clich — an overused phrase or idea that has lost its original meaning or effect through repetition
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: an overused phrase or idea that has lost its original meaning or effect through repetition
Pronunciation (IPA): /klɪˈʃeɪ/
Example Sentences
- His love letters were full of clichés like 'you complete me' and 'love at first sight.'
- The politician's speech was a collection of political clichés that said nothing new.
- She rolled her eyes when her dad used the cliché 'money doesn't grow on trees' again.
clich
NOUN[/klɪˈʃeɪ/]
an overused phrase or idea that has lost its original meaning or effect through repetition

The romance movie ends with the cliche sunset kiss on the beach.

Another cliché at the café, even her résumé sounds passé!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From French cliché, originally a printing term for a metal plate used to reproduce images or text. The word mimicked the 'click' sound made when the plate was pressed onto paper, and came to mean overused expressions that are 'stamped out' repeatedly.
Breakdown
cliché (French onomatopoeia for the 'click' sound of printing plates hitting paper)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“His love letters were full of clichés like 'you complete me' and 'love at first sight.'”
“The politician's speech was a collection of political clichés that said nothing new.”
“She rolled her eyes when her dad used the cliché 'money doesn't grow on trees' again.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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