old hat
Nothing novel anymore
Old hat describes something outdated or no longer novel—a fashion, idea, or practice that has lost its freshness through overuse or the passage of time: That argument is old hat by now.
The phrase suggests staleness rather than timeless quality.
In earlier usage, old hat could also mean skilled or experienced, though this sense is now rare.
Overused and unoriginal
- triteOverused, lacking freshness
- banalUnoriginal and dull
- staleNo longer fresh
- worn-outDepleted through overuse
tired · overused · predictable · unoriginal · derivative · threadbare · shopworn · platitudinous
Old and outdated
- outmodedNo longer in fashion
- datedOld-fashioned or courted
- passéNo longer fashionable
- anachronisticWrongly placed in time
superannuated · behind the times · bygone · fusty · musty · out of date · yesterday's news · past its prime
Regular sequence of actions
- commonplaceUnremarkable and frequent
- same oldBoringly unchanged situation
- everydayOccurring each day
- unremarkableNot worthy of comment
nothing new · mundane · ho-hum · run-of-the-mill · standard · typical · conventional · ordinary
hackneyed
Overused and unoriginal
worn-out · tired · overused · predictable · unoriginal · derivative · threadbare · shopworn · platitudinous · corny
antiquated
Old and outdated
anachronistic · superannuated · behind the times · bygone · fusty · musty · out of date · yesterday's news · past its prime · has-been
routine
Regular sequence of actions
- commonplaceUnremarkable and frequent
- same oldBoringly unchanged situation
- everydayOccurring each day
nothing new · unremarkable · mundane · ho-hum · run-of-the-mill · standard · typical · conventional · ordinary · unexciting
dowdy
Unstylish in appearance
square · uncool · daggy · naff · stodgy · drab · stuffy · fuddy-duddy · fogeyish · tacky
- clichescliche, platitude, bromide, tired phrase, worn phrase
- clothing idiomsfit like a glove, dressed to the nines, dressed to kill, wear the pants, caught with pants down
- outdatedout of date, dated, outmoded, antiquated, behind the times
- agingaging process, aging body, biological age, aging workforce, aging parents
- aging humorretirement jokes, senior moments, senior moment, over the hill, old timer
- idiomstime flies, hit the sack, seize the day, ring a bell, break a leg
old hatnovel
New and unusual
fresh · cutting-edge · innovative · groundbreaking · original
old hatexciting
Arousing eager interest
thrilling · stimulating · fascinating · captivating · riveting