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has-been - Wiktionary, the free dictionary

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

has-been (plural has-beens)

  1. (informal, derogatory) A person, especially one who was formerly popular or influential, who continues in their field after their popularity or effectiveness has peaked and is now in decline.
    Synonyms: gonnabe, never-be, never-was, rusty nail, wannabe, would-be

    • 1927 November 25, J. Jingle, “Merely My Musings”, in The Dabbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate, page 2, column 3:

      When the aforesaid alderman or another wishes to express mild contemptuosity for his fellows and himself in future I would suggest “old fossils” or “old has beens,” or “old fogies,” then the Sir Galahads that are always riding—or driving—about in this progressive dorp will not have any cause to complain.

    • 1986 January 6, John Gantz, “Things Look Better in the Long View”, in InfoWorld, volume 7, number 52, page 19:

      I think Apple Computer is a has-been.

    • 2009, William Shatner, Up Till Now: The Autobiography, page 338:

      Is it better to never be than to be and eventually become a has-been?

has-been

  1. (informal, derogatory) Of or pertaining to someone or something that was once popular, successful or important but is no longer considered so.

person declining in popularity or effectiveness

Unadapted borrowing from English has-been.

has-been (invariable)

  1. out of fashion

    • 2023, Frédéric Beigbeder, “Adieu la coke”, in Confessions d'un hétérosexuel légèrement dépassé, Paris: Albin Michel, →ISBN, page 40:

      La coke est devenue has been.

      Coke has fallen out of fashion.

has-been m or f (plural has-beens)

  1. (derogatory) has-been