CATCHPHRASE, also catch phrase, catch-phrase. A phrase that ‘catches’ one's attention, especially if often repeated and used as a slogan, as with ‘Read my lips, no new taxes’ ( George Bush in his campaign for the US presidency, 1988). Some catch-phrases are fashionable and ephemeral, others persist for years and may become idioms, such as Follow that, meaning ‘Beat that’ (dating from the 1950s), and For my next trick (followed by a pause, especially said by someone who has just botched something: dating from the 1930s patter of stage magicians). Advertisers and publicists try to create catchphrases, such as Coke is it and the real thing (advertising Coca-Cola). Sometimes they deliberately use special orthography, as in the British Drinka pinta milka day (advertising milk) and Wotalotigot (advertising the sweets called Smarties).

catch·phrase / ˈkachˌfrāz; ˈkech-/ • n. a well-known sentence or phrase, typically one that is associated with a particular famous person.

catchphrase a well-known sentence or phrase, typically one that is associated with a particular famous person or fictional character.