bad penny, always turns up (comes back) like a

bad penny, always turns up (comes back) like a

The unwanted or worthless object or person is sure to return. A proverb in several languages besides English, this expression dates from the days when coins had intrinsic worth and a bad penny (or shilling or crown) was one that was made of inferior metal or contained less metal than it should.See also: always, bad, like, turn, up