老戏法

老戏法

Literally means:

old conjuring or magic

Actually means:

outmoded method

戏法 means magic originally, but here it refers to cunning tricks.

This phrase metaphorically means tricks that are old or familiar to people. It also means an out-dated method. When using it to refer to a deceitful trick, people ridicule that such tricks are not crafty at all and they are easily seen through. Derogatory.

戏法，原指魔术，这里指狡诈多变的手段。

老戏法，比喻旧的、人们老早就用过的骗人手法。也指过时的老一套办法。用来指骗人的手法时，有挖苦行骗者的手段并不高明，很容易被看人穿。具有贬义色彩。