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How to say "Bumping into someone you haven't seen in years" in English

You turn a corner, and—wait, is that really them? Suddenly, you’re face-to-face with a piece of your past.

I was grabbing coffee when I ran into Jake—my old roommate from college. We both just stared for a second. "Jake? No way! I haven't seen you in ages !"

The phrases, unpacked

  • ran into — accidentally met by chance
  • seen you in ages — haven't seen for a long time

Skip: "encountered an acquaintance after a long period" — Sounds like a police report, not real life.

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