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French

cliché

klee-SHAY

kliːˈʃeɪ

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Syllable breakdown

cliché

Dictionary meaning

A phrase or idea so overused it has lost its original impact.

History and origin

French — from the sound of a printing block.

Examples

  • The speech was full of clichés that felt insincere to the audience.

Common mispronunciations

KLEE-chayKLICH-ay

People also look up

Rendezvous

RON-day-voo

Bourgeois

BOOR-zhwah

Croissant

kruh-SAHNT (UK) / kruh-SAHNT (US)

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