A Bad Penny

Definition

The phrase “a bad penny” refers to a person or thing that is unpleasant, dishonest, or unwanted but keeps appearing, often at inconvenient times. It is frequently used in the proverb:

• “A bad penny always turns up.”

This means that something undesirable or troublesome is bound to reappear, no matter how much you try to avoid it. It is often used when talking about people who are unreliable or problematic but always seem to resurface.

Origin of the Phrase

The phrase “a bad penny always turns up” dates back centuries and is rooted in the problem of counterfeit coins.

In earlier times, coins were often made of precious metals, but counterfeiters would produce fake pennies using inferior materials. When people discovered they had received a counterfeit (a bad penny), they would try to get rid of it quickly by passing it along in transactions. However, since many others were doing the same, these counterfeit pennies would keep circulating and reappearing in people’s pockets.

Over time, the phrase evolved into a metaphor for unwanted people or things that keep coming back, just like those troublesome counterfeit coins.

Note: Oxford English Dictionary‘s earliest evidence for this phrase is from around 1400, in the writing of William Langland, poet.

Similar Expressions and Phrases

English has several idioms that express a similar idea to “a bad penny always turns up.” Some of them include:

• “Like a boomerang” – Something or someone that keeps coming back.
• “Like a bad smell” – Refers to an annoying or unpleasant person who won’t go away.
• “A thorn in one’s side” – A persistent source of trouble or annoyance.
• “Like an unwelcome guest” – Someone who shows up repeatedly despite not being wanted.

Note: An alternative to the phrase “A bad penny always turns up” is “A bad penny always comes back.”

Examples of “A Bad Penny” in Sentences

Here are some examples of how this idiom is used in everyday conversation:

• We thought we’d seen the last of that shady businessman, but just like a bad penny, he turned up again at the meeting.
• After months of ignoring my calls, Jake reappeared, acting as if nothing had happened. A bad penny always turns up.
• No matter how many times she blocks his number, he keeps finding a way to contact her—just like a bad penny.
• That old rumor about me keeps resurfacing in the office—just like a bad penny that won’t go away.
• Every time we think our team is finally free of internal conflicts, another argument pops up, proving that a bad penny always turns up.

Conclusion

The idiom “a bad penny” has its roots in the history of counterfeit money, but today, it serves as a colorful way to describe anything or anyone that keeps reappearing despite efforts to avoid them. Whether it’s an unreliable acquaintance, an annoying problem, or an old habit, bad pennies always seem to turn up when least expected!