remember happily.
True / False - “Frozen in time” means something has changed a lot.
True / False - If something is “from another time,” it’s likely from the past.
True / False - “Time flew by” means time moved very slowly.
True / False - “Collecting dust” means something is being used all the time.
True / False - “Before my time” means something happened when you were very young or not born yet.
True / False - “Turn back the clock” means to go ahead into the future.
True / False - “History repeats itself” means something from the past can happen again.
True / False - “A walk down memory lane” means you are talking about what might happen tomorrow.
True / False
Answer Key
- True
- False
- True
- False
- False
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
Scoring Guide
- 15 Correct Answers: Idioms Master! You really understand these expressions.
- 10–14 Correct Answers: You really get Idioms, nice work!
- 6–9 Correct Answers: You’re learning, keep going!
- 0–5 Correct Answers: Let’s learn about Idioms together!
Conclusion
Idioms help us talk about the past in a fun and creative way. Instead of saying things in a plain way, we use these phrases to add feeling and color. People often use idioms when they remember old times, tell stories, or explain what happened long ago.
By learning idioms about the past, you can understand what others are saying and make your own speaking or writing more interesting. Keep practicing, and you’ll get even better at using them in your everyday life.
