English

Alternative forms

• have had one's day

Verb

have seen one's day

1. (idiomatic, of persons, things, ideas, etc.) To be at the point in a life cycle or career of no longer being useful or effective; to be worn-out.
   • 1855, "To the Editor," New York Times, 22 Dec. (retrieved 18 July 2010):

     Now, as you say, and most every other one says, the grooving plan has seen its day. We must try some other plan.

   • 1945, "Pan American Reopens Pacific Flights to Manila," Milwaukee Journal, 18 Dec. (retrieved 18 July 2010):

     The old Boeing flying boats have seen their day, he added. They will be replaced with more economical land planes.

   • 2002, "Sampras polishes his status as tennis legend," Dispatch Online (South Africa), 10 Sep. (retrieved 18 July 2010):

     Written off by most observers as a champion who had seen his day, the Sampras who stalked the courts as world number one for six straight years in the 1990s rose from the ashes to add to his lustre with a record-setting 14th Grand Slam title.

Usage notes

• To have seen better days and to have seen one's day have similar meanings. However, to have seen one's day may indicate that the subject is completely worn-out and of no use whatever, while to have seen better days may indicate that the subject is not fully worn-out and still has some functionality even if it is well past its peak condition.

See also

• has-been
• have seen better days
• over the hill