that old chestnut Idiom, Proverb
chestnut
Old chestnut
An old chestnut is something that has been repeated so many times that it has lost its impact.pull one's chestnuts out of the fire|chestnut|ches
To do someone else a great favor which they don't really deserve, doing oneself a disfavor in the process. Small countries often have to pull the chestnuts out of the fire for their more powerful neighbors.(old) chestnut
A topic, saying, or joke that has been repeated so much that it has become boring or irksome. Whether there's truth in it or not, I can't stand that old chestnut "follow your heart." My dad has a few chestnuts he never hesitates to share with my kids whenever we come to visit. A: "An apple a day keeps the doctor away!" B: "That old chestnut is as untrue as it is annoying!"See also: chestnutold chestnut
A stale joke, story, or saying, as in Dad keeps on telling that old chestnut about how many psychiatrists it takes to change a light bulb . This expression comes from William Dimond's play, The Broken Sword (1816), in which one character keeps repeating the same stories, one of them about a cork tree, and is interrupted each time by another character who says "Chestnut, you mean . . . I have heard you tell the joke twenty-seven times and I am sure it was a chestnut." See also: chestnut, oldan old chestnut
ora hoary old chestnut
mainly BRITISHCOMMON If you describe something that is said or written as an old chestnut or a hoary old chestnut, you mean that it has been repeated so often that it is no longer interesting. Finally, how do you answer that old interview chestnut: `Why should I hire you?' The film is based on the hoary old chestnut of good twin/bad twin, separated at birth, final fatal meeting — you get the idea.See also: an, chestnut, oldan old chestnut
a joke, story, or subject that has become tedious and boring as a result of its age and constant repetition. The most likely source for this sense of chestnut is in the following exchange between two characters, Zavior and Pablo, in William Dimond 's play Broken Sword ( 1816 ): ZAVIOR…When suddenly from the thick boughs of a cork tree— PABLO. (Jumping up) A chesnut, Captain, a chesnut…Captain, this is the twenty-seventh time I have heard you relate this story, and you invariably said, a chesnut, until now.See also: an, chestnut, oldan/that old ˈchestnut
(informal) a joke or story that has often been repeated and as a result is no longer amusing: ‘He told us all about the police arresting him for climbing into his own house.’ ‘Oh, no, not that old chestnut again.’See also: an, chestnut, old, thatold chestnut
A stale joke, anecdote, or adage. This term has a specific source, the play The Broken Sword by William Dimond, first produced in 1816. The principal character, a Captain Xavier, constantly repeats the same stories, one of which involves a cork tree. Pablo, another character, interrupts, saying, “Chestnut, you mean, captain. I have heard you tell the joke twenty-seven times, and I am sure it was a chestnut.” The play has long since been forgotten, but the term survives, and has itself become an old chestnut.See also: chestnut, oldMore Idioms/Phrases
public enemy|enemy|public public speaker|public|speaker public-address system|address|public|public-addres puffed up|puff up|puffed pull a fast one|pull pull date|date|pull pull down|pull pull off|pull pull one's chestnuts out of the fire|chestnut|ches pull one's leg|leg|pull pull one's punches|pull|punch|punches pull one's teeth|pull|teeth|tooth pull one's weight|pull|weight pull oneself together|pull|together pull oneself up by the bootstraps|bootstrap|bootst pull out|pull pull out of a hat|hat|pull That and fifty cents will get you a cup of coffee. that beats all that beats all to pieces that beats everything that beats the Dutch that being said that brings me to the point that burns me that cat won't jump that cock won't fight That depends that does it That does it! that does the trick that dog won't hunt that feel when that feeling when that figures that goes without saying that having been said that is that is sweet of (someone) that is to say that makes two of us that Monday morning feeling that old chestnut that old dog won't hunt that said that ship (has) already sailed that ship has sailed that should do it That sucks that takes care of that that takes the cake That takes the cake! that tears it That tears it! that there that train (has) already left the station that train has left the station that very thing that was it that was then, and this is now That was then. This is now. that way that way lies madness that way madness lies that went down a treat that which doesn't kill you makes you stronger that will be the day that will do
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