be an old chestnut

be an old chestnut

To be repeated so often as to become boring or irksome, as of a topic or saying. I know it's an old chestnut, but I firmly believe that love conquers all. A: "An apple a day keeps the doctor away!" B: "Yes, that's an old chestnut, but it's as untrue as it is annoying!" "Too many cooks spoil the broth" may be an old chestnut, but it's true—things so often go awry once a lot of people are involved.

See also: an, chestnut, old

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