Meaning of “Been There, Done That”
The phrase “been there, done that” means the person has got the experience already of the things under discussion. In other words, it shows boredom of discussing the things already discussed and done.
Origin of “Been There, Done That”
The phrase “been there, done that” is stated to have emerged during the 70s. Its first print record has been found in Carlito’s Way, a novel of Edwin Torres published in 1975, where it has been used as; “Money is only an object. I’ll get it. Got it, been there.” Eventually, it has become “been there, done that”. Now it is commonly used in literature and common writings in the same wordings.
Examples in Literature
Example #1
Been There Done That by NOTD
Do you know what it’s like waiting for ya?
Then you apologize, but you never change at all
You know what you’re doing to me, doing to me, doing to me
Do you know what it’s like waiting for ya? MmWhy don’t I save myself some time?
Why?Tell me why I keep going back
When I know I’ve been there, done that
Why do I keep missing you for messing up something
‘Stead of letting go?
Tell me why I keep going back
When I know I’ve been there, done that
Keep on wanting something that’ll change
Been there, done thatBeen there, done that
These lines show the speaker’s love for his beloved through the use of this phrase. He constantly harps on the same string that he loves her. He still reminds her that he knows “Been There Done That” yet he comes to her again. The phrase has been repeated several times in these lines to emphasize the meanings of the dullness of the task and resolve of the speaker to do it again.
Example #2
Been There, Done That by Luke Bryan
I ain’t, I ain’t coming back
I’ve already been there done that
And I’m done with you messing with my mind
The last time’s the last time baby
I can only change who I am so much
And all I can give is all my love
And my love ain’t never been enough
So I ain’t coming back,
I’ve been there done that
These lines show the frustration of the lover who tells his beloved that he is not coming to her anymore as he has already done that thing. Therefore, it seems to him “been there, done that” a boring routine. The phrase has been repeated several times to show the boredom of this routine of going back to his beloved.
Example #3
Been There, Done That (Lived to Tell) by Dorrien Lee
This novel presents the story of Craig Bennet and his beloved Venice who have studied together and shared each other’s passions, yet she married another person. Craig, frustrated, gave full time to his construction company, becoming a successful business tycoon, yet could not succeed in his personal life. It shows the meanings of the phrase used in the title that he has already seen this bliss, the reason that he thinks he need not repeat this experiment that causes him boredom.
Examples in Sentences
Example #1: “He, as a recognized sociologist, asserts that he has been there, done in every discussion, even when he doesn’t know the whole story.”
Example #2: “Based on experiments and interviews, it is found that all the information was like it was been there, done that.”
Example #3: “Although he is not looking at the meanings, he says been there, done that only because his departing brother has also stated the same thing.”
Example #4: “Rory had been to a football coaching during summer. When the coach started the basics, he said he had been there, done that.”
Example #5: “Whenever you try to mention him seaport, he always acts like he’s been there, done that.”