Welcome, dear reader, to the whimsical world of clichés and proverbs! Today’s focus is on the age-old adage: “A bad penny always turns up.”
Definition:
The expression “a bad penny always turns up” means that an unwanted or worthless person or thing is sure to return or reappear, often annoyingly so.
Related Expressions:
- In for a penny, in for a pound.
- A leopard can’t change its spots.
- Old habits die hard.
- Something old, borrowed, and (not so) blue.
Synonyms:
- Persistent pest
- Unwelcome return
- Constant nuisance
Antonyms:
- Gone for good
- Out of sight, out of mind
- Permanent departure
Humorous Quote:
“A bad penny always turns up – just like that one friend who always ‘just happens’ to need a couch to crash on.”
Proverbs Across Cultures:
- “Un mauvais sou revient toujours” (French: “A bad coin always comes back.”)
- “Ein schlechter Pfennig kehrt immer zurück” (German: “A bad penny always returns.”)
Book Reference:
- Title: “The Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs”
- Author: Jennifer Speake
- Relevant Section: The intricate lives of coins and their proverbial prowess.
Literature Recommendation:
- Book: “A Penny for Your Thoughts”
- Author: Mindy Starnes Clark
- This quirky mystery revolves around thoughts, coins, and partly revolves around the intrigues associated with old Proverbs.
Movie Suggestion:
- Title: “Catch Me If You Can”
- This fun portrayal of a con artist perfectly encapsulates the “bad penny” concept in a modern twist.
Song Recommendation:
- Title: “Penny Lane” by The Beatles
- While not directly about bad pennies, it’s a delightful nod to our beloved coinage and part of cultural discourse.
Thought-provoking Inspiration:
Though considered a cliché today, bad pennies and their inevitable return remind us that many situations, like people and objects, tend to recur – teaching us to deal with them more adeptly each time.
Farewell, word lover! Until we meet again in the bustling bazaar of phrases, where every old coin has its tale to spin. 🌟✨
### Which of these is a real idiom?
- [ ] Running on rusty nickels
- [x] A bad penny always turns up
- [ ] Juggling with wooden nickels
- [ ] Sewing with slippery dimes
> **Explanation:** "A bad penny always turns up" is a well-known idiom highlighting the annoying tendency of unwanted things or individuals to reappear. The others are playful inventions.
### True or False: 'Old habits die hard' is related to 'A bad penny always turns up.'
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** True! Both expressions signify that certain unfavorable things persist or reemerge despite efforts to eliminate them.
### Which word completes this proverb? "A bad penny always _ _ _ _ _ up."
- [ ] sits
- [x] turns
- [ ] lifts
- [ ] swims
> **Explanation:** The correct word is "turns." The complete phrase is "A bad penny always turns up."
### Which phrase is NOT synonymous with “A bad penny always turns up”?
- [ ] Persistent Pest
- [x] Penny for Your Thoughts
- [ ] Unwelcome Return
- [ ] Constant Nuisance
> **Explanation:** “Penny for your Thoughts” means asking someone what they're thinking, unrelated to persistently returning troubles.
