hackneyed thought
[ˈhæk.nid θɔːt]
noun phrasepl: hackneyed thoughts
pensamento banal
1. an idea or thought that has been used so often that it is no longer interesting or original; a trite or clichéd notion
The speech was full of hackneyed thoughts about success and hard work.
O discurso estava cheio de pensamentos banais sobre sucesso e trabalho duro.
2. a commonplace or uninspired idea that lacks novelty or creative depth
Her essay contained nothing but hackneyed thoughts and predictable arguments.
Seu ensaio continha apenas pensamentos banais e argumentos previsíveis.
The concept of 'hackneyed thought' is widely recognized in both American and Brazilian academic and literary circles. In Brazil, it's often used in critical essays and journalism to dismiss unoriginal arguments. In the USA, the term is frequently employed in literary criticism and academic writing to indicate lazy thinking or lack of originality. Both cultures value original thinking and use this phrase to critique predictability.
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