trope
/trəʊp/ (bre, ipa) · /trəʊp/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈtrōp/ (ame, mw)
trope — noun
- tropesingular
- tropesplural
1. a familiar subject, expression, or visual element that appears repeatedly in boo
a familiar subject, expression, or visual element that appears repeatedly in books, films, television shows, or other creative works, often to the point of being expected or predictable
The 'chosen one' is a common trope in fantasy, where a young hero must save the world.
common trope in [genre]
Many romantic comedies use a trope where two people dislike each other but later fall in love.
trope of [someone / something]
In horror films, the 'I will be right back' trope means the character will not return.
Amelia noticed every episode used the same tired trope: a misunderstanding that causes a big argument.
Critics pointed out that the movie copied familiar action-movie tropes without adding anything new.
- motif
more neutral and less negative than 'trope'; a motif is a recurring symbolic element rather than a predictable plot device
- cliché
stronger negative connotation; a cliché is a trope that has become so overused it feels boring or unoriginal
- convention
broader term for an accepted technique or practice in a genre, not necessarily overused
- innovation
a new or original idea that breaks away from familiar tropes
用法筆記
Frequently used in literary and film criticism to identify overused or conventional elements. When describing a negative or unoriginal trope, writers often pair it with adjectives such as 'tired,' 'clichéd,' or 'overused.'
常見錯誤
2. an expression whose meaning goes beyond the literal, making the reader see somet
an expression whose meaning goes beyond the literal, making the reader see something in a fresh way — for example, calling the sea 'angry' or describing time as a 'thief'
A metaphor is a trope that compares two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as'.
metaphor is a trope
'The winds of change are blowing' is a trope politicians use to suggest major shifts.
trope suggesting / meaning [idea]
Poets use the trope of personification to give human qualities to objects or ideas.
The phrase 'time is money' is a trope that most English speakers understand without thinking.
Professor Kim found a trope in 'the sun smiled down' that creates a welcoming mood.
- figure of speech
broader category that includes tropes; every trope is a figure of speech, but not every figure of speech (e.g., alliteration) is a trope
- metaphor
a specific type of trope, not a synonym for the whole category
- literal language
words used with their exact, ordinary meaning rather than a figurative one
用法筆記
This sense belongs to the study of rhetoric and linguistics. In everyday conversation, sense 1 (recurring narrative element) is far more common. To distinguish: if it is a pattern in the story structure, use sense 1; if it is a non-literal way of using words, use sense 2.