have seen this movie

English

Pronunciation

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Verb

have seen this movie (third-person singular simple present has seen this movie, present participle having seen this movie, simple past and past participle had seen this movie)

1. (idiomatic) To have experienced a situation which is the same as or similar to the current situation, especially with a sense of the unpleasantness or tiresomeness of the recurring situation.
   • 2008 June 23, Amy Sullivan, “Will Pro-Choice Women Back McCain?”, in Time, retrieved 6 February 2017:

     The 2008 presidential race may have been branded a "change" election, but abortion rights advocates have seen this movie before.

   • 2013 November 28, John R. Allen, Michael E. O'Hanlon, “Ignore Karzai's Arrogant Insults”, in New York Times, retrieved 6 February 2017:

     After the defeat of the Soviets in 1989, civil war, state collapse and Taliban victory followed. The Afghan people have seen this movie already.

   • 2014 January 27, Louise Armitstead, “Tide going out on emerging markets, warns Fidelity”, in Telegraph, UK, retrieved 6 February 2017:

     Dominic Rossi, global chief investment officer at Fidelity, said . . . “We have seen this movie before. . . . One emerging market country after another gets left stranded.”

Usage notes

• Often followed by before or already.

See also

• been there, done that