From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishwell-wornˌwell-ˈworn adjective 1 CONDITION/STATE OF somethingworn or used for a long time a well-worn jacket2 REPEATa well-worn expression, phrase etc has been repeated so often that it is no longer interesting or effective well-worn excuses
Examples from the Corpus
well-worn• We were leafing through a well-worn copy of Sports Illustrated, and Mike was identifying his clients.• For instance, I already own a well-worn pair of Birkenstocks, which appears to be half the artistic battle.• a well-worn pair of slippers• The company is now just waiting for the world to beat a well-worn path to its door.• The friendship tunnel became a well-worn path - what with all the to-ing and fro-ing of furred and feathered visitors.• My well-worn schoolboy shoes were polished until they shone like glass.• To me, Manhattan was like a well-worn shoe, ugly but honest, forthright about its flaws and beauties.• The wood shelves contain well-worn volumes, some dating back to the 1920s. 