A broken record is an idiom used to describe someone who repeatedly brings up the same topic without providing new information. The term comes from damaged acetate records that would cause the needle to skip and repeat a small portion of the recording. The idiom is used to encourage the person to move on to other topics. The term remains in common usage despite the replacement of acetate with vinyl records.
A broken record is an idiomatic expression that describes a situation where a continuous series of repetitions occurs. Idiom is sometimes employed when an individual keeps bringing up the same topic repeatedly over a short period of time, usually without providing further insight or information as part of the discussion. The development of this colorful saying has its roots in the production of acetate records that were popular during the first half of the 20th century and what would happen when those acetate records were damaged in some way.
Prior to the development and use of vinyl for long-playing records, a stiffer but sensitive material known as acetate was used to press copies of recordings. Acetate discs required very careful handling to avoid damage to playing surfaces, such as scratches or even cracks. When an acetate record has been damaged, this would negatively impact the ability of the turntable needle to track correctly along the grooves in the record surface. Due to the damage, the needle would often jump back into a previous groove or get stuck in the damaged one. The end result is that a small portion of the recording plays over and over again unless the needle arm is manually moved forward and past the damaged area.
When a person keeps repeating the same words or phrases to the annoyance of those who are listening, the individual is usually informed that it sounds like a broken record. The implication is that the point has been made and it’s time to move on to other information or discussion topics. Other colorful expressions may also be used in conjunction with referring to being like a broken record, including informing the speaker that his needle is stuck. The use of these phrases is normally an attempt to get the individual to stop dwelling on a particular topic and either move forward in the conversation or change the subject entirely.
While long-playing records are now pressed only in limited editions and acetate has long since been replaced by vinyl, the reference to a broken record has continued in relatively common usage in many cultures around the world. Unlike other idioms, being called a broken record is consistently considered a negative characteristic, unlike other idioms where time, place and setting will affect whether the idiom is a criticism or endearment.
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