PhrasesHub

It's that man again

    Definitions

      • expressing annoyance or frustration
        When encountering someone who is causing trouble or annoyance once again

      • recognizing a familiar or recurring situation or person
        When encountering someone or something that is a regular occurrence or predictable

    Examples of It's that man again

    • The police chief sighed as he saw the notorious criminal walking towards him. "It's that man again," he muttered.

      The idiom "it's that man again" is used when someone repeatedly causes trouble or engages in undesirable behavior. In this example, the police chief is acknowledging that the criminal he sees is the same one who has caused problems for him in the past.

    • The author's editor pointed to a particular section in the manuscript. "It's that paragraph again," she said. "You need to revise it."

      Here, "it's that paragraph again" is used to indicate that the author has previously been asked to make changes to the same paragraph because it is awkward, repetitive, or confusing.

    • The stationery cupboard had been empty for a week, and the office staff were getting frustrated. "It's that person again," groaned one of them.

      In this example, "it's that person again" refers to someone who consistently takes office supplies without proper authorization.

    • The teacher stared disapprovingly at the student as he slouched in his chair, checking his phone. "It's that behavior again," she said.

      This phrase is used to refer to a recurring pattern of undesirable behavior, in this case, the student's habit of disregarding class rules.

    • The police officer sighed as he saw the familiar figure of the notorious thief making his escape once more.

      This usage of "it's that man again" idiom refers to a recurring event or person. In this case, the thief has previously been caught by the police, but continues to evade them, causing frustration and exasperation.

    • The CEO groaned as the same unconventional idea was presented at the board meeting yet again.

      This usage of the idiom highlights the frustration of dealing with an idea that has been previously discussed and rejected, but is being proposed once more.

    • The traffic warden rolled his eyes as the same car repeatedly parked in the wrong place.

      This usage of the idiom emphasizes the annoyance of dealing with a continuous offence, in this case, the wrongful parking of a car.

    • The writers stared at the screen as the latest episode of their favorite show opened with a repeat of a previously aired scene.

      This use of the idiom illustrates the disappointment of encountering a familiar scene instead of an entirely new one, especially in the context of watching a TV show.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "It's that man again" is used to express annoyance or frustration when encountering someone who is causing trouble or annoyance once again. It can also be used to recognize a familiar or recurring situation or person. The phrase is often used in a light-hearted or comical manner to convey exasperation at the repetition of a particular situation or person.

    Origin of "It's that man again"

    The origin of the idiom "It's that man again" can be traced back to British radio and television comedy shows from the mid-20th century. The phrase was often used in comedic sketches to introduce a recurring character who would bring chaos or trouble wherever they appeared. Over time, the phrase has been adopted into everyday language to express annoyance or frustration at encountering a familiar or recurring nuisance.

    For example, in a comedy show, a character who always causes trouble might be introduced with the line "It's that man again," signaling to the audience that the same antics are about to unfold. This usage has carried over into everyday conversation, where the phrase is used to express frustration at encountering a familiar troublemaker or recurring situation.