Cliche
noun
A phrase or opinion that is overused and shows lack of original thought.
The movie industry is full of cliches, from predictable romantic comedies to cheesy action films.
Often appears as...
- tired cliché
- common cliché
adjective
Something cliché is overused and not original.
His style of painting was cliché, there was nothing new or exciting about it.
Often appears as...
- cliché plot
- cliché character
noun
A phrase or opinion that is overused and shows lack of original thought.
The movie industry is full of cliches, from predictable romantic comedies to cheesy action films.
Often appears as...
- tired cliché
- common cliché
adjective
Something cliché is overused and not original.
His style of painting was cliché, there was nothing new or exciting about it.
Often appears as...
- cliché plot
- cliché character
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Genre Specific
Cliches can be prevalent in particular literary or film genres, making them predictable.
The haunted house in the horror story felt like a tired cliche.
Pro Tip 2/3Context Sensitivity
The context determines whether a phrase is a cliche; different groups may view it differently.
You're the apple of my eye,' may sound cliche in a poem but sweet in a letter.
Pro Tip 3/3Avoid in Innovation
In creative writing or speeches, avoid cliches to maintain originality and keep the audience engaged.
Instead of saying 'time will tell', I discussed unforeseeable future outcomes.
Pro Tip 1/3Genre Specific
Cliches can be prevalent in particular literary or film genres, making them predictable.
The haunted house in the horror story felt like a tired cliche.
Pro Tip 2/3Context Sensitivity
The context determines whether a phrase is a cliche; different groups may view it differently.
You're the apple of my eye,' may sound cliche in a poem but sweet in a letter.
Pro Tip 3/3Avoid in Innovation
In creative writing or speeches, avoid cliches to maintain originality and keep the audience engaged.
Instead of saying 'time will tell', I discussed unforeseeable future outcomes.
Pro Tip 1/3Genre Specific
Cliches can be prevalent in particular literary or film genres, making them predictable.
The haunted house in the horror story felt like a tired cliche.
Pro Tip 2/3Context Sensitivity
The context determines whether a phrase is a cliche; different groups may view it differently.
You're the apple of my eye,' may sound cliche in a poem but sweet in a letter.
Pro Tip 3/3Avoid in Innovation
In creative writing or speeches, avoid cliches to maintain originality and keep the audience engaged.
Instead of saying 'time will tell', I discussed unforeseeable future outcomes.
Never forget "Cliche"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
Strange answers to the...
but what did I know but I've got home I emailed his punished and honestly made and I said what's the story and he said yep we accept that toady faked madness to get out of a prison sentence because his hallucinations that had seemed quite cliched to begin with just vanished the minute he got to Broadmoor however we
Video examples
Vincent Moon and Nana...
dedicated to independent music. We were crazy about music. We wanted to represent music in a different way, to film the music we love, the musicians we admired, as much as possible, far from the music industry and far from the cliches attached to it. We started to publish every week
Video examples
Ravin Agrawal: 10 young...
every day, in an act closely associated with the institution of marriage. But originally the significance of the bindi is to symbolize the third eye between the spiritual world and the religious world. Bharti seeks to liberate this everyday cliche, as she calls it,
Video examples
Bjarke Ingels: 3...
as who or what we are against. The cliche of the radical architect is the sort of angry young man rebelling against the establishment. Or this idea of the misunderstood genius, frustrated that the world doesn't fit in with his or her ideas.
Video examples
Africa’s rhyming history...
could be a life's work I went back to grad school and in time I suppose I became an historian now you may be thinking at this moment oh my god he's going to Boris the tears with a series of cliches about why we should study history and
Video examples
National Geographic...
had asked permission from a rinpoche in a monastery and I spent four months living in that monastery peeling away the cliches peeling away to the essence for me it was also an excuse to start a long life relationship to Buddhism and I
Video examples
Life-changing encounter...
afraid of people. When it was just me and those birds, I totally forgot about everything else. I was just focused on observing them and I mean, it's cliche to say, but time stops still and it felt
Video examples
Corn Dogs and Crushes:...
over there and just like be with her and I it goes slow so you can cherish your time with her Munchie dollars I'll be seen on that be kissing though we're so cliche oh we kissed at the top we've
Video examples
Krista Tippett:...
and it's prone to its own abundant cliche. But kindness is an everyday byproduct of all the great virtues. And it is a most edifying form of instant gratification.
Video examples
Patrick Chappatte: The...
