a twice-told tale;banality; bromide; canned phrases; cliches; a hackneyed and stereotyped phrase (/expression/word/tune); often-repeated (/ancient) trash;platitude; shibboleth; shopworn trash (/tune/song/expression); stake and trite phraseology; a stock (/obsolete) phrase (/tune/argument); truism ❍ 他说起话来老是满口～的。He always speaks in platitudes. ❍ 我方代表明确提出必须抛弃“临时停火”那样的～。Our delegate explicitly pointed out that the shop-worn theory of the “temporary ceasefire” must be thrown overboard.