# ghost from one's past

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/ghost-from-ones-past
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Something unpleasant from one's past that "haunts" them (makes them feel uneasy) to the present day.

## Examples

- That old mistake is a ghost from my past.
- Seeing my old rival at the party felt like facing a ghost from my past.
- He spent years trying to outrun his mistakes, but every failure felt like a ghost from his past returning to demand an account of his actions.

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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.