it's the same old rigmarole
it's the same old rigmarole
What is about to be or has just been mentioned is nothing new; this is a situation that happens repeatedly and predictably. A: "The CEO was found guilty of fraud." B: "It's the same old rigmarole—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 the same old rigmarole, with her telling me there's no way we can afford it right now.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.