platitude

Word family

plat·i·tude /ˈplætɪtjuːd $ -tuːd/ noun [countableC] formal

SAYINGa statement that has been made many times before and is not interesting or clever – used to show disapproval 老生常谈，陈词滥调〔含贬义〕

His excuse was the platitude ‘boys will be boys’.

他还是那一套理由:“男孩总归是男孩。”

—platitudinous /ˌplætɪˈtjuːdɪnəs◂ $ -ˈtuː-/ adjectiveadj

Examples from the Corpus

platitude• That at least some of them do so is a platitude.• All the foreign students sat together in the Student Union, at the same table, exchanging heavily accented platitudes.• Those who did believe me offered no solace; only sympathy and empty platitudes.• The marriage counsellor could only offer us a string of empty platitudes.• High-sounding jargon or pointless platitudes cut little ice when one is alert to the actual message being conveyed.• empty political platitudes• Charles took one look at the proffered platitudes, which he knew to be absurd, and set about writing an alternative.• Many transplant-zealots speak in slippery platitudes.• I sense his slighted dignity and mouth some platitude about boys being boys the world over.• The management tried to satisfy staff with some platitudes about the need to make sacrifices for the benefit of the company.• What blessed relief from the platitudes.• Mr Gringold droned on, mouthing the usual platitudes about motivation and self-reliance.

Origin platitude

(1800-1900) French plat “flat, dull”

Chinese

Syllable

Corpus