What is "snowclone"

n. A type of cliché which uses an old idiom formulaically in a new context.

Snowclone is a neologism for a type of cliché and phrasal template originally defined as "a multi-use, customizable, instantly recognizable, time-worn, quoted or misquoted phrase or sentence that can be used in an entirely open array of different variants".

A typical example snowclone is the phrase "grey is the new black" (a form of the template "X is the new Y", in which "X" and "Y" may be replaced with different words or phrases—for example, " Orange is the New Black" or even "comedy is the new rock 'n' roll").

The term "snowclone" can be applied to both the original phrase and to a new phrase that uses its formula.