Cliché

From Open Encyclopedia

A cliché (from French name cliché) originally was a printing term for a semi-permanently assembled piece of type which could easily be inserted into the document being printed (see Block printing). It has since come to mean a phrase, expression, or idea that has been overused to the point of losing its intended force or novelty, especially when at some time it was considered distinctively forceful or novel. The meaning of a cliché may shift over time, often leading to confusion or misuse.

By extension, "cliché" applies also to almost any situation, subject, characterisation, or object — in short, any sign — that has similarly become overly familiar or commonplace. Many authorities feel that the appearance of cliché in writing or speech can indicate a lack of creativity, innovation, or sincerity. Because the novelty or frequency of an expression's use varies between different times and places, identification of a cliché depends largely on who uses it and who makes the judgment.

On the other hand, there can also be advantages to using clichés. In storytelling, cliché can both establish rapport with an audience, a usage of a form of shibboleth, and simplify exposition or description.

Commonly comedy exploits the use of cliché by using a series of literary devices in order to cause the reader or audience to expect a certain cliché, but instead delivering the punchline contrary to what was expected of cliché.

While most cliché statements can and should be replaced in writing or speech, many familiar phrases have remained current for centuries. It may be cliché, for example, to write that "familiarity breeds contempt"; but the statement itself must remain valid or the concept of cliché becomes meaningless.

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