worn phrase
Overused verbal formula
A worn phrase is an expression that has lost its freshness through overuse—a cliché.
What once struck readers as vivid or clever now feels stale and automatic: avoid worn phrases like "at the end of the day", The speech was full of worn phrases about following your dreams.
Writers are advised to replace worn phrases with original language or plain statement.
- clichéOverused, unoriginal expression
- dead metaphorFigurative phrase now literal-seeming
- platitudeTrite, overused remark
- hackneyedOverused and unoriginal
- triteOverused, lacking freshness
old chestnut · overused · stale · tired expression · tired · banal · bromide · truism · saying · expression · motto · slogan · adage · maxim · proverb · stock · formulaic · unoriginal
worn phraseoriginal expression
Newly invented wording
coinage · neologism · creative expression · poetic language · clever wordplay
worn, phrase, wear, wears, wearing, wearer, wearers, wearable, unwearable