good old days

the good old days

A past period of better times. Often used to describe a time that one believes was better, simpler, or more wholesome than the current period. Ah, those were the good old days. Did you know I was captain of the football team back then? Were the good old days really that good? I think your memory is a bit rosier than reality.
See also: days, good, old
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

good old days

back in an earlier time which everyone remembers as a better time, even if it really wasn't. Back in the good old days, during World War I, they used real cactus needles in record players. The good old days didn't start until they had indoor bathrooms.
See also: days, good, old
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

the good old days

COMMON People use the good old days to talk about a time in the past when they think life was better. Brad's dead, and sitting around talking about the good old days isn't going to bring him back. In the good old days, the studios were able to look after stars when there wasn't much work.
See also: days, good, old
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

the ˈgood/ˈbad old days

an earlier period of time in your life or in history that is seen as better/worse than the present: That was in the bad old days of very high inflation.
See also: bad, days, good, old
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

good old days, the

The past viewed with nostalgia. “Last year was always better,” recorded Erasmus in his Adagia (quoting Diogenianus, from his Adagia of ca. a.d. 125). The human propensity to view the past as superior to the present has often been pointed out by philosophers since ancient times, and the validity of this view has just as often been called into question. Consequently, the current cliché is often used ironically or sarcastically. Its counterpart, dating from about 1930, is the bad old days, signifying a less sentimental view of the past.
See also: good, old
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • good old days, the
  • the good old days
  • the good/bad old days
  • all the better
  • all to the better
  • so much the better
  • (one had) better get moving
  • better get moving
  • be better placed
  • ideally
References in periodicals archive
"If you compare the current state of play to what many believe were the "good old days", people will soon see there is no comparison."
You've never rehashed it so good.
The good old days were nothing but, and living in rural areas a century ago - if you survived childbirth - was no picnic.
Shane on the Screen: Past tense; Century Farm
The Good Old Days is at Whitley Bay Playhouse tomorrow at 2.30pm.
Afternoon of happy memories
In the good old days, people generally expected love to crash and burn.
Romantic reverie: mild-mannered reporter dreams up tale of love, sex, and celebrity worship
He was one of many police 'characters' to be found in Huddersfield in these so-called 'good old days'.
Bobby dazzler; A collection of snapshots of the 'happiest days of our lives'
Bring back the good old days when we spoke to human beings.
Letter: Your view - Going back
OH, the FA Cup final was so much better in the good old days.
Whiteside, Houchen and Rush - don't you miss the good old days? VIEW FROM THE SOFA
IN the good old days all a postie had to worry about was an aggressive dog or randy housewife on the receiving end of a recorded delivery.
Juliet Lawrence WIlson Column: POSTIE'S SURPRISE PACKAGE
Here's what some of our residents have to say about Premier Retirement Home:``There's a tendency to write people off once senility kicks in, but I just love every day I spend in the Premier'' Bobby ``What went on in your former life is forgotten Glenn ``It's a chance to meet old friends and chat about the good old days - I just love it!''
Football: Looking backon football's golden era: Premier Retirement Home
I WRITE in defence of education in ``the good old days''.
Letter: Old school 7
MADONNA: What It Feels Like For a Girl (Maverick) - Madge tries to remember the good old days. 9/10
Reviews: Singles of the Week
People might mumble about the good old days of Miss Diane and Amy Turtle but the new Crossroads looks likely to be a strong contender in the soap stakes.
Super soap looks set for a long stay
Looking forward to more poetry on the second Thursday of every month - just like the good old days.
Letter: Mailbag - Perfect poetry night
MUSIC hall enthusiasts are being invited by Walsall Council's Natasha Campbell to step back to the good old days at the Town Hall.
Black Country News: Natasha's notes are nostalgic; WALSALL
What's happened to the good old days of Scottish tradition, such as using turnips or neeps instead of these pumpkins?
Letter: Your view - Trick not treat