a bad penny always comes back
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Also seen as: the bad penny always comes back
Sense 1
Meaning · English
Alternative form of a bad penny always turns up.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
Alternative form of a bad penny always turns up.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “a bad penny always comes back” mean?
Alternative form of a bad penny always turns up.
Is “a bad penny always comes back” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.