bromide
4
8.3
- noun
- /ˈbroʊmaɪd/
- Informal
:
bromuro
- His speech was filled with tired bromides that failed to inspire anyone in the audience.
- an old bromide
- familiar bromides
Examples
-
Of course, proponents of the electoral connection generally dismiss the notion that "good policy is good politics" as a worn-out bromide.
Academic text (1990) -
Good teachers since Confucius and Socrates have known that this query can reduce education to stupefying practical training, tepid bromides, or cheap relevance.
Academic text (1992) -
Your cabinet is full of bromide.
-
What is that bromide about all organizations becoming liberal over time?
Blog text (33) -
For the longest time, I thought this was an old bromide all fathers told their kids.
Fiction book (1994) -
"Necessity is the mother of invention," says the old bromide.
Academic text (2007) -
All the catch phrases, all the bromides that get you through the day.
-
And pay no attention to those old bromides, such as "If you've got a good second act, you're home free."
-
Sec. Clinton has responded to the latest increase in Mideast tensions with soothing bromides.
Blog text (20) -
Chasing Mavericks is filled with bromides and tired reruns of father-son clichés.
Blog text (7)
Synonyms
173
4.6
An overused phrase or idea that no longer seems original
28
7.7
A remark used so often that it sounds dull and gives no new idea
10
7.2
An idea or remark that is very obvious and boring
1
4.1
An ordinary remark or idea that is not new
Antonyms
Compounds
- Specialized
1
7.7
A poisonous gas or liquid used to kill pests like insects and rodents
- Specialized
A colorless gas with a sharp smell that makes a strong acid when mixed with water
- Specialized
A medicine used in an inhaler that opens the airways in the lungs to help asthma or long-term lung problems
- Specialized
A white or pale yellow salt that darkens in light and is used in black-and-white photography
How Original
242
3.9
493
4.9
258
2.8
- Informal
4
8.3
11
5.7
10
7.2
Surface Forms
Morphology
bromide = bromine (opaque) = brom + ide
Although 'bromide' is chemically formed from the bromine stem plus '-ide', the sense 'trite saying' comes by metaphorical extension from sedative bromides and is not inferable from the morphology.
Etymology
Bromide for a boring, unoriginal saying comes from the chemical bromide, a drug once used to calm people. Because those salts made people dull or 'sleepy', calling a remark a bromide became a way to say it is obvious and boring.