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.
