bad penny

plural bad pennies

1. idiomaticA person or thing which is unpleasant, disreputable, or otherwise unwanted, especially one which repeatedly appears at inopportune times.

   Pierce remembered Hilda's prophecy that her indigent husband would turn up, like a bad penny.

   1918, Rex Ellingwood Beach, chapter 17, in The Winds of Chance

   2 more examples

   "Felix Marchand'll have much money—bad penny as he is," continued Christine in her normal voice.

   1916, Gilbert Parker, chapter 4, in The World For Sale

   But as the perennial bad penny of British political life, he keeps turning up at embarrassing moments.

   1975 June 9, R. Z. Sheppard, “Springtime for Mosley (book review)”, in Time

2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see bad, penny: A counterfeit or damaged penny.

   1 more example

   And in respect to bad halfpence he advises that none be taken at turnpikes, whose keepers buy bad halfpence by the pound, and circulate them largely on the specious principle of giving and taking–that is–they take one bad penny from a horseman to day, and when he changes a sixpence to-morrow, give him five, none of which they probably ever see again, until they are found in that quarter where they can buy them by the weight.

   1808, w:Edward Du Bois, “Bad Money”, in w:The Monthly Mirror, volume III New Series, London, Edinburgh: J Wright; Vernor, Hood and Sharpe; J. Murray; A. Constable & co, page 20