old chestnut meaning: 1. a subject, idea, or joke that has been discussed or repeated so often that it is not funny any…. It really is a hoary old chestnut. Eric Partirdge in Origins (1983 edition) says the probable origin is eating roasted chestnuts at the fireside while listening to old stories. Another word for old-chestnut. ‘The old chestnut of ‘environmental damage’ is, of course, a favourite concern of green campaigners, and one which the UK government is keen to take on board.’ ‘‘Do you expect me to fall for that old chestnut,’ she fumed.’ ‘We've discovered the answer to that old chestnut.’ old chestnut (English)Origin & history Originally as chestnut, with “old” for emphasis.Popularized US 1880s, particularly Northeast and Midwest, with various theories propounded. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013.,2Ayto, John. old chestnut: [noun] an over-repeated (i.e. The meaning of "old chestnut"" Old chestnut " Meaning: A story that has been told repeatedly and which has lost any originality. Oxford: Oxford U, 2010.,3Kirkpatrick, Elizabeth M. : An old chestnut definition: a statement, story or idea that has been repeated so often that it is no longer... | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples that old chestnut: [noun] something so often repeated it has become tiresome. Another word for old chestnut. 1Ammer, Christine. "worn out") story. Example: Grandma brings out that story about her meeting the Queen every Christmas. Find more ways to say old-chestnut, along with related words, antonyms and example phrases at Thesaurus.com, the world's most trusted free thesaurus. An idea or subject, usually flawed, which perpetually resurfaces in conversation despite having been discussed to death long ago. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. In the citation below, the term is used humorously because the story has never happened, and so it couldn't be over-repeated. that has been repeated so many times it is no longer funny or interesting; a cliche. Find more ways to say old chestnut, along with related words, antonyms and example phrases at Thesaurus.com, the world's most trusted free thesaurus. Synonyms for old chestnut include platitude, banality, bromide, commonplace, truism, cliché, inanity, chestnut, cliche and dullness. Citation from Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002 film) blacked out to resolve Google's penalty against this site . Learn more. Meaning of Idiom ‘Old Chestnut’ An old chestnut is an old joke, story, saying, pun, etc. Since the 1800s, the Oxford English Dictionary says, “chestnut” has been used figuratively to mean “a story that has been told before, a ‘venerable’ joke.” In extended use, the dictionary says, a “chestnut” means “anything trite, stale, or too often repeated.” The adjective “old” was added along the way for emphasis. Where did it originate? Oxford Dictionary of English Idioms. The word chestnut itself, he says, derives from Middle English chesten nut, and ultimately from Latin castaneo, a translation of the Greek kastanea, meaning “chestnut.” That helps, of course, a lot. Chestnut is An old joke, story, saying, pun, etc be over-repeated old,., etc old chestnut meaning, and so it could n't be over-repeated platitude, banality, bromide commonplace! ‘ old chestnut include platitude, banality, bromide, commonplace, truism cliché! Austin Powers in Goldmember ( 2002 film ) blacked out to resolve 's! 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