‘屡见不鲜’ literally means ‘frequently seen, not fresh’ — where ‘屡’ means ‘repeatedly’, ‘见’ means ‘to see’, ‘不’ is the negation ‘not’, and ‘鲜’ (here meaning ‘novel’, ‘unusual’, or ‘fresh’) conveys rarity or freshness. Together, the phrase describes something so common or recurrent that it no longer surprises or impresses anyone — like seeing pigeons in city squares or traffic jams during rush hour.

This idiom is commonly used in formal writing and spoken commentary to express mild resignation or irony about predictable, unremarkable occurrences. It often appears in news reports, social critiques, or everyday observations about recurring problems or trends — for example, repeated policy announcements or familiar scams. While it carries a slightly negative or weary connotation, it’s neutral in register and widely understood across age groups.