replay an old tune; harp on the same string
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to repeat the same old arguments; to harp on the same string
neutralOften used in a negative or critical context, implying that the repeated ideas are outdated, unoriginal, or boring.
Tā他
de的
yǎn演
jiǎng讲
háo毫
wú无
xīn新
yì意
，
bù不
guò过
shì是
lǎo老
diào调
chóng重
tán弹
bà罢
le了
。
His speech lacked originality and was just a rehash of old ideas.
Měi每
cì次
tǎo讨
lùn论
zhè这
ge个
wèn问
tí题
，
tā他
dōu都
yào要
lǎo老
diào调
chóng重
tán弹
，
wǒ我
men们
dōu都
tīng听
fán烦
le了
。
Every time we discuss this issue, he harps on the same old string, and we are all tired of hearing it.
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Guān关
yú于
gǎi改
gé革
de的
tí提
yì议
，
rú如
guǒ果
bù不
shì是
xīn新
de的
fāng方
àn案
，
jiù就
zhǐ只
shì是
lǎo老
diào调
chóng重
tán弹
。
Proposals for reform, if they are not new plans, are merely old tunes replayed.