ENGLISH
REFERENCE

same old story

idiom
Meaning

What usually happens; an occurrence that is tediously familiar.


Examples
SIMPLE

My car broke down again, the same old story.

CONTEXTUAL

He promised to arrive on time, but he was late again, which is the same old story.

COMPLEX

Despite his repeated promises of reform, the politician failed to deliver, proving it was merely the same old story of broken pledges and empty rhetoric.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    any old nook or cranny

    Alternative form of any nook or cranny.

  2. 02

    bad old days

    The past, seen as a time when things were worse.

  3. 03

    Banbury story of a cock and a bull

    A roundabout, nonsensical story.

  4. 04

    big old

    Emphatically or impressively big; really big.

  5. 05

    break the story

    To be the first to address or publicize an issue, often a news story.

  6. 06

    change one's story

    To give an account of events different from the one previously recounted.

  7. 07

    chip off the old block

    Someone who takes after one of their parents; (generally) a person similar to another.

  8. 08

    cock-and-bull story

    A far-fetched and fanciful story or tale of highly dubious validity.

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