cliche
C1Neutral to formal; used in critique, academic discussion, and everyday commentary.
Definition
Meaning
A phrase, idea, or element of artistic work that has become overused to the point of losing its original meaning or effect.
Any predictable, stereotyped, or trite situation, character, or expression.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A cliche is by definition a negative term, implying a lack of originality. It can refer to linguistic expressions, plot devices in stories, visual tropes in art/film, or even patterns of behaviour.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The spelling and meaning are identical. The word may be written with or without the acute accent on the final 'e' (cliché). The accent is more consistently used in formal UK writing, while US English often drops it.
Connotations
Identical negative connotation in both varieties.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
It is a cliche that...The phrase '...' has become a cliche.The film relies on cliches.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Avoid it like the cliche.”
- “To fall into a cliche.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used critically in marketing or strategy meetings: 'We need to avoid cliched messaging in our campaign.'
Academic
Used in literary, film, or cultural criticism to analyse texts: 'The paper deconstructs the cliche of the 'mad scientist'.'
Everyday
Common in discussion of films, books, or conversations: 'His excuse was such a cliche.'
Technical
Primarily used in creative fields like writing, screenwriting, and design as a term of critique.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The script was accused of clichéing its characters.
- They've clichéed that romantic scene to death.
American English
- The dialogue cliches the hero's journey.
- The ad campaign cliched its portrayal of family life.
adverb
British English
- The character smiled clichédly as he delivered the line.
American English
- The story ended clichely with a wedding.
adjective
British English
- The film's ending felt terribly clichéd.
- She gave a clichéd response about following her dreams.
American English
- The plot was cliched and predictable.
- He avoided the cliched 'happy ever after' trope.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- 'Love at first sight' is a famous cliche.
- The film had a cliche about a poor boy becoming rich.
- His speech was full of old cliches about hard work.
- It's a cliche, but it's true: practice makes perfect.
- The director cleverly subverted the cliche of the damsel in distress.
- While the premise felt cliched, the execution was surprisingly fresh.
- The novelist's attempt to critique bourgeois life descended into cliche, rehashing familiar tropes without insight.
- Political discourse is often mired in cliches that prevent genuine debate.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CLICHE as a CLICKED (repeatedly used) IDEA that has become SHEer (she-) boredom.
Conceptual Metaphor
IDEAS ARE OBJECTS (that can be worn out with overuse). LANGUAGE IS A PATH (that becomes a well-worn, predictable track).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'клише' (klishe), which in Russian is a neutral term for a printing plate or stereotype. In English, it is almost exclusively negative.
- Do not translate as 'шаблон' (shablon) or 'стереотип' (stereotip) without considering context, as they have broader, sometimes technical meanings.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling: 'cleeshay', 'clishe'.
- Incorrect pronunciation, stressing the first syllable in American English.
- Using it as a positive term (e.g., 'a beautiful cliche').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes a 'cliche'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, almost always. It is a term of criticism implying a lack of originality, freshness, or thought. Calling something a cliche is to say it is predictable and tired.
Yes, the participial adjective 'clichéd' (or sometimes 'cliche') is common. For example: 'a clichéd character', 'a cliche ending'.
It comes from the French word for the sound of a printing plate striking metal (clicher, 'to click'), referring to a stereotype plate. It entered English in the 19th century to mean a ready-made, oft-repeated phrase.
They are closely related. A cliche is typically an overused expression or idea. A stereotype is an oversimplified and fixed idea about a type of person or thing. A stereotype can be expressed through cliches. 'Cliche' has a stronger linguistic/artistic focus, while 'stereotype' is more social/cultural.