老生常谈

老生常谈

Literally means:

common talk of an old scholar

Actually means:

老生, old scholar in the past.

This phrase refers to common talk of an old scholar. It figuratively means stale and repetitive sayings, something that everybody knows, or something ordinary or even boring. Derogatory.

老生，老书生，古代指年老的读书人。

老生常谈，老书生经常说的话。比喻净说些没有新内容的老话，或所讲的都是大家知道的或经常议论到的都是很平常的议论，或让人听厌了的老话。事情都到具有贬义色彩。