standard line
Typical reference point
A standard line is an established phrase or explanation someone uses repeatedly, often to justify, deflect, or persuade: His standard line is that he was just following orders.
The term implies the response is rehearsed rather than spontaneous—something trotted out whenever the situation calls for it.
In theater and comedy, a standard line is a reliable bit of dialogue that consistently works with audiences.
- baselineStandard for comparison
- benchmarkStandard for comparison
- normAccepted behavioral standard
- defaultPreset standard option
- averageArithmetic mean or ordinary
typical · by the book · regular · routine · boilerplate · template · fine print · stock · generic · cookie-cutter · formula · script · cliché · platitude · spiel · pitch · refrain · verse
standard lineexception
Deviation from standard
deviation · anomaly · special case · aberration · outlier
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