English

Alternative forms

• cliche

Noun

cliché ‎(plural clichés)

1. Something, most often a phrase or expression, that is overused or used outside its original context, so that its original impact and meaning are lost. A trite saying; a platitude. [from 19th c.]

   The villain kidnapping the love interest in a film is a bit of a cliché.

2. (printing) A stereotype (printing plate).

Usage notes

• The alternative spelling cliche may be used without confusion, as there is no other word in English with this spelling. (Contrast résumé, resumé.)

Synonyms

• platitude
• stereotype
• See also Wikisaurus:saying

Derived terms

• clichéd

Translations

Verb

cliché ‎(third-person singular simple present clichés, present participle clichéing, simple past and past participle clichéd or (rare) clichéed)

1. (transitive, intransitive) To use a cliché; to make up a word or a name that sounds like a cliché.
   • 2015, Huping Ling, ‎Allan W. Austin, Asian American History and Culture: An Encyclopedia

     While most of these small, family-owned eateries were mired in drab décor and had clichéd names like Golden Wok or China Gate, they made up for the kitsch with inexpensive prices.

   • 2015, Shonda Rhimes, Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own Person

     He clichéd at me. He clichéd at me in a perky, condescending tone.

Anagrams

• chicle

Dutch

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: cli‧ché

Etymology

Borrowing from French cliché

Noun

cliché n ‎(plural clichés, diminutive clichétje n)

1. cliché

French

Etymology

Past participle of clicher ‎(“to stereotype", originally, "to copy”, literally “to click, clink”), from Middle French, from Old French cliquer ‎(“to click, clack, sound, resound”), of Germanic origin, related to Dutch klikken ‎(“to click, rattle”), Low German klikken ‎(“to click”), German klicken ‎(“to click”), Danish klikke ‎(“to click”), Swedish klicka ‎(“to click”). Probably onomatopoeic, and probably influenced by Middle High German klitsch ‎(“soft, pulpy mass”), from the old technique of creating a printing plate. More at click.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kliʃe/

Noun

cliché m ‎(plural clichés)

1. (printing) A stereotype.

   La reproduction dans la presse de dessins et de photographies se fait au moyen de clichés typographiques.

2. (photography) A negative
3. (by extension) a snapshot

   Prendre un cliché.

4. cliché

   Le type du cliché, c'est le proverbe, immuable et raide; le lieu commun prend autant de formes qu'il y a de combinaisons possibles dans une langue pour énoncer une sottise ou une incontestable vérité.

   En stylistique, on appelle cliché toute expression qui se trouve banalisée par l'emploi trop courant qui en a déjà été fait (l'aurore aux doigts de rose, l'astre des nuits).

Synonyms

• banalité, idée reçue, lieu commun, stéréotype

Descendants

• Czech: klišé
• English: cliché
• Finish: klisee
• German: Klischee
• Portuguese: clichê
• Russian: клише́ ‎(klišé)
• Slovene: kliše
• Turkish: klişe

Italian

Alternative forms

• cliscè

Etymology

Borrowing from French cliché.

Noun

cliché m ‎(invariable)

1. plate (printing)
2. cliché

Anagrams

• lecchi

Spanish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [kliˈt͡ʃe̞]

Alternative forms

• clisé

Etymology

From French cliché

Noun

cliché m ‎(plural clichés)

1. (printing) cliché
2. (talking) cliché

Anagrams

• chicle