trope
n. countablen. an idea, theme, or image that appears many times in books, movies, or art. It is a common pattern that people recognize easily.
n. a recurring thematic element, motif, or narrative device within a creative work. Often used to describe conventional patterns that have become predictable or cliché through frequent repetition.
The 'chosen one' is a common trope in fantasy movies.
The director subverted the classic horror trope by having the main character make logical decisions throughout the film.
While some critics dismiss the detective's tragic backstory as a tired trope, others argue it provides a necessary emotional anchor for the procedural elements of the plot.
From Latin tropus, from Ancient Greek τρόπος (trópos, “a manner, style, turn, way; a trope or figure of speech; a mode in music; a mode or mood in logic”), related to τροπή (tropḗ, “solstice; trope; turn”) and τρέπειν (trépein, “to turn”); compare turn of phrase. The verb is derived from the noun.
Commonly paired with adjectives like 'tired', 'classic', 'overused', or 'literary'.