# ghost at the feast

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/ghost-at-the-feast
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A presence that mars one's enjoyment by causing guilt or reviving unwelcome memories.

## Examples

- His sad face was a ghost at the feast during our party.
- Even though the celebration was lively, the mention of the lost contract acted like a ghost at the feast.
- The presence of the disgraced former director at the anniversary gala served as a ghost at the feast, casting a long shadow over the evening's festivities.

## Origin

After Banquo in Shakespeare's Macbeth (1606); Macbeth murders Banquo, whose mutilated body subsequently appears at a feast as a ghost, unseen by all but Macbeth.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.