has-been

/'hæzbi:n/

Học thuật

Thân thiện

A former pop star is now considered a has-been.

Definition

Noun:
- A person who is no longer popular, successful, or influential: A "has-been" refers to someone who was once famous, important, or skilled but whose fame, relevance, or ability has now significantly declined or ended.

Usage

The term is often used in informal or slightly critical contexts to describe celebrities, athletes, artists, or public figures whose peak of success is perceived to be in the past.
It can carry a connotation of pity or mild scorn, suggesting the person is clinging to past glory.
It is typically used as a countable noun (e.g., , ).

Examples

Advanced Usage

"A has-been" vs. "A never-was": While a "has-been" achieved success in the past, a "never-was" is someone who never achieved any notable success at all.
- Critics called him a has-been, but at least he had a decade of fame. She's just a never-was.
Used attributively (before another noun) to describe something outdated.
- The town is full of has-been actors and forgotten musicians.

Variants and Related Words

Washed-up (adjective): Informal synonym describing someone whose career is over or who is no longer successful.
- He's a washed-up comedian playing small clubs.
Former star (noun phrase): A more neutral term for someone who was once famous.
Past one's prime (idiomatic phrase): Describing someone who is no longer at their best, often due to age.

Synonyms

Yesterday's news: An idiom for someone or something no longer interesting or important.
On the decline: A phrase describing a decrease in popularity or ability.

Related Idioms

Living on past glory: Behaving as if one's past achievements are still relevant today.
- The politician is just living on past glory; no one listens to his speeches anymore.
A flash in the pan: Someone or something that enjoyed a very brief period of success (different from a "has-been," which implies a longer period of past success).
- His first novel was a hit, but he turned out to be a flash in the pan, not a true has-been.

A former pop star is now considered a has-been.

Noun

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