Idioms enrich our language by infusing it with vivid imagery and cultural depth. This post explores 20 English idioms that evoke the past, offering a window into historical perceptions and experiences. Each idiom is a key to understanding how the past shapes our present conversations.
Idioms That Describe the Past
1. Down memory lane
Meaning: Recalling nostalgic memories.
Example: We walked down memory lane at the reunion.
2. Old flame
Meaning: A former romantic partner.
Example: He bumped into his old flame yesterday.
3. Bygone days
Meaning: Times that have passed.
Example: Grandma loves talking about bygone days.
4. Turn back the clock
Meaning: Return to an earlier time.
Example: If only we could turn back the clock!
5. Days of yore
Meaning: A very long time ago.
Example: Knights were brave in days of yore.
6. A thing of the past
Meaning: Something that no longer exists.
Example: Cassette tapes are a thing of the past.
7. Blast from the past
Meaning: Something nostalgically reminiscent.
Example: That old song is a blast from the past.
8. The good old days
Meaning: A time remembered with nostalgia.
Example: Everyone misses the good old days.
9. Walk down memory lane
Meaning: To remember past experiences.
Example: Let’s walk down memory lane together.
10. Dusted off
Meaning: To bring out something from the past.
Example: They dusted off the old photo albums.
11. Time-honored
Meaning: Respected for being old or traditional.
Example: This is a time-honored festival here.
12. Steeped in history
Meaning: Full of historical significance.
Example: This town is steeped in history.
13. Relic of the past
Meaning: A surviving trace of a former period.
Example: That law is a relic of the past.
14. Yesteryear
Meaning: The past, typically the recent past.
Example: Fashion from yesteryear is coming back.
15. Ancient history
Meaning: Something from the distant past.
Example: Their argument is ancient history now.
16. Turn the page
Meaning: To move from the past to the future.
Example: It’s time to turn the page and forgive.
17. Once upon a time
Meaning: Used to start a story about the past.
Example: Once upon a time, there was a king.
18. Back in the day
Meaning: At some time in the past.
Example: Back in the day, we didn’t have smartphones.
19. From time immemorial
Meaning: From an indefinitely ancient time.
Example: These lands are ours from time immemorial.
20. Out with the old
Meaning: To replace old things with new ones.
Example: Every spring, it’s out with the old.
