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old acquaintance
/oʊld əˈkweɪntəns/
person you know but haven't seen recently
I ran into an old acquaintance at the grocery store yesterday.
The speaker unexpectedly met someone they knew from the past but hadn't kept in touch with.
neutral
A person you have met before but do not currently know well or have not seen for a long time.
She greeted her old acquaintance warmly at the reunion.
She greeted a person she had known in the past but hadn't seen recently.
He recognized an old acquaintance from his college days.
He recognized someone he had known during his time in college.
The phrase emphasizes the past relationship rather than current familiarity.
Collocations
run into an old acquaintanceto meet someone unexpectedlyreunite with an old acquaintanceto meet someone again after a long time
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Avoid confusion with 'old friend'
'Old acquaintance' implies a weaker or less current relationship than 'old friend.' Use 'old friend' for someone you remain close to despite the passage of time.
Gold Rule
Use 'old acquaintance' for past but not current relationships
This phrase is appropriate when referring to someone you knew in the past but have not seen or interacted with recently.
Word Origin
The phrase combines 'old' (from Old English 'eald,' meaning long-standing) and 'acquaintance' (from Old French 'acointance,' meaning familiarity or knowledge). The term has been used in English since the 17th century to describe people known in the past.
Usage Notes
Use 'old acquaintance' to refer to someone you knew previously but haven't maintained contact with. It is more formal than 'old friend' and suggests a weaker or less current relationship.
Word Breakdown
old
having existed for a long time
adjectiveacquaintance
a person one knows slightly
nounEnglish Dictionary