propaganda technique

Thought-terminating cliché

Also called: Semantic stop sign

A thought-terminating cliché is a short, familiar phrase used to end a discussion and discourage further thought.

How it works

Phrases such as "it is what it is" or "everything happens for a reason" sound wise and are hard to argue with. They close a question without answering it.

Examples

"Let's not get political," in response to a factual question about a policy.

The phrase ends the inquiry instead of addressing it.

"Boys will be boys."

It dismisses concerns about behaviour without engaging with them.

How to spot it

A stock phrase ends a discussion.
The phrase could be applied to almost anything.
The original question remains open.

How to respond

Ask what the phrase means in this case.
Return politely to the question.
Notice when you use such phrases to avoid a hard question.