German Expression · Intermediate
alter Hut
Something familiar and hackneyed
Pronunciation: /altɐ ˈhuːt/
Meaning
Something familiar and hackneyed; something that is old hat.
Example
Car-Sharing […] ist für viele Städter bereits ein alter Hut. Doch kaum zeigt sich die Sonne, kommt schon der nächste Trend: Elektro-Roller.
Carsharing has become old hat for many city-dwellers now. But just as the sun appears on their morning commutes, a new trend is showing itself: e-scooters.
Practice tips
- Practice alter Hut out loud — read the pronunciation guide above and repeat.
- Use it in your own sentence today; reuse beats rereading.
- Pay attention to context: this German expression is for intermediate-level learners.