seen better days, have
have seen better days
To be or look particularly shabby, ill-kept, or in poor condition. Wow, this car has seen better days. What'd you do, drive it through a minefield? The poor guy who runs the building has certainly seen better days, but he's a sweet fellow.
See also: better, days, have, seen
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
seen better days, have
Be worn out, have fallen into a state of decline, as in This chair has seen better days, or The family business has seen better days. This term was first used by Shakespeare to describe a decline of fortune ( Timon of Athens, 4:2) but soon was broadened to describe aging or deterioration in both humans and objects.
See also: better, have, seen
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
- have seen better days
- seen better days
- seen better days, to have
- make a better, good, poor, etc. fist of something
- make a poor fist of (something)
- mice
- poor as a churchmouse
- (as) poor as a church mouse
- church
- churchmouse