a bad penny always turns up
- a bad penny always turns up
The proverb, also used allusively in simile and metaphor (see quot. 1766), refers to the predictable, and usually unwelcome, return of a disreputable or prodigal person after some absence.
1766 A. ADAMS in L. H. Butterfield et al. Adams Family Correspondence (1963) I. 55 Like a bad penny it returnd, to me again.
1824 SCOTT Redgauntlet II. ii. Bring back Darsie? little doubt of that—the bad shilling is sure enough to come back again.
1884 R. H. THORPE Fenton Family iii. Just like as not he’ll be coming back one of these days, when he’s least wanted. A bad penny is sure to return.
1922 JOYCE Ulysses 149 Who’s dead, when and what did he die of? Turn up like a bad penny.
1941 A. UPDEGRAFF Hills look Down vi. ‘I miss Bart.’ ‘Oh, a bad penny always turns up again.’
1979 G. MITCHELL Mudflats of Dead iii. ‘Stop worrying. The bad pennies always turn up.’ ‘Oh, Adrian, I don’t think she’s a bad penny, not really.’
Proverbs new dictionary.
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a bad penny always turns up — ► a bad penny always turns up proverb someone or something unwelcome will always reappear. Main Entry: ↑penny … English terms dictionary
penny — ► NOUN (pl. pennies (for separate coins); pence (for a sum of money)) 1) a British bronze coin worth one hundredth of a pound. 2) a former British coin worth one twelfth of a shilling and 240th of a pound. 3) N. Amer. informal a one cent coin. ●… … English terms dictionary
penny — see a penny saved is a penny earned penny wise and pound foolish a bad penny always turns up in for a penny, in for a pound no penny, no paternoster take care of the pence and the pounds will take care of themselves … Proverbs new dictionary
bad — see a bad excuse is better than none bad money drives out good bad news travels fast a bad penny always turns up bad things come in threes there is no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothes … Proverbs new dictionary
turn up like a bad penny — informal phrase if someone who you do not like turns up like a bad penny, they always seem to appear in situations where you do not want them Tom was the bad penny that always turned up. Thesaurus: to arrive in a place, or to enter a placesynonym … Useful english dictionary
turn up like a bad penny — informal if someone who you do not like turns up like a bad penny, they always seem to appear in situations where you do not want them Tom was the bad penny that always turned up … English dictionary
Penny Arcade (webcomic) — Penny Arcade Author(s) Jerry Holkins Mike Krahulik Website penny arcade.com … Wikipedia
Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs, Thematic Index — absence absence makes the heart grow fonder he who is absent is always in the wrong the best of friends must part blue are the hills that are far away distance lends enchantment to the view out of sight, out of mind … Proverbs new dictionary
Avro Lancaster — Lanc redirects here. Distinguish from lank (adjective), and from Amon Lanc (a place in Tolkien s fiction). Infobox Aircraft name= Avro Lancaster type= Heavy bomber manufacturer= Avro caption= Royal Air Force Avro Lancaster B I PA474 of the Battle … Wikipedia
Операция «Манна» (Нидерланды, 1945) — У этого термина существуют и другие значения, см. Операция «Манна» … Википедия
