cliche

Where does the word "cliche" come from? It comes from French clicher, passing through French before entering English (1900s).

Cliche’s story begins in French: clicher meant “to cast a printing plate.” A printing term meaning to make a stereotype printing plate. Within French, it grew into cliché by 1800s. The noun form came to mean an overused printing plate, then an overused phrase. It reached English by 1900s as cliche. French printers' slang for a stereotype plate, imitating the sound of the metal being cast. Today, cliche means an overused phrase or idea that has lost its original impact.

1. Stage 1 · French · 1800s clicher "to cast a printing plate", a printing term meaning to make a stereotype printing plate.
2. Stage 2 · French · 1800s cliché "a stereotype plate; an overused phrase", the noun form came to mean an overused printing plate, then an overused phrase.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1900s cliche "an overused phrase or idea", French printers' slang for a stereotype plate, imitating the sound of the metal being cast.