A cliché is an overused phrase, idea, or style that has become unoriginal and less meaningful because people repeat it so often. It can describe both specific expressions (like sayings) and predictable stories or characters in books and movies.

Basic meaning

  • A cliché (also written cliché) is a saying or idea that has been used so much that it feels boring or predictable.
  • Examples of verbal clichés are phrases like “time heals all wounds” or “beauty is only skin deep.”

How people use the word

  • People often use cliché in a negative way to criticize language, stories, or characters that lack originality or surprise.
  • It can be used as a noun (“That line is a cliché”) or as an adjective (“That ending was so cliché”).

Clichés in stories and media

  • In movies, TV, or books, a cliché might be a very familiar plot twist, character type, or scene that audiences have seen many times before.
  • These repeated patterns can make a story feel predictable, even if they are easy for audiences to recognize and understand quickly.

Are clichés always bad?

  • Many writing guides say to avoid clichés because they can make writing feel lazy or insincere.
  • However, some experts note that clichés can sometimes be useful if you twist them, personalize them, or use them deliberately to connect with readers.

TL;DR: “What does cliché mean?” It means a phrase, idea, or style that’s been used so often it stops feeling fresh, interesting, or original.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.