We have seen better days In english explanation

The meaning, explanation, definition and origin of the idiom/phrase "We have seen better days", English Idiom Dictionary ( also found in Vietnamese )

author Tommy Tran calendar 2020-12-23 05:12

Meaning of We have seen better days

Synonyms:

had better days

We have seen better days sentence informal

To have been in better condition in the past.

We have seen better days but we will make it through.

My laptop has seen better days, I think it's time to get a new one.

We have seen better days but we are still good at our job.

Other phrases about:

fray at/around the edges/seams

1. To become shabby or worn along the edges when talking about fabric or threads

2. To become weaker or less effective, or start to fail

have (grown) whiskers

To be extremely old (a joke or a story)

old enough to be (one's) mother

Another individual is far older than the individual in question

have one foot in the grave
To be in terrible condition; To be near death because of old age or illness
spit and sawdust

An old-fashioned pub.

Grammar and Usage of We have seen better days

  • to have seen better days

Origin of We have seen better days

"Timon of Athens" by William Shakespeare. (Image Source: FineArtsMuseums)

The expression originally described a person who had been wealthy, but had fallen on hard times. The line is first recorded in the play Sir Thomas More, which is a play written by several playwrights, including Shakespeare: 

"Hauing seene better dayes, now know the lack Of glorie that once rearde eche high-fed back."

Shakespeare later used it in several plays, for example, Timon of Athens, 1607: 

"As 'twere a knell unto our master's fortunes,
'We have seen better days.' Let each take some;"

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TODAY
to rob the cradle
have a romantic or sexual relationship with or marry someone much younger than oneself.
Example: The middle aged man robbed the cradle with the teenager.
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