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The meaning and origin of the expression: Seen better days

Seen better days

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What's the meaning of the phrase 'We have seen better days'?

To have been more wealthy or in better condition in former times.

What's the origin of the phrase 'We have seen better days'?

The meaning and origin of the phrase 'Seen better days'When it was first coined this phrase referred to people who had fallen on hard times, having previously been wealthy. More recently, the phrase is more often used to describe objects which are worn-out than people who are impoverished.

The line is first recorded in the play Sir Thomas More, 1590:

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

That work is anonymous but has been, at least in part, attributed to William Shakespeare. Shakespeare certainly did like the line and used it in several plays, for example, Timon of Athens, 1607:

FLAVIUS:
Good fellows all,
The latest of my wealth I'll share amongst you.
Wherever we shall meet, for Timon's sake,
Let's yet be fellows; let's shake our heads, and say,
As 'twere a knell unto our master's fortunes,
'We have seen better days.' Let each take some;
Nay, put out all your hands. Not one word more:
Thus part we rich in sorrow, parting poor.

Gary Martin - the author of the phrases.org.uk website.

By Gary Martin

Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

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