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Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

it's ancient history
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Andersen's response: It's ancient history.

News & Media

Forbes

Andersen's response to all this: It's ancient history.

News & Media

Forbes

So pick up Tim Weiner's new book and don't for a second imagine that it's ancient history.

News & Media

Huffington Post

"It's ancient history.

News & Media

The New York Times - Sports

It's ancient history for me.

News & Media

The Guardian - Film

It's ancient history, of course.

News & Media

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

The "white man's burden" is not history; it is ancient history.

News & Media

The New York Times

I did have a drug problem 20 years ago but it is ancient history and has been resolved".

News & Media

The New York Times

Textbooks dwell on China's humiliations at the hands of foreign powers in the 19th century as if they took place yesterday, yet skim over the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s and '70s as if it were ancient history.

News & Media

The New York Times

But, actually, he filmed it over a year ago - it was one of the first things he did after his accident - so it is ancient history now and there is a lot of, 'Come on, brain!' while he struggles to remember the names.

News & Media

The Guardian - Film

Much of it is ancient history, long-dead ancestors whose dalliances are part of the intrigue of amateur genealogy.

News & Media

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

This phrase is particularly effective in interviews or journalism to pivot away from old scandals toward current achievements

Common error

Do not use this phrase in formal academic historical writing to refer to actual ancient periods like the Roman Empire or Ancient Egypt. In those contexts, use the noun phrase "ancient history" without the contraction "it's", as the idiomatic framing implies that the subject is irrelevant or 'over', which contradicts the objective study of the past.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

96%

Authority and reliability

4.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it's ancient history" functions as a metaphorical predicate where the subject 'it' is identified with a distant historical era to imply total irrelevance. In the examples provided by Ludwig, the phrase typically serves as a conversational closer or a rhetorical device to dismiss previous controversies.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

Wiki

Social Media

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it's ancient history" is a robust and versatile idiom used to relegate past events to a state of irrelevance. Analysis from Ludwig AI confirms that while the literal phrase "it is ancient history" exists, the contracted form is much more prevalent in dynamic storytelling and journalism. It is most effective when used to pivot a conversation or to signal forgiveness. Writers should be careful to use it figuratively; in literal historical contexts, the metaphor can inadvertently imply that actual history is unimportant. Overall, it remains a staple of the English language for effectively closing the door on the past.

More alternative expressions(10)

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it's water under the bridge

Emphasizes that past events cannot be changed and should no longer be a source of conflict

it's a thing of the past

Focuses on the obsolescence of a practice or condition

that's old news

Suggests the information is already well-known and no longer interesting

it belongs to the past

A slightly more literal and formal way to categorize an event

it's in the rearview mirror

Uses a driving metaphor to describe something left behind

that's over and done with

Stresses the finality and completion of a situation

it is long gone

Implies a significant passage of time since the event occurred

it's a closed chapter

Metaphor suggesting a story or phase of life has ended

it's bygone

A more poetic or slightly archaic adjective for the same concept

it is long forgotten

Specifically emphasizes that people no longer remember the event

FAQs

How do I use "it's ancient history" in a sentence?

You can use it to dismiss a past event, for example: "We had our disagreements in the first year of the project, but now "it's ancient history"." It functions similarly to "water under the bridge".

What is the meaning of "it's ancient history"?

It is an idiomatic expression used to describe something that happened a long time ago and is no longer important or relevant. It is often used to forgive past mistakes or move on from old news.

Is "it's ancient history" formal or informal?

The phrase is generally considered neutral to informal. While it appears frequently in reputable news sources like The New York Times, it is usually found in quotes or opinion pieces rather than formal scientific reports.

What can I say instead of "it's ancient history"?

Depending on the tone you want, you could use "it's a thing of the past", "that's old news", or simply "it is forgotten".

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Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Source & Trust

96%

Authority and reliability

4.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences:

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it's ancient historyGrammar usage guide and real-world examples

it's ancient history
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples