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.

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.

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.

lang may yer lum reek

Used to express well wishes to someone, especially as part of a toast or farewell. The phrase literally means "long may your chimney smoke." Primarily heard in Scotland. I just cannae believe ye'r leaving. Lang may yer lum reek, chum!

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 ).

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.

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

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