has-been
87
6.8
- noun
- /ˈhæzˌbin/
- Offensive
:
acabado
- After years in the spotlight, he felt like a has-been when younger stars took over.
Examples
-
Restoring old Jaegers, showing has-beens like me around.
-
I have more money than the Queen of Sheba, and I'm a very, very, very happy has-been.
-
Why is that has-been trying to ride my coattails?
-
Um, it's this weird like alcoholic, abrasive has-been character.
-
It's embarrassing stalking a has-been, you know what I mean?
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The actor became a has-been after his last few movies failed to attract audiences.
-
Many critics dismissed her as a has-been after her earlier successes faded from memory.
Synonyms
29
3.8
Something that people do not use or think about anymore
9
4.4
A past event or fact that many people no longer care about
2
7.2
An object, custom, or idea from long ago that seems out of date
1
7.1
A person or thing that is much weaker and less impressive than before
A person who is no longer important or fashionable
How Famous
480
2.3
50
1.0
51
3.5
- Offensive
87
6.8
34
7.3
- Offensive
18
2.4
Surface Forms
Morphology
has-been = has + been (semi-transparent) = has + been
Formally built from the phrase 'has been' (auxiliary + past participle) so the components are clear, but the pejorative, idiomatic noun meaning ('no longer successful') requires pragmatic inference.
Etymology
Has-been comes from the simple phrase has been, which means 'used to be' or 'was before'. So calling someone a has-been says their best time is over, because they were once famous or important but are not now.