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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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it's a repeat performance

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It's a repeat performance of sorts, since Mr. Olbermann had famously bad relationships with his bosses at ESPN and, later, at MSNBC, where he worked for eight years before joining Current last year.

News & Media

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Although there were fewer killings that day than there were at Tlatelolco in 1968, Mexico's most notorious student massacre, in many ways it was a repeat performance: the government had violently suppressed students.

News & Media

The New York Times

"When she came before this committee, it was a repeat performance".

News & Media

The New York Times

The other took its first step toward what it hopes is a repeat performance this summer.

News & Media

Los Angeles Times

For Iraqi President Saddam Hussein Saddam Hussein, it would be a repeat performance, though on a larger scale, of the orders he gave his military forces as they retreated from Kuwait in 1991.

News & Media

Forbes

The firm's role in Unicover was a repeat performance of sorts.

News & Media

Forbes

But it was clear that this would not be a repeat performance for Georgia Tech (23-9).

Christ's second coming would not be a repeat performance but a final curtain call at the end of time.

News & Media

Independent

A non-Kowroski highlight promises to be a repeat performance tomorrow afternoon of Christopher Wheeldon's new "Morphoses," a Diamond Project dance for Wendy Whelan, Alexandra Ansanelli, Jock Soto and Damian Woetzel.

News & Media

The New York Times

So what Labour wanted was a repeat performance.

News & Media

The Guardian

"The last thing the economy needs is a repeat performance.

News & Media

The New York Times
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it's a repeat performance" when you want to concisely convey that something is happening again in a similar way to how it happened before. It works well when the audience is already familiar with the original event.

Common error

Don't use "it's a repeat performance" when you simply want to indicate that something is happening again, without necessarily implying a strong similarity to a previous event. In such cases, consider alternatives like "it's happening again" or "it's recurring".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

88%

Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it's a repeat performance" functions as a nominal phrase, typically used as a subject complement or predicate nominative. It describes a situation or event as being a recurrence or duplication of something that has happened before. Ludwig provides examples of this use across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Academia

7%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it's a repeat performance" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe a recurring event or situation. Its function is to emphasize the duplication or mirroring of a previous occurrence, often implying familiarity or predictability. It appears frequently in news and media contexts, with a neutral register suitable for broad communication. According to Ludwig's analysis, the phrase aligns with standard grammar rules and is widely understood. However, it is important to consider the nuances of its usage, particularly in differentiating it from simple recurrences that don't necessarily imply a strong similarity to a past event.

FAQs

What does "it's a repeat performance" mean?

The phrase "it's a repeat performance" means that something is happening again in a similar way to how it happened before, implying a recurrence or duplication of an event or action.

How can I use "it's a repeat performance" in a sentence?

You can use the phrase "it's a repeat performance" to describe a situation where something is recurring, such as "The team's victory was so dominant, "it's a repeat performance" from last year's championship game".

What can I say instead of "it's a repeat performance"?

You can use alternatives like "it's happening again", "history is repeating itself", or "it's a recurring event" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "it's a repeat performance"?

It's appropriate to use "it's a repeat performance" when you want to emphasize that a current event is closely mirroring or duplicating a previous one, often implying a sense of familiarity or predictability. If you simply want to indicate a general recurrence, it may not be as suitable, and the alternatives such as "it's happening again" may be better.

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Source & Trust

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Authority and reliability

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Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: