it's the same old story

it's the same old story

Used to indicate something that happens or is said over and over again. A: "The chief executive officer was found guilty of fraud." B: "It's the same old story, these billionaire con artists thinking they can get away with anything." Whenever I bring up the idea of renovating the house to her, it's always the same old story about not having enough money.See also: old, same, story

same old story

something that occurs or has occurred in the same way often. Jim's got no money. It's the same old story. He's spent it all on clothing. The company is getting rid of workers. It's the same old story—a shortage of orders.See also: old, same, story

same old story, the

Also, the same old rigmarole. A frequently recurring event or situation, as in It's the same old story-they won't hire you without experience but how can you get experience if you're not hired? Both these expressions originally alluded to a tiresome, rambling discourse but today are used mainly for an irksome recurrence. The first gained currency during World War II with a song, "As Time Goes By," popularized in the film Casablanca (1942). See also: old, same

it’s the (same) old ˈstory

something unpleasant or bad which happens again and again: He says we haven’t got enough money for a trip overseas. It’s the same old story every year.See also: old, story

same old story

n. an often repeated story or situation. It’s the same old story. Boy meets girl, girl gets consumption, girl dies. See also: old, same, story