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
References in periodicals archive ?
Queens boss Allan Johnston claimed: "In the first-half, we had at least five good chances but it's the same old story, if you don't take your chances, it comes back to haunt you."
Ian McCall hailed match-winner Stephen [...]
It's the same old story: A prophet is without honor in his own country.
DISSING COL. COOPER
Dear Editor, It's the same old story about the lights at the train station at Drumgelloch [Advertiser, October 24].
Fix lights at rail station
It's the same old story standing here after the game.
Lowe: Scoring goals biggest problem for us
WELL, it's the same old story again this week I'm afraid, because as the fine, warm weather continues, then so does the unparalleled sport we have been enjoying for weeks now!
Fine weather means fine fishing - still! COARSE ANGLING
Forecaster Peter Sloss, of the Met Office in Aberdeen, said: "It's the same old story - when it snows in London, everyone knows about it.
Scotland safe from Son of the Beast
But it's the same old story. They lose three or four matches and Roman Abramovich, sitting in his private box, thinks: 'Let's find a new one'.
ROM'S ORDER OF THE BOOT
It's the same old story all over the country where in many cases petty inter-county rivalries block social and economic progress involving moving boundaries.
HURL TO PAY ON BORDERS
It's the same old story, the super rich, the elite, the establishment getting richer while the rest of us face austerity.
Austerity isn't for everyone WE [...]; LETTERS
But barring the spark shown in the victory in the second Test at Lord's last month, it's the same old story. No matter the venue or the conditions, the Indian batsmen have flunked the examination given to them by Anderson, Broad and the innocuous- looking off- spin of Moeen Ali.
Team India sorely lacks fighting spirit
AFTER all the pre-World Cup optimism, it's the same old story for England.
England have no defence..
Nick Noble, regional representative for Surfers Against Sewage in the North-east, said: "It's the same old story and doesn't change a great deal.
Littering shock on beaches
Asked about his plans for next month, Lambert replied: "It's the same old story. I speak to chairman Randy Lerner every single week, after every game.
Randy's my best-ever chairman
It's the same old story of agencies that are meant to protect the environment protecting the corporations instead.
Anywhere row
"But it's the same old story, we're not consistent enough defending as a team.
EVO-STIK FIRST DIVISION NORTH
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