Bromide
Noun
Definition: A trite statement or comment that is intended to soothe or placate.
Synonyms: Platitude, Cliché, Banality
Antonyms: Originality, Innovation, Creativity
- She's always offering bromides like "everything happens for a reason."
- The party politician relied on tired bromides to win over the crowd.
- A bland bromide is meant to put a band-aid on an issue, but lacks depth or originality.
- Think of "bore-mide" to remember that bromides can be unoriginal and boring.
Etymology:
The word "bromide" originated in the mid-19th century from the chemical compound potassium bromide. Initially, bromides were used medicinally to calm the nerves, but the term evolved to convey a sense of dullness or lack of originality in language.
Historical Usage:In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, bromides were often prescribed as sedatives to treat anxiety and insomnia. Over time, the term shifted to describe a trite or unoriginal statement.
Related Idioms:
"Spouting bromides"
Explanation:Describes someone who frequently and unthinkingly utters clichéd or predictable statements.
Misconceptions:
Considering bromides solely as calming medications.
Explanation:Though the term originated from the medicinal use of bromides, it primarily refers to trite or clichéd statements rather than the chemical compound itself.