a trite, stereotyped expression; a sentence or phrase, usually expressing a popular or common thought or idea, that has lost originality, ingenuity, and impact by long overuse, as sadder but wiser, or strong as an ox.
2.
(in art, literature, drama, etc.) a trite or hackneyed plot, character development, use of color, musical expression, etc.
3.
anything that has become trite or commonplace through overuse.
4.
British Printing.
a.
a stereotype or electrotype plate.
b.
a reproduction made in a like manner.
–adjective
5.
trite; hackneyed; stereotyped; clichéd.
Also, cli·che.
[Origin: 1825–35; < F: stereotype plate, stencil, cliché, n. use of ptp. of clicher to make such a plate, said to be imit. of the sound of the metal pressed against the matrix]
A trite or overused expression or idea: "Even while the phrase was degenerating to cliché in ordinary public use . . . scholars were giving it increasing attention"(Anthony Brandt).
A person or character whose behavior is predictable or superficial: "There is a young explorer . . . who turns out not to be quite the cliche expected"(John Crowley).
[French, past participle of clicher, to stereotype (imitative of the sound made when the matrix is dropped into molten metal to make a stereotype plate).]
Synonyms: These nouns denote an expression or idea that has lost its originality or force through overuse: a short story weakened by clichés; the old bromide that we are what we eat; uttered the commonplace "welcome aboard"; a eulogy full of platitudes; a once-original thought that has become a truism.
1832, borrowing of a technical word from Fr. cliché, printer's jargon for "stereotype," supposedly echoic of mould dropping into molten metal, thus pp. of clicher "to click." Figurative extension is first attested 1888, following the course of stereotype.
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