it's an old story

it's an old story

What is about to be or has just been mentioned is nothing new; it is a situation that happens repeatedly. A chief executive found guilty of fraud? It's an old story. They always think they'll get away with it.
See also: old, story
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • it's the same old rigmarole
  • a bitter pill to swallow
  • bitter pill to swallow
  • if and when
  • in passing
  • if anything happens
  • that and (some amount of money) will get you a cup of coffee
  • like I said
  • better you than me
  • what else is new
References in classic literature
it's an old story now--there was those Wright Brothers out in America.
It's an old story of hand to mouth football finance from a player called Joe Robertson who can't recall how much of a jackpot he took from the puggy but insists he was worth every penny.
Before we had an understanding that Bersatu would not come to Sabah, so that came about because we know some in our party were doubtful and worried and were thinking about leaving because they didn't get positions - it's an old story,' Shafie told reporters after and even today.
"The perception of what hurt us in 2015 (after the riots) is an old story, and it's our job to tell the retail community that it's an old story," Patricia Palumbo, director of leasing and marketing at Klein Enterprises, said in December after her firm announced two new tenants at Marketplace at Fells Point.
"It's an old story by now -- John McCain saying or doing something that thoroughly undercuts the image that first made him a national political star 10 years ago," Steve Kornacki wrote in Salon.
"It's an old story," Democrat-Gazette President Lynn Hamilton said after 86 layoffs across Wehco Media Inc., including 27 at the Little Rock paper.
"It's an old story we all know, tens of millions have been written off.
"But it's an old story. It's not America, it's a song of the Europeans and before them the Greeks and the African kings of Timbuktu.
"Big3 is a new concept but it's an old story," Erving said.
IT'S an old story - 1960 black and white B movie about a flesh-eating plant, spawns cult musical version which in turn is made into a film version that becomes cult viewing.
It's an old story, and one that often ends with the same words: "I wasn't cut out for sales." Maybe.
It's an old story. These groups fear anything new or different, and they have so little faith in their own ability to transmit their "values" that they expect faceless corporate giants to do the job for them.
It's an old story that chimes with contemporary class war themes - namely how entitled toffs can callously ruin the lives of vulnerable people without a care in the world.
It's an old story that started when I was in ninth grade.