Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

a bad penny

idiom

/ə ˈbæd ˈpɛni/

Definition

A person or thing that reappears or returns after a long absence, usually bringing trouble or unwanted consequences.

Examples

Every time I think I’ve moved on, the past comes back like a bad penny.
He promised to stay away, but he returned like a bad penny, causing chaos again.

Meaning

The phrase suggests that just as a bad penny, which is undesired and of little value, keeps coming back, so do certain people or issues that are unwelcome.