old flame

O

old flame (metaphor)
/oʊld fleɪm/

Meanings

• A former romantic partner or lover from the past.
• A past love or crush that still stirs memories or emotions.
• Something or someone once deeply admired or passionately pursued.
• A past passion or enthusiasm that has faded.

Synonyms: ex-; ex-lover; former sweetheart; past love; old crush; previous partner.

Example Sentences

1. She ran into an old flame at the class reunion.
2. He could never quite forget his old flame, even after many years.
3. The artist revisited an old flame of his—painting nature scenes again.

Origin and History

The idiom old flame, meaning a former romantic partner, first appeared in mid-17th-century England, rooted in the metaphor of flame as romantic passion.

Earliest Printed Record

The idiom old flame, referring to a former lover, was first printed in 1651 in Poems by English poet and translator Thomas Stanley (1625–1678). It appears in his translation of Horace’s Ode III.9 (“Donec gratus eram tibi”), a dialogue between lovers. The relevant stanza, spoken by the male voice, reads:

What if the old flame burn again still clearer,
The old bonds bind more strongly than before?
If fair-hair’d Chloe be discarded from her
Proud throne, and the slighted Lydia restor’d?

This usage equates a rekindled romance to a reigniting flame, matching the modern idiomatic meaning.

Semantic Background and Metaphor

The idiom old flame uses the metaphor of flame to represent romantic passion, a common figurative association in English. The word old denotes a past relationship, combining with flame to succinctly describe a former love interest. This metaphor leverages the imagery of a fire that once burned brightly but has since faded or been extinguished.

Path to Modern English

From the 17th century, old flame persisted in literature and speech, gaining prominence in the 19th century through novels and everyday use. Its concise imagery and emotional resonance ensured its survival into modern English, where it remains a common expression for a past romantic partner.

Documentary Evidence and Scholarly Notes

Thomas Stanley’s 1651 Poems provides the earliest known printed use of old flame in its idiomatic sense, but earlier oral or manuscript instances may exist, though undocumented. Later examples, like Dickens’ use in Nicholas Nickleby (1839), reflect its growing popularity but do not predate Stanley’s text.

Timeline of Usage

• 1651: First printed use in Thomas Stanley’s Poems, translating Horace’s Ode III.9.
• 1839: Charles Dickens employs old flame in Nicholas Nickleby, boosting its visibility.
• 19th–20th Centuries: The idiom becomes widespread in literature and colloquial speech.
• Present Day: Commonly used to denote a former romantic partner.

Love, Past, Relationship