tropes

Something recurring across a genre or type of art or literature, such as the ‘mad scientist’ of horror movies or the use of the phrase ‘once upon a time’ as an introduction to fairy tales; a motif.

A figure of speech in which words or phrases are used with a nonliteral or figurative meaning, such as a metaphor.

Mathematical senses.

Musical senses.

Philosophical senses.

To use, or embellish something with, a trope.

Senses relating chiefly to art or literature.

To think or write in terms of tropes.