flashback

A flashback is a memory from the past that suddenly comes into your mind. This can happen when something reminds you of an event or experience you had a long time ago.

When we talk about flashbacks in everyday life, we usually mean it as a way to describe how our minds work. You know how sometimes you're watching a movie and suddenly you remember something that happened to you years ago? Or maybe you smell some food cooking and it takes you right back to your childhood? That's what a flashback is – your mind taking you on a quick trip back to the past, often triggered by something in your present surroundings. For example, if you're listening to music from when you were younger and suddenly remember where you were when you first heard that song, that could be a flashback.