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clichéa phrase or opinion that is overused and betrays a lack of original thought

Part of speech: NOUN

Definition: a phrase or opinion that is overused and betrays a lack of original thought

Pronunciation (IPA): /kliˈʃeɪ/

Korean meaning: 진부한 표현, 상투적인 말

Korean pronunciation: 클리**셰**

Example Sentences

  • His speech was full of political clichés like 'we need change.'
  • The villain's evil laugh was such a cliché that the audience started giggling.
  • She tried to avoid clichés in her writing, but ended up using 'it was a dark and stormy night.'

cliché

NOUN

//kliˈʃeɪ//

a phrase or opinion that is overused and betrays a lack of original thought

cliché concept
💡 Concept

The director sighs at another cliché romantic movie scene

cliché rhyme
🎵 Rhyme

Writing a résumé full of cliché at the café!

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/kliˈʃeɪ/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈkliːʃeɪ/

🌳Etymology

Origin

From French cliché, originally a printing term referring to a stereotype plate (a printing block used to reproduce the same image repeatedly). The term was metaphorically extended to mean a phrase or idea repeated so often it has lost its original impact.

🎵Rhyme

caféfiancérésumé
café
fiancé
résumé

🔗Collocations

avoid clichés
tired cliché
romantic cliché
cliché-ridden
become a cliché

📝Examples

His speech was full of political clichés like 'we need change.'

😄 Fun example

The villain's evil laugh was such a cliché that the audience started giggling.

😄 Fun example

She tried to avoid clichés in her writing, but ended up using 'it was a dark and stormy night.'

The romantic comedy followed every cliché in the book.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

stereotypebanalityplatitudecommonplace

Antonyms

originalitynoveltyinnovation

Related

hackneyedtriteoverusedpredictable

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