Reply																		
							Mon  3 Apr, 2017 12:33 pm
						
						
					
					
					
						Is there a word in the English language for phrases that people say a lot to describe ideas, but aren't quite sayings. 
Thanks!
					
				 
				
						
														
					
													@perennialloner,
												Probably not adage or platitude.
											
 
					
				 
																									
						
														
					
													@perennialloner,
												idiom, expression, colloquialism, quote
											
 
					
				 
																									
						
														
					
													@centrox,
												Like, "the free world," "melting pot," and "nation of immigrants" to describe the United States. do phrases like these have a name? or are they just common descriptions?
											
 
					
				 
																									
						
														
					
													@perennialloner,
												"Cliche(s)" is the closest I can think of, although I think it's actually a french word.
P.S.:  I just looked at one dictionary which defines a "cliche" as:  "a phrase or opinion that is overused and betrays a lack of original thought."
											
 
					
				 
																									
						
														
					
													@layman,
												Quote:"Cliche(s)" is the closest I can think of, although I think it's actually a french word.
 
It came from French but as soon as it did, it was an English word.