You've read about it already. Ladies and gentlemen, the world has gotten smaller. I know it's a cliche, but look,
Video examples
Strange answers to the...
but what did I know but I've got home I emailed his punished and honestly made and I said what's the story and he said yep we accept that toady faked madness to get out of a prison sentence because his hallucinations that had seemed quite cliched to begin with just vanished the minute he got to Broadmoor however we
Video examples
Vincent Moon and Nana...
dedicated to independent music. We were crazy about music. We wanted to represent music in a different way, to film the music we love, the musicians we admired, as much as possible, far from the music industry and far from the cliches attached to it. We started to publish every week
Video examples
Ravin Agrawal: 10 young...
every day, in an act closely associated with the institution of marriage. But originally the significance of the bindi is to symbolize the third eye between the spiritual world and the religious world. Bharti seeks to liberate this everyday cliche, as she calls it,
Video examples
Bjarke Ingels: 3...
as who or what we are against. The cliche of the radical architect is the sort of angry young man rebelling against the establishment. Or this idea of the misunderstood genius, frustrated that the world doesn't fit in with his or her ideas.
Video examples
Africa’s rhyming history...
could be a life's work I went back to grad school and in time I suppose I became an historian now you may be thinking at this moment oh my god he's going to Boris the tears with a series of cliches about why we should study history and
Video examples
National Geographic...
had asked permission from a rinpoche in a monastery and I spent four months living in that monastery peeling away the cliches peeling away to the essence for me it was also an excuse to start a long life relationship to Buddhism and I
Video examples
Life-changing encounter...
afraid of people. When it was just me and those birds, I totally forgot about everything else. I was just focused on observing them and I mean, it's cliche to say, but time stops still and it felt
Video examples
Corn Dogs and Crushes:...
over there and just like be with her and I it goes slow so you can cherish your time with her Munchie dollars I'll be seen on that be kissing though we're so cliche oh we kissed at the top we've
Video examples
Krista Tippett:...
and it's prone to its own abundant cliche. But kindness is an everyday byproduct of all the great virtues. And it is a most edifying form of instant gratification.
Video examples
Patrick Chappatte: The...
You've read about it already. Ladies and gentlemen, the world has gotten smaller. I know it's a cliche, but look,
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Joel Osteen
American Clergyman
It's easy to get negative because you get beat down. You go through a few disappointments and it's easy to stay in that negative frame of mind. Choosing to be positive and having a grateful attitude is a whole cliche, but your attitude is going to determine how you're going to live your life.
Quote examples
John Lennon
English Musician
If someone thinks that love and peace is a cliche that must have been left behind in the Sixties, that's his problem. Love and peace are eternal.
Quote examples
Yuna
Malaysian Musician
I just realized the best way to live your life is to just be you, as cliche as it sounds. I grew up trying to please everyone.
Quote examples
John Sandford
American Novelist
Women just make interesting characters, especially when you're working against cliches.
Quote examples
Harold Evans
British Journalist
Attempting to get at truth means rejecting stereotypes and cliches.
Quote examples
Ken Hakuta
South Korean Inventor
Whatever you do, don't sink your life's savings into cliche items.
Quote examples
Christopher Buckley
American Novelist
The cliche in American politics is that one week is an eternity.
Quote examples
Rory Gallagher
Irish Musician
Touring doesn't have to be a harried, cliched way of life.
Quote examples
Win Butler
American Musician
The cliched rock life never seemed that cool to me.
Quote examples
John Pinette
It's a cliche, but my comedy is all about life.
Quote examples
Joel Osteen
American Clergyman
It's easy to get negative because you get beat down. You go through a few disappointments and it's easy to stay in that negative frame of mind. Choosing to be positive and having a grateful attitude is a whole cliche, but your attitude is going to determine how you're going to live your life.
Quote examples
John Lennon
English Musician
If someone thinks that love and peace is a cliche that must have been left behind in the Sixties, that's his problem. Love and peace are eternal.
Quote examples
Yuna
Malaysian Musician
I just realized the best way to live your life is to just be you, as cliche as it sounds. I grew up trying to please everyone.
Quote examples
John Sandford
American Novelist
Women just make interesting characters, especially when you're working against cliches.
Quote examples
Harold Evans
British Journalist
Attempting to get at truth means rejecting stereotypes and cliches.
Quote examples
Ken Hakuta
South Korean Inventor
Whatever you do, don't sink your life's savings into cliche items.
Quote examples
Christopher Buckley
American Novelist
The cliche in American politics is that one week is an eternity.
Quote examples
Rory Gallagher
Irish Musician
Touring doesn't have to be a harried, cliched way of life.
Quote examples
Win Butler
American Musician
The cliched rock life never seemed that cool to me.
Quote examples
John Pinette
It's a cliche, but my comedy is all about life.
Example 1 of 10
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension