a repeat story

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a repeat story" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a narrative or account that has been told multiple times or is similar to a previous one. Example: "The movie was criticized for being just a repeat story that offered nothing new to the audience."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

A repeat story.

The Guardian - Books

No, this isn't a repeat story from last year.

The Guardian - Sport

It was a repeat story when Mata picked him out and he could only head straight at the keeper.

The Guardian - Sport

This week's news of a U.S. State Department clerk snooping in passport records of celebrities is, sadly, a repeat story.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

This is a much repeated story in Rio, a resort city that has long been home both to the super-rich and the migrant poor, who move into slums that are then developed as soon as the land becomes valuable, often forcing them into homelessness or the occupation of derelict buildings or unused land.

The Guardian

A frequently repeated story about Ciclon is the time he took a rabbit in a bag to pay the doctor with it.

Huffington Post

Born in San Francisco in 1902, Adams became involved with photography at age 14 when, in an often repeated story, his parents gave him a Kodak Brownie box camera for a summer vacation in Yosemite.

The New York Times

Although this is an often repeated story in Beach Boys/Beatles history, it's not entirely clear whether this is actually just an exaggerated legend.

Huffington Post

Several years ago, Mom started to get a little forgetful, began to repeat stories, would lose things.

Huffington Post

We repeat stories and laugh to break the tension.

BBC

Ask them to immediately repeat stories.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a repeat story" when you want to emphasize that an event or narrative has occurred multiple times, often with a sense of predictability or familiarity.

Common error

Avoid using "a repeat story" too frequently within a single piece of writing. Vary your language by using alternatives like "recurring narrative" or "familiar tale" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a repeat story" functions as a noun phrase, often used as a predicate nominative or object complement. It identifies or describes a situation or narrative that is recurring, similar to what Ludwig AI explains.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a repeat story" is a grammatically sound and readily understandable expression used to describe a situation or narrative that has occurred before. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. Predominantly found in News & Media contexts, it signifies the recurrence of familiar events or narratives. While correct and acceptable, it's important to use the phrase judiciously, considering alternative expressions such as "recurring narrative" or "familiar tale" to enrich your writing and prevent redundancy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a recurring narrative

Focuses on the narrative aspect and its repeated nature.

a familiar tale

Emphasizes the familiarity and common knowledge of the story.

a recycled story

Highlights the reuse of an existing story.

an oft-repeated account

Stresses that the account has been repeated many times.

a well-worn narrative

Indicates that the narrative is old and has been used frequently.

the same old story

Implies a negative connotation, suggesting boredom or frustration with the repetition.

a predictable outcome

Focuses on the predictable nature of the situation's result.

a familiar pattern

Emphasizes the repetition of a sequence of events or behaviors.

history repeating itself

Implies a larger scale repetition of historical events.

déjà vu situation

Suggests a sense of having experienced the situation before.

FAQs

What does "a repeat story" mean?

The phrase "a repeat story" refers to a situation or narrative that has happened before, often implying a sense of familiarity or predictability. It suggests that the current event is a recurrence of something already known.

How can I use "a repeat story" in a sentence?

You can use "a repeat story" to describe situations where events or narratives are recurring. For example: "The company's financial troubles were "a repeat story", as they had faced similar challenges in the past."

Are there alternatives to "a repeat story"?

Yes, you can use alternatives such as "a recurring narrative", "a familiar tale", or "history repeating itself" depending on the context.

Is "a repeat story" formal or informal?

"A repeat story" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though more formal writing might benefit from alternatives such as "a recycled story".