When we assert that ‘This is not my first rodeo,’ we are not just asserting familiarity or competence, but also our extensive knowledge. This knowledge should make others think twice before discounting your competence. The response may be a pushback against criticism, a way of asserting your experience and competence in the face of doubt.

Discussion:

For instance, imagine a seasoned project manager responding to a junior team member’s critique with a casual ‘This is not your first rodeo.’ Or a veteran teacher reassuring a new colleague with the exact phrase. In these situations, the phrase is used to assert experience and competence, and to discourage underestimation.

It’s worth noting that there are alternatives to the phrase ‘This is not your first rodeo.’ For instance, you could say ‘been there, done that,’ or ‘I wasn’t born yesterday.’ Each of these alternatives carries a similar message of experience and competence.