auld

auld lang syne

Old times, especially those that are remembered fondly. In Scottish, the phrase means "old long since." Come on, you're only in town for a few days—let's go to dinner for auld lang syne. Sorry, I already have plans tonight. My former neighbor and I are getting together for auld lang syne. It was so nice to see my old teammates for auld lang syne. I really do miss those guys.

See also: auld, lang, syne

for auld lang syne

In honor of old times. "Auld lang syne" is a Scottish phrase meaning "old long since." Come on, you're only in town for a few days—let's go to dinner for auld lang syne. Sorry, I already have plans tonight. My former neighbor and I are getting together for auld lang syne. It was so nice to see my old teammates for auld lang syne. I really do miss those guys.

See also: auld, for, lang, syne

for old times' sake

In honor of old memories. I'm going to be late tonight because I'm meeting up with some of my old co-workers—we're getting a drink for old times' sake. Sorry, I already have plans tonight. My former neighbor and I are getting together for old times' sake. It was so nice to see my old teammates for old times' sake. I really do miss those guys.

See also: for, old, sake

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

for auld lang syne

for old times' sake.

The phrase literally means ‘for old long since’, and is the title and refrain of a song by Robert Burns ( 1788 ).

See also: auld, for, lang, syne

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

for ˈold times’ sake

because of pleasant memories of things you did together in the past: I saw John Smith today. I hadn’t seen him for years. We had a drink together for old times’ sake. ♢ I lent him the money for old times’ sake.

See also: for, old, sake

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

for auld lang syne/for old times' sake

In memory of the good old days; for nostalgic reasons. This expression today is invariably associated with the song Robert Burns allegedly took down from an old man’s singing in 1788. Presumably it began its life with an emphasis on remembering “auld acquaintance”—that is, old friends—which appeared about 1670 in a ballad by Francis Semphill and repeated a phrase that was already proverbial. The anglicized version, for old times’ sake, probably dates from the same period. Eric Partridge deemed both to be clichés by the mid-nineteenth century.

See also: auld, for, lang, old, sake, syne

The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer