Sometimes, people talk about events that happened long ago. These events could be about their childhood, family stories, or special moments in history. To make these memories more interesting, we use idioms. Idioms are fun phrases that don’t mean exactly what they say. They help us speak in a more colorful and simple way.
Idioms about the past can help us describe memories or old events. For example, instead of saying “a long time ago,” someone might say “back in the day.” These phrases make our stories easier to understand and more fun to hear. In this article, you will learn some idioms that people use when they talk about the past. You’ll also see examples of how to use them in everyday life. Let’s take a look at some of these helpful and fun phrases.
Idioms about The Past
1. Back in the day
Meaning: A long time ago.
For Example: Back in the day, kids played outside more. / My grandpa always talks about life back in the day.
Alternatively: Long ago / In the past
2. A blast from the past
Meaning: Something that reminds you of an earlier time.
For Example: That old song is a blast from the past. / Seeing my teacher from 1st grade was a blast from the past.
Alternatively: Memory from long ago / Old reminder
3. Water under the bridge
Meaning: Something bad that happened before and is now forgotten.
For Example: We used to fight, but that’s water under the bridge. / The mistake I made is water under the bridge now.
Alternatively: Forgotten problem / Not important anymore
4. Dwell on the past
Meaning: Keep thinking about things that already happened.
For Example: Don’t dwell on the past; move forward. / He dwells on the past and gets sad.
Alternatively: Stay stuck in old times / Think too much about before
5. Living in the past
Meaning: Not accepting changes and thinking only about the old days.
For Example: My uncle is always living in the past, talking about old sports teams. / Stop living in the past and enjoy now.
Alternatively: Stuck in old times / Can’t move on
6. From way back
Meaning: From a very long time ago.
For Example: That’s a cartoon from way back. / I know her from way back in school.
Alternatively: Really old / Known for a long time
7. Cry over spilled milk
Meaning: Be upset over something that already happened and can’t be changed.
For Example: Don’t cry over spilled milk you missed the bus, but it’s okay. / I lost the game, but I won’t cry over spilled milk.
Alternatively: Let it go / Stop worrying about it
8. Ancient history
Meaning: Something that happened a long time ago and doesn’t matter now.
For Example: That argument is ancient history. / My old phone is ancient history now.
Alternatively: Long gone / Doesn’t matter anymore
9. In days gone by
Meaning: In old times.
For Example: In days gone by, people used typewriters. / Life was different in days gone by.
Alternatively: In the olden days / A long time ago
10. Once upon a time
Meaning: A long time ago (often used to start stories).
For Example: Once upon a time, I had a dog named Max. / Once upon a time, my town didn’t have a mall.
Alternatively: A long time ago / Story beginning
11. A thing of the past
Meaning: Something that doesn’t exist or happen anymore.
For Example: Phone booths are a thing of the past. / Writing letters is almost a thing of the past.
Alternatively: No longer used / Gone now
12. Let bygones be bygones
Meaning: Forget old arguments or problems.
For Example: Let’s let bygones be bygones and be friends again. / We had a fight, but we let bygones be bygones.
Alternatively: Forgive and forget / Move on
13. Walk down memory lane
Meaning: Remember happy times from the past.
For Example: Looking at old photos is like a walk down memory lane. / We walked down memory lane talking about our childhood.
Alternatively: Think back / Remember fun times
14. Before my time
Meaning: Something that happened before you were born or old enough to remember.
For Example: That movie came out before my time. / The old mayor was before my time.
Alternatively: Too old for me to know / Way earlier
15. Bring back memories
Meaning: Make someone remember something.
For Example: This song brings back memories of summer camp. / That smell brings back memories of grandma’s cooking.
Alternatively: Helps me remember / Reminds me
16. The good old days
Meaning: A time in the past that people remember as better.
For Example: Grandpa talks about the good old days. / I miss the good old days before we had homework.
Alternatively: Happy times in the past / Good memories
17. Out of date
Meaning: No longer useful or popular.
For Example: That rule is out of date. / Her phone is out of date and slow.
Alternatively: Old-fashioned / Not used now
18. The sands of time
Meaning: Time that has passed.
For Example: Through the sands of time, cities have changed. / People grow older through the sands of time.
Alternatively: Time going by / Past years
19. From the old school
Meaning: Someone who thinks or acts in an older way.
For Example: My dad is from the old school he writes checks. / She’s from the old school and doesn’t use email.
Alternatively: Traditional / Old habits
20. Turn back the clock
Meaning: Go back to an earlier time.
For Example: I wish I could turn back the clock to when we were in 3rd grade. / You can’t turn back the clock, but you can make new memories.
Alternatively: Go back in time / Rewind life
21. Back in the stone age
Meaning: A joking way to say something is very old.
For Example: That computer looks like it’s from the stone age. / We didn’t even have cell phones back in the stone age!
