Collocation Dictionary

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Common collocations with past in American Collocation

past noun

US /pæst/

with problems

tragic
traumatic
troubled
turbulent
violent

She had a troubled past; her father had left the family home when Sarah was only ten.

when bad things happened

dark
murky
shady
sordid

They immediately fall in love and Alma confesses her slightly murky past to him.

when good or interesting things happened

colourful
fascinating
glorious
illustrious
rich

To stay at the Savoy Hotel is to experience London’s illustrious past.

when both good and bad things happened

chequered

The island has had a chequered past, as have many regions in this part of the world.

with a particular government or economy

colonial
imperial
industrial
maritime

There are still signs of Hong Kong’s colonial past.