Does hackney come from the name of an English town?
Hackney entered the English language in the 14th century as a noun. Some think perhaps it came from "Hakeneye" (now "Hackney"), the name of a town (now a borough) in England. Others dispute this explanation, pointing to similar forms in other European languages. The noun "hackney," in any case, refers to a horse suitable for ordinary riding or driving-as opposed to one used as a draft animal or a war charger. When "hackney" was first used as a verb in the late 16th century, it often meant "to make common or frequent use of." Later, it meant "to make trite, vulgar, or commonplace." The adjective "hackneyed" began to be used in the 18th century and now is a common synonym for "trite."
trite applies to a once effective phrase or idea spoiled from long familiarity.
"you win some, you lose some" is a trite expression
hackneyed stresses being worn out by overuse so as to become dull and meaningless.
all of the metaphors and images in the poem are hackneyed
stereotyped implies falling invariably into the same pattern or form.
views of minorities that are stereotyped and out-of-date
threadbare applies to what has been used until its possibilities of interest have been totally exhausted.
a mystery novel with a threadbare plot
Example Sentences
it's hackneyed, but true—the more you save the more you earn
Recent Examples on the WebNew spectacles worth fictionalizing will arise, but when the current wave crests, could giving those stories the glossy TV treatment come to feel like a hackneyed way to address serious matters? Matthew Jacobs, Town & Country, 22 Apr. 2022 However, George Harrison loses points for taking James Ray’s original 1960s rock song and turning it into something a bit hackneyed. Troy L. Smith, cleveland, 13 May 2021 Needell’s hackneyed dialogue further unmask the movie’s lack of visual wonder and narrative cohesiveness. Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2021 The obligatory voiceovers before each episode can get annoying, and the dialogue is a bit hackneyed in places. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 19 May 2020 The hackneyed script has the effect of lending an unmerited nobility to the politicians and bureaucrats onscreen. David Klion, The New Republic, 12 Dec. 2019 There’s nothing hackneyed or rote about his delirious odes to mental illness for Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2020 The ensemble, many of whom have extensive sketch comedy credentials, try their hardest but are similarly unable to overcome the hackneyed material. Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Apr. 2020 The symbol has become its own form of trendiness-signaling, much like jettisoning all the vowels from one’s brand name or refusing to engage in that hackneyed ritual known as capitalization. Katy Steinmetz, Time, 27 Feb. 2020 See More