A snowclone is a contemporary and highly-adaptable phrase or word susceptible to a
heavy-degree of banality (similar to that of a cliché) because of it'
s vulnerability to accede among a multitude of varying audiences.
A snowclone can either refer to the original word or phrasal - as well as it'
s beneficiaries - so long as the general form or template is readily detectable.
e.g. The phrase "Keep Calm & Chive-On" is a snowclone of "Keep Calm & Carry-On" however both phrases meet the requirements to be considered a snowclone.
Well know
British-American linguistic, Geoffrey K. Pullum, and American television writer and scientist,
Glen Whitman, are credited for producing the term in the early 2000'
s.
The term "snowclone" is believed to be a a fusing of the words "
snow" and "clone" as "
snow" is a word often associated with a high concentration synonyms (replacement terms), the word "clone" typically connotes replication and/or repetition.
-"YOLO- You Only Live Once" snowcloned into "OOYL- Only Once You Live" among others.
-"Netflix & Chill" is a snowclone along with it's many predecessors such as: "Hulu & Hang" or "
4Chan &
Van" as a way to imply a sexual interest is present.
-Drake'
s infamous lyric: "Started From the
Bottom Now We Here" became a snowclone almost instantly, prompting many jokes and memes including well-regarded "Started From the Bottom Now We a Little Bit Above the Bottom" jab.
