die Floskel
Translation
platitude, empty phrase, cliché, formulaic expression
Examples
Seine Rede war voller leerer Floskeln.
His speech was full of empty platitudes.
Das ist doch nur eine höfliche Floskel.
That's just a polite formulaic expression.
Grammar Patterns
to be ((a)) Floskel to be a platitude/cliché That is just a polite platitude.
to be full of Floskeln to be full of platitudes His speech was full of platitudes.
Similar Words
Synonyms: platitude, cliché; Antonyms: original thought
Etymology
From Latin 'flosculus' (little flower), referring to a rhetorical flourish or ornament.
Memory Tips
Think of a 'flowery' but empty phrase. It sounds nice but lacks substance, like a plastic flower.