Bromides are clichéd or overused statements, remarks, or ideas that lack originality and are often intended to offer comfort or reassurance. The term comes from the chemical compound bromide, which was historically used as a calming agent, but over time, it came to symbolize any statement that is trite or unoriginal. Bromides are often meant to simplify complex situations or to provide easy answers to difficult questions, but they tend to be seen as lacking depth or real insight. In Indonesia, the equivalent would likely be klise or pernyataan klise, referring to tired or formulaic expressions.
Synonyms:
- Cliché
- Platitude
- Banality
- Triviality
- Commonplace
- Saying
- Overused expression
- Stereotype
- Truism
- Remark
- Adage
- Maxim
- Jargon
- Formulaic phrase
- Tired expression
Sentences Using “Bromides”:
- The politician’s speech was filled with bromides about unity and change, but lacked any real substance.
- Her attempt to comfort him with bromides like “everything happens for a reason” didn’t help much.
- Instead of offering any practical solutions, the CEO resorted to bromides about working harder and being patient.
- The therapist avoided bromides and offered personalized, meaningful advice to each client.
- The manager’s speech was full of bromides about teamwork, but no real steps to improve collaboration were given.
- The book was criticized for its reliance on bromides rather than offering fresh perspectives on the topic.
- The self-help book was filled with bromides that sounded nice but didn’t provide any real guidance.
- Everyone loves to hear bromides like “things will get better,” but sometimes we need more than empty words.
- His bromides about overcoming adversity didn’t resonate with the audience, who were looking for real solutions.
- Rather than offering bromides, she gave a detailed and practical plan to address the issue at hand.
Related Words:
- Cliché
- Platitude
- Truism
- Banality
- Commonplace
- Stereotype
- Adage
- Saying
- Overused expression
- Maxim
- Triviality
- Formulaic statement
- Jargon
- Tired phrase
- Old chestnut
Phrasal Verbs Related to “Bromides”:
- Fall back on (to rely on an overused or unoriginal response, like bromides)
- Resort to (to use something less original or insightful, often as a fallback in difficult situations)
- Lean on (to rely on a familiar but often unhelpful cliché or bromide)
- Give in to (to use bromides or clichés when faced with discomfort or pressure)
- Fall into the trap (to use bromides in an attempt to simplify a complex situation)
- Speak in platitudes (to express overused or trivial remarks)
- Come up with (to generate a bromide or commonplace idea)
- Fall flat (when bromides or clichés don’t have the intended effect or fail to resonate)
- Resign to (to rely on or use a bromide when there’s nothing else to say)
- Dish out (to offer clichés or bromides without much thought)
Idiomatic Expressions Related to “Bromides”:
- Empty words (referring to statements that are meant to comfort but lack real meaning, similar to bromides)
- A broken record (to repeat the same, often clichéd ideas over and over again, much like bromides)
- Talk in circles (to use vague, overused phrases without offering any real solutions, similar to bromides)
- Talk down to someone (to offer oversimplified, cliché advice, often seen in bromides)
- Give someone a pat on the back (offering encouragement with bromides rather than genuine support)
- Sugarcoat the truth (using bromides to make something sound less harsh or more comforting)
- Preach to the choir (to offer bromides to people who don’t need or want them)
- Throw out the old chestnut (using a tired or overused statement, similar to a bromide)
- Bite your tongue (to refrain from giving a bromide or saying something that might sound unhelpful)
- Water down (to reduce something complex into simple bromides that lose depth)
- Take the edge off (using a bromide to make a tough situation seem easier than it is)
