catch phrase

American  

Or catchphrase

noun

1. a phrase that attracts or is meant to attract attention.

2. a phrase, as a slogan, that comes to be widely and repeatedly used, often with little of the original meaning remaining.

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catch phrase British  

noun

1. a well-known frequently used phrase, esp one associated with a particular group, etc

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Etymology

Origin of catch phrase

First recorded in 1840–50; catch(word) + phrase

Example Sentences

This time out, the character deployed a new catch phrase, “Devout!” in reference to being both Christian and Jewish, and he brought out bearded backup dancers called Blast Boys.

From Los Angeles Times • May 17, 2026

The catch phrase “demographics is destiny” isn’t quite right.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 19, 2026

"The catch phrase is always 'physics beyond the Standard Model,'" Gaskell said.

From Science Daily • Feb. 26, 2024

Lee, who is ranked No. 45 and comes from Western Australia, has made “let him cook” his popular catch phrase.

From Washington Times • Nov. 26, 2023

But the catch phrase, 'Military- Intelligence,' a contradiction in terms' made their job doubly difficult.

From Terminal Compromise: computer terrorism: when privacy and freedom are the victims: a novel by Schwartau, Winn