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bad penny

noun

Definitions

  1. A person or thing which is unpleasant, disreputable, or otherwise unwanted, especially…

    A person or thing which is unpleasant, disreputable, or otherwise unwanted, especially one which repeatedly appears at inopportune times.

    • "Felix Marchand'll have much money—bad penny as he is," continued Christine in her normal voice.
    • Pierce remembered Hilda's prophecy that her indigent husband would turn up, like a bad penny.
    • But as the perennial bad penny of British political life, he keeps turning up at embarrassing moments.

  2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically

    Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see bad, penny: A counterfeit or damaged penny.

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sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA