bad penny | Idiomator

Meaning: (idiomatic)A person or thing which isunpleasant,disreputable, or otherwiseunwanted, especially one whichrepeatedlyappears atinopportunetimes.1916,Gilbert Parker, chapter 4, inThe World For Sale:"Felix Marchand'll have much money—bad pennyas he is," continued Christine in her normal voice.1918,Rex Ellingwood Beach, chapter 17, inThe Winds of Chance:Pierce remembered Hilda's prophecy that her indigent husband would turn up, like abad penny.1975June 9, R. Z. Sheppard, “Springtime for Mosley (book review)”, inTime:But as the perennialbad pennyof British political life, he keeps turning up at embarrassing moments.; Used other than figuratively or idiomatically:seebad,‎penny:Acounterfeitordamagedpenny.1808,w:Edward Du Bois, “Bad Money”, inw:The Monthly Mirror, volume III New Series, London, Edinburgh: J Wright; Vernor, Hood and Sharpe; J. Murray; A. Constable & co, page20:And in respect tobad halfpencehe advises that none be taken atturnpikes, whose keepersbuy bad halfpence by the pound, and circulate them largely on the specious principle ofgiving and taking–that is–theytake onebad pennyfrom a horseman to day, and when he changes a sixpence to-morrow,givehimfive, none of which they probably ever see again, until they are found in that quarter where they can buy them by the weight.

Examples:

EN: And one of these days, I'll be coming back like a bad penny.
ES: Y uno de estos días, como el centavo malo, regresare.
EN: A bad penny always turns up.
ES: La cabra siempre tira al monte.
EN: - l always do, like a bad penny.
ES: - Yo siempre aparezco como la falsa moneda.
EN: Oh, you can't lose a bad penny like me, you know.
ES: No puedes perder una mala pieza como yo, ya sabes.
EN: Little Joe you are lending a bad penny
ES: ¡El pequeño Joe, quién lo iba a decir!
EN: -Remember me, the bad penny?
ES: - ¿Recuerdas al penique falso?
EN: Features familiar as markings on bad penny.
ES: Sus rasgos son tan familiares como las marcas de un centavo malo.
EN: What's that they say in the books About the bad penny?
ES: ¿La oveja descarriada vuelve al redil?
EN: You're like a bad penny.
ES: Es como un penique falso.
EN: Like a bad penny?
ES: ¿Un aguafiestas?
EN: Yes, the bad penny again.
ES: Sí, el antipático otra vez.
EN: Strictly a bad penny, that one. Sleeps with one eye open.
ES: Un detective de perra gorda.
EN: Always turning up like a bad penny.
ES: Siempre aparezco hasta en la sopa.
EN: Everyone peacefully sailing along minding his own business... and Jerry has to turn up like a bad penny.
ES: Todos navegan tranquilamente, sin molestar a nadie... y los alemanes aparecen nuevamente.
EN: Did ya ever hear of a bad penny not turning up?
ES: ¿Tom está bien?

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