an old flame

an/(one's) old flame

One's former lover. How am I supposed to forget about my old flame if I keep seeing her around town? Yeah, Ben is his old flame—they dated last summer.
See also: flame, old
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

an old flame

COMMON An old flame is someone who you had a romantic relationship with in the past. Last week Alec was seen dining with his old flame Janine Turner in New York. Note: An old meaning of `flame' was the person that someone was in love with.
See also: flame, old
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

an old flame

a former lover. informal
See also: flame, old
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

an old ˈflame

(informal) a person you were once in love with; a former boyfriend or girlfriend: My mother has an old flame who sends her a bottle of perfume once a year.
See also: flame, old
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • an/(one's) old flame
  • old flame
  • make old bones
  • bolt bucket
  • mossback
  • a piece of old tackie
  • for auld lang syne
  • lang
  • auld
  • be (as) old as the hills
References in classic literature
There once lived, in a sequestered part of the county of Devonshire, one Mr Godfrey Nickleby: a worthy gentleman, who, taking it into his head rather late in life that he must get married, and not being young enough or rich enough to aspire to the hand of a lady of fortune, had wedded an old flame out of mere attachment, who in her turn had taken him for the same reason.
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
Recently, I was contacted by an old flame and the passion that I had with him was explosive.
We're in love but there's no passion between us; DEAR COLEEN; Britain's most straight-talking problem page
[USA], Sep 10 (ANI): Seems like, Leonardo DiCaprio is rekindling an old flame as he recently appeared to be back in the arms of his former girlfriend Toni Garrn.
Leonardo DiCaprio, ex-Toni Garrn spotted holding hands in NYC
Not only are there endless unexplained deaths to investigate, but an old flame to contend with.
THE CORONER ALIBI, 8pm
She receives a phone call from an old flame, record producer Harry Hawkes (Ralph Fiennes), who has arrived unexpectedly on the island.
DVD RELEASES three to see; Missed it at the cinema?We round up the best DVD releases of the week
LAST week Hanssen was trying to bat away an old flame who'd turned up at Holby, tonight it's Serena Campbell's turn when she discovers that her ex husband Edward is the new locum anaesthetist who arrived a couple of weeks ago.
HOLBY CITY (8pm BBC1); WE LOVE DRAMA
But last night Michelle's anger grew after it was reported that her ex-fiance had been having phone sex with an old flame behind the actress's back.
I'LL NEVER FORGIVE BAD MAX; Corrie Michelle's love split anger
With an old flame reappearing for Polly, a blossoming new career for Clare and a long-buried family secret in the mix, sparks are sure to fly.
Chick Lit; Girls' night in
So we ask experts if it's agood idea to rekindle an old flame
Should we open the Ex- Files?
A pensioner is back with an old flame he fell in love with 50 years ago - a car called Emmeline.
Weird World
An angry osprey who smashed his mate's eggs when she went off with an old flame has fathered a new brood.
Back in the nest; NATURE
Portsmouth goalkeeper David James split up with his South Wales wife Tanya to unsucessfully rekindle his love for an old flame Amanda Salmon.
Track down your lost love for TV
Bizarrely, his first move is to track down an old flame - Denise Osbourne.
tv & soaps: Ken's boy wonder; coronation street
A DEMENTED Irish vicar, a confused matron and an old flame all add to the comedy fun as the Dunchurch Players take to the stage in It Runs In The Family.
It's more tee-hee vicar as show goes on
In this latest installment Georgia must contend with a family trip to Scotland ("Och-aye land"), her over-large breasts ("nunga-nungas"), and her crushes on her boyfriend ("The Sex God"), an old flame, "Dave the Laugh," and a handsome new French teacher.
Rennison, Louise. Knocked out by my nunga-nungas