chantler63

By chantler63

Past its best!

Today's Shakespeare Challenge is 'seen better days' and , for once, the decision on what to blip was easy. Moonrise was just before midnight so by the time it was above the trees (which doesn't actually take long) it was after midnight and I could legitimately use it for today's blip. It's now waning and clearly seen better days since the full moon last Monday.

Seen better days
Meaning
To have been more wealthy or in better condition in former times.
Origin
At first, 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 which is 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.

Comments
Sign in or get an account to comment.