be past (the/one's) sell-by date



be past (the/one's) sell-by date

1. Literally, to be past the date by which an edible item should be sold before it spoils. That milk is definitely past the sell-by date—it's curdled!
2. By extension, to be past the peak of one's abilities or career. The company is forcing my mother to retire because they think she's past her sell-by date. That player is definitely past his sell-by date—he hasn't had a good season in years.
See also: date, past

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Diana[dai'ænə]
Brunildabroo-NEEL-dah (Spanish)Spanish, Italian, Portuguese
Hamilton['hæmiltən]
StarSTAHREnglish
&Thorn;Unor-Anglo-Saxon Mythology
JustusYUWS-tuws (German), JUS-təs (English)German, Dutch, Late Roman