been there, done that
been there, done that — I’ve had this experience and I’m bored with it. The implication of this relatively new and seemingly world-weary statement is, why bother to repeat something I’ve seen or done? However, it is also used as an expression of empathy, as in “You’ve offered to take care of the children for a week?” Been there, done that.
A Trip Down Memory Lane🛣️
The phrase dates only from the early 1980s and at first referred to tourism and sightseeing but soon extended to just about any activity. Almost like that universally tacky souvenir t-shirt proclaiming “I <3 New York”, this phrase became part of the collective lexicon. Moreover, it became overused so quickly that it turned into a cliché almost overnight.
Synonyms & Similar Expressions
- Seen one, seen them all
- Over it
- Old hat
- Prima facie: Oh, that’s Italian—with an air of nonchalance?
- Old news: Let’s file this under, “Tell me something I don’t know."
Antonyms
- Newbie
- Fresh experience
- First time
- Exciting discovery
Humor-Filled Quotes
“Been there, done that, bought the T-shirt, and even lost the receipt!” – An exhausted traveler probably.
“In a world full of novelty, someone has indeed always ‘been there, done that.’ And usually, they’re more than willing to tell you about it.” – The Eternal Cynic 🤷♂️.
Proverbs and Wisdom 💡
“When there’s nothing new under the sun, try moonlighting.” – Traditional, with a modern twist!
Breaking It Down in Pop Culture
This idiom slips effortlessly into scripts, literature, and everyday conversations. It’s concise, relatable, and hints wistfully at a life richly lived. Indeed, English teachers adore it when teaching irony and tone!
Recommended Reading, Tunes, and Flicks 📖🎼🎥
- Book: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert – Explorations, burnout, and finding joy. This one will make you yearn for yet another journey.
- Song: “Live it Up” by Mental As Anything – Before Tom Cruise jumps on Oprah’s couch, groove to finding a new thrill.
- Movie: Groundhog Day – Because doing the same thing over and over… and over again gets old pretty fast!
- Poetry: “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost – Myth-busting ‘been there, done that,’ and embracing roads less traveled.
____ A Final Thought 💭 No experience, not even the most common, should ever be discredited entirely. There’s always room in life’s filing cabinet for repetition as incremental discovery. To repeat softly the words of Aristotle: “Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” Continuously being ‘there’ and ‘doing that’ often whispers secrets that exclusive first times never dare reveal.
- A. Lready-Didit, 2023
