English Reference
Idiom idiom

sell-by date


An indication that something, or someone, is old and out of date.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

That old computer has passed its sell-by date.

CONTEXTUAL

Many people think his political ideas have passed their sell-by date and need a modern update.

COMPLEX

The critic argued that the director's repetitive style had long since passed its sell-by date, failing to resonate with a contemporary audience.


Related idioms3entries
  1. 01

    blind date

    A date (romantic meeting) between two people who have never met before.

  2. 02

    catch a date

    Of a prostitute, to secure a client who is willing to pay for services.

  3. 03

    date with destiny

    An inevitable future event or anticipated occurrence, especially in the form of an encounter which is likely to be momentous.

Last updated August 10, 2026