chestnut

an old chestnut a joke, story, or subject that has become tedious and boring as a result of its age and constant repetition.

☞ The most likely source for this sense of chestnut is in the following exchange between two characters, Zavior and Pablo, in William Dimond's play Broken Sword (1816): ZAVIOR…When suddenly from the thick boughs of a cork tree-PABLO. (Jumping up) A chesnut, Captain, a chesnut…Captain, this is the twenty-seventh time I have heard you relate this story, and you invariably said, a chesnut, until now.

pull someone's chestnuts out of the fire succeed in a hazardous undertaking for someone else's benefit.

☞ This expression refers to the fable of a monkey using a cat's paw (or in some versions a dog's paw) to rake out roasting chestnuts from a fire. Cat's paw is sometimes used as a term for someone who is used by another person as a tool or stooge.

词组	chestnut
释义	chestnut an old chestnut a joke, story, or subject that has become tedious and boring as a result of its age and constant repetition. ☞ The most likely source for this sense of chestnut is in the following exchange between two characters, Zavior and Pablo, in William Dimond's play Broken Sword (1816): ZAVIOR…When suddenly from the thick boughs of a cork tree-PABLO. (Jumping up) A chesnut, Captain, a chesnut…Captain, this is the twenty-seventh time I have heard you relate this story, and you invariably said, a chesnut, until now. pull someone's chestnuts out of the fire succeed in a hazardous undertaking for someone else's benefit. ☞ This expression refers to the fable of a monkey using a cat's paw (or in some versions a dog's paw) to rake out roasting chestnuts from a fire. Cat's paw is sometimes used as a term for someone who is used by another person as a tool or stooge.
随便看	republic residence resistance resort respect respecter rest rest for the wicked rest his (or her) soul rest on your laurels rest on your laurels rest on your oars rest on your oars rest (or God rest) his (or her) soul rest (or god rest) his (or her) soul rest your case rest your case retreat retreat into your shell return return the compliment return the compliment return to the charge return to the charge return to the fold