Slang dictionary
snowclone
What does snowclone mean?
A snowclone is a customizable formulaic phrase that consists of a framework that can be adapted for different situations by changing some of the words. It’s typically expressed in terms of the invariable part of the phrase with blanks represented by X, Y, and Z, for example, X is the new Y.
Where does snowclone come from?
Examples of snowclone
• the X in the age of its technical Y
• on a certain tendency in $(adjective) Y
• the X as Y”
Who uses snowclone?
Although snowclone was created to describe a phenomenon of news writing, snowclones themselves have found a new home in memes with the rise of internet humor. All your X are belong to us is an example of a snowclone that originated as an internet meme rather than a journalistic construct. The meme, which sprung from the poor English translations in the opening dialogue of a game called Zero Wing, went viral in 1998.
Other examples of snowclones include Xy McXFace. In 2016, the British government held a contest to let the public decide the name of a polar research ship worth hundreds of millions of dollars. The public flooded the votes with Boaty McBoatface, though ultimately this winning name was not given to the giant ship, but instead to a small underwater autonomous vehicle. Similar names, such as Parsey McParseface, Planey McPlaneface, and Firey McFireface followed.
Another snowclone example is this is your X on Y. It originated in a 1987 television public service announcement from Partnership for a Drug-Free America, which contained the phrase this is your brain on drugs. Formulations have included this is your brain on poetry and this is your premise on drugs.
Note
This is not meant to be a formal definition of snowclone like most terms we define on Dictionary.com, but is rather an informal word summary that hopefully touches upon the key aspects of the meaning and usage of snowclone that will help our users expand their word mastery.