de-kahon
de-kahón with stress marks
cliché; stereotypical
Usage Note
De-kahon comes from Spanish de cajón (standard/from the box) and describes something predictable, formulaic, or lacking originality. It is commonly used in creative, journalistic, and everyday critical contexts to dismiss something as generic or uncreative — roughly equivalent to 'cookie-cutter' in English.
Examples
" De-kahon ang kwento. "
Natural Translation
The story is cliché.
Literal Translation
Cliche the story.
" Ang sagot niya ay de-kahon. "
Natural Translation
His/Her answer is stereotypical.
Literal Translation
The answer his/her is stereotypical.
" Maganda sana ang pelikula, kaya lang masyadong de-kahon ang dulo na halos mahulaan ko agad. "
Natural Translation
The movie could have been good, except the ending was so formulaic that I almost guessed it right away.
Literal Translation
Good hopefully the movie, only too cliche the ending that almost guess I immediately.
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