has-been

Long dismissed as a has-been joke, Pratt correctly judged that Angelenos are angry and don’t want to be polite about it anymore.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 3, 2026

It's up to the player, manager, or has-been like myself to make a judgement call in the moment.

From BBC ● Mar. 23, 2026

“Not a star, just another has-been, lacing up his sneakers in an empty gym on a Wednesday night.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 25, 2026

He’s invited her to coffee not as father and daughter, but as a has-been angling to cast Nora as the lead of his next film, which he claims he’s written for her.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2025

“I mean, I might not even be at Hogwarts next year, what’s it matter to me if some fat old has-been likes me or not?”

From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling

Perhaps the most memorable moment of the Lilac Hill week came before a ball was bowled, when captain Ben Stokes described critics of England's plans as "has-beens".

From BBC ● Dec. 21, 2025

What consequential life experiences have I missed, taunting my eyeballs, indulging this social media imp turned experimental pugilist as he bumbles around the ring with has-beens and never-weres?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 20, 2025

Leading into Perth, Stokes called the former players who had criticised England's low-key build up as "has-beens" -- and that came back to bite him.

From Barron's ● Nov. 23, 2025

In perhaps the saddest post of the day, a user named Saga mocked up a fantasy poster for the event that featured a murderers’ row of has-beens like Papa Roach, Nickelback, Staind and, yep, Creed.

From Salon ● Oct. 15, 2025

They were only aware that this was where they either went to State, or turned into has-beens as quickly as the golden coach turned into a pumpkin.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger