an/(one's) 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

old flame

n. a former sweetheart or lover. It is best to forget an old flame.
See also: flame, old
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • an 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