turns of phrase
Ways of speaking
Turns of phrase are distinctive ways of expressing something—particular word combinations or expressions that characterize someone's speech or writing.
A writer might be known for clever turns of phrase.
The term often implies verbal skill or memorability: She has a gift for memorable turns of phrase.
A single instance is a turn of phrase.
- sayingShort, wise expression
- old sayingTime-tested expression of wisdom
- bon motClever, memorable remark
- pithy remarkBrief, meaningful statement
- maximBrief moral principle
metaphor · proverb · apothegm · simile · idiom · fixed expression · phraseology · witticism · colloquialism · cliché · euphemism · regionalism · figure of speech · aphorism · dictum · choice words · salty language · adage
- expressionsexpression, I love you, idioms, thank you, I'm sorry
- Informal Languageslang, idioms, colloquialisms, contractions, expressions
- sayingssayings, saying, proverb, proverbs, adage
- slangslang, jargon, lingo, argot, cant
- dialectregionalisms, vernacular, localisms, rural dialect, patois
turns of phrasedirect speech
Exact quoted utterance
plain speech · plain language · literal meaning · plain English · bare facts
turns of phraseclichés
Overused expressions lacking originality
stock phrases · boilerplate language · platitudes · boilerplate · banalities
turns of phraseplain speech
Unembellished verbal expression
turn, turns, turned, turning, turner, turners, phrase, phrases, phrased