old chestnut

Idioms and Phrases

A stale joke, story, or saying, as in Dad keeps on telling that old chestnut about how many psychiatrists it takes to change a light bulb . This expression comes from William Dimond's play, The Broken Sword (1816), in which one character keeps repeating the same stories, one of them about a cork tree, and is interrupted each time by another character who says “Chestnut, you mean . . . I have heard you tell the joke twenty-seven times and I am sure it was a chestnut.”

Example Sentences

That old chestnut about being ‘naturally slim’ usually disguises a very active lifestyle.

From The Daily Beast

But I think that, like many an old chestnut, this one is rotten.

From The Daily Beast

There is that old chestnut about people having to decide they want this guy to be in their TV rooms for the next four years.

From The Daily Beast

This book, to resurrect that old chestnut, made me laugh and cry.

From The Daily Beast

The three happy children could see them way up in the old chestnut tree over on the edge of their neighbour's wood.

From Project Gutenberg

I'm not going to be trotting out that old chestnut at every dinner party.

From Project Gutenberg

Bentham pottered about in the grounds and under the old chestnut-trees, codifying, gardening, and talking to occasional disciples.

From Project Gutenberg

Sprouts in old Chestnut clearings are often allowed to remain, and sometimes they are grafted to the improved varieties.

From Project Gutenberg

“There,” said Tim, pointing to where the dog still sat shivering near the old chestnut woman.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• episode
• gag
• narration
• narrative
• reminiscence
• short story
• sketch
• tale
• tall tale
• yarn