a type of phrase that has a standard pattern in which some of the words can be freely replaced; for example, the pattern ‘X is the new Y’ can become ‘Navy is the new black’ or ‘Comedy is the new rock ‘n’ roll’ or ‘Staying in is the new going out’, and so on
Synonyms and related words
Types of phrase or expression
adage
aphorism
axiom
snowclone
noun countable linguistics
US /ˈsnoʊˌkloʊn/
Word Forms
singular
snowclone
plural
snowclones
DEFINITIONS1
1
a type of phrase that has a standard pattern in which some of the words can be freely replaced; for example, the pattern “X is the new Y” can become “Navy is the new black” or “Comedy is the new rock ‘n’ roll” or “Staying in is the new going out”, and so on