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to turn up like a bad penny
01
to reappear where one is not welcome or needed
Dialect
British
British![to [turn] up like a bad penny definition and meaning](https://cdn.langeek.co/photo/47382/original/?type=jpeg "to [turn] up like a bad penny definition and meaning")
Idiom
Informal
Old useWhat is the origin of the idiom "turn up like a bad penny" and when to use it?
The phrase "turn up like a bad penny" is an idiomatic expression that originated in the 18th century. It refers to someone or something that keeps reappearing, often when they are unwelcome or unwanted. The "bad penny" in the phrase alludes to a counterfeit or defective coin, which nobody wants. So, when someone or something "turns up like a bad penny," it means they keep showing up even when they are not wanted or expected.
Examples
I try to avoid Jessica, but wherever I go she turns up like a bad penny!
No matter where I go, my old high school rival always seems to turn up like a bad penny.