Alternatively: Very old / Really outdated
22. Go way back
Meaning: To know someone for a long time.
For Example: We go way back to preschool. / My mom and her friend go way back.
Alternatively: Known for years / Old friends
23. As old as the hills
Meaning: Very old.
For Example: That blanket is as old as the hills. / This story is as old as the hills.
Alternatively: Super old / Been around forever
24. In the mists of time
Meaning: Too long ago to clearly remember.
For Example: The reason we did that is lost in the mists of time. / That memory is in the mists of time now.
Alternatively: Long forgotten / Hard to remember
25. In the olden days
Meaning: A long time ago.
For Example: In the olden days, people used horses for travel. / Kids didn’t have phones in the olden days.
Alternatively: Long ago / Ancient times
26. The memory fades
Meaning: When you start to forget something.
For Example: The memory fades over time. / I used to remember that day, but now the memory fades.
Alternatively: Hard to recall / Slowly forgetting
27. From another era
Meaning: From a very different time.
For Example: That dress looks like it’s from another era. / His manners are from another era.
Alternatively: From the past / Different time
28. Not what it used to be
Meaning: Something has changed and is not the same.
For Example: This park is not what it used to be. / Our school isn’t what it used to be.
Alternatively: Changed / Not like before
29. Relive the past
Meaning: To remember and feel the past again.
For Example: Watching the video helped me relive the past. / She likes to relive the past by listening to old music.
Alternatively: Experience again / Go back in memory
30. Yesterday’s news
Meaning: Something old and no longer important.
For Example: That story is yesterday’s news now. / Nobody cares about that it’s yesterday’s news.
Alternatively: Not current / Old info
31. Dig up the past
Meaning: To talk about or remember something from long ago.
For Example: Why are you digging up the past? / She always digs up the past in arguments.
Alternatively: Bring up old stuff / Talk about before
32. A faded memory
Meaning: Something you can barely remember.
For Example: That trip is just a faded memory now. / My first bike is a faded memory.
Alternatively: Almost forgotten / Not clear
33. From the past
Meaning: Belonging to an earlier time.
For Example: These letters are from the past. / That picture is from the past.
Alternatively: Old / Belonging to long ago
34. Over the years
Meaning: During a long time.
For Example: Over the years, we have changed a lot. / I’ve learned so much over the years.
Alternatively: With time / Slowly
35. Time stood still
Meaning: A moment felt very slow, like nothing moved.
For Example: When I saw the photo, time stood still. / It was so peaceful, time stood still.
Alternatively: Everything paused / Quiet moment
36. Brings the past to life
Meaning: Makes old memories feel real again.
For Example: This book brings the past to life. / Grandma’s stories bring the past to life.
Alternatively: Feels real again / Makes old times clear
37. Frozen in time
Meaning: Something that hasn’t changed in a long time.
For Example: That room looks frozen in time. / The house is frozen in time with old decorations.
Alternatively: Unchanged / Looks old
38. Had its day
Meaning: Something that was popular or useful long ago but not now.
For Example: That toy had its day, but no one plays with it now. / CDs had their day.
Alternatively: Used to be popular / No longer needed
39. Time flew by
Meaning: Time passed quickly.
For Example: Summer break was so fun time flew by. / Time flew by at the party.
Alternatively: Time passed fast / Went by quickly
40. Like it was yesterday
Meaning: Something that feels fresh in your mind even if it happened long ago.
For Example: I remember that day like it was yesterday. / Our trip feels like it was yesterday.
Alternatively: Very clear memory / Still fresh
True/False Quiz – Idioms About the Past
Choose True or False for each sentence below.
- “Back in the day” means something that will happen in the future.
True / False - If something is “a blast from the past,” it reminds you of an earlier time.
True / False - “Water under the bridge” means you are still angry about something.
True / False - Saying “let bygones be bygones” means to stay upset about old problems.
True / False - “Walk down memory lane” means to take a walk in your neighborhood.
True / False - If someone is “living in the past,” they are thinking too much about old times.
True / False - “Out of date” means something is new and popular.
True / False - Saying “turn back the clock” means you wish you could go back to an earlier time.
True / False - “Time flew by” means that time passed very slowly.
True / False - If something feels “like it was yesterday,” it means it’s hard to remember.
True / False
Answer Key
- False
- True
- False
- False
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
- False
Scoring Guide
- 10 Correct Answers: Idioms Master!
- 7–9 Correct Answers: You really get Idioms nice work!
- 4–6 Correct Answers: You’re learning, keep going!
- 0–3 Correct Answers: Let’s learn about Idioms together!
Conclusion
Idioms about the past help us describe memories in a fun way. They can show how we feel about old times and help us share stories.
By learning these idioms, you can talk about memories more clearly. They also help you understand others when they talk about their past. Keep practicing them to make your speaking more interesting and easy to follow.
