conceit

But some conceits stampede through profoundly repugnant swamplands, sinking into straight-up stereotyping in the process.

One of the great conceