checkered past
Meaning: A personal history that includes both successes and failures, or ethical and unethical behavior.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Category: Daily Life
Origin: The expression originates from the alternating black and white (opposite colors) of a checker board. It is generally used in a negative sense, focusing more on failures and unethical behavior than on successes and ethical behavior.
More idioms — Daily Life
- a chip off the old block — Very much like one's parent(s).
- clean slate — A new beginning, usually achieved by removing any record of previous bad deeds (sentence…
- clean someone out — To take or steal everything someone has.
- clear the air — To resolve hidden resentment or uncover hidden thoughts.
- climb the walls — To be uneasy or restless.
- climb on the bandwagon — To join the crowd in following a popular position, cause, activity, or fashion.
More English idioms
- close shave — A narrow escape.
- closed-minded — Unwilling to consider new ideas.
- come full circle — To return (figuratively) to a point where one has been before.
- come home to roost — To return to cause trouble.
- clown around — To act silly.
- come off it! — A response to a statement that cannot be believed (sentence 1) or a behavior that must be…
Loading the full interactive collection…