Sound like a broken record
Meaning
To repeat the same statement or complaint incessantly, becoming tedious or irritating.
Origin
Vinyl records, once the primary medium for recorded music, were delicate. A scratch or imperfection on a record's surface could cause the needle of the phonograph to get stuck in a groove, endlessly repeating a small segment of music or speech. This monotonous, unintended loop produced a distinct and irritating sound, perfectly capturing the frustration of hearing the same message repeated ad nauseam. The phrase thus vividly conjures the image and sound of that technological mishap, becoming a universally understood metaphor for relentless repetition.
Examples
- I know I sound like a broken record, but you really need to remember to lock the front door.
- Every time he complains about the meeting schedule, he sounds like a broken record.