"old sins have long shadows" meaning in English

See old sins have long shadows in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Proverb

Head templates: {{head|en|proverb|head=}} old sins have long shadows, {{en-proverb}} old sins have long shadows
  1. Past misdeeds are liable to return to haunt a person. Synonyms: old sins cast long shadows Related terms: a lie has no legs, murder will out, skeleton in the closet, chickens come home to roost
    Sense id: en-old_sins_have_long_shadows-en-proverb-3DpAbsxO Categories (other): English proverbs

Alternative forms

Download JSON data for old sins have long shadows meaning in English (1.5kB)

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          "ref": "1929, Camilla Hope, Long Shadows, page 253",
          "text": "\"'Old sins have long shadows,'\" he went on musingly. \"And this shadow of Bou Smain may yet engulf you if I am not quick.",
          "type": "quotation"
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        {
          "ref": "2013, Louise Penny, How The Light Gets In: A Chief Inspector Gamache Mystery",
          "text": "“But if it doesn't exist how can it matter?” asked Nichol. “Old file, old company, old news.” “Old sins have long shadows,” said Gamache. “And this is an old sin.”",
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          "ref": "2014, Denise Robins, Reputation",
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This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-04-21 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-04-01 using wiktextract (fc4f0c7 and c937495). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

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