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Old chestnut
01
a joke, story, or topic of discussion that has become repetitive and uninteresting
Idiom
Informal
Old use
What is the origin of the idiom "old chestnut" and when to use it?
The idiom "old chestnut" originates from an English play called "The Broken Sword" written by William Dimond in 1816. In the play, a character repeats a humorous anecdote involving a horse chestnut tree several times, to the point where it becomes tiresome for the other characters. Over time, the phrase came to represent a worn-out or overused joke, story, or idea that has lost its freshness and novelty.
Examples
Oh no, not that old chestnut again! I've heard that story a thousand times.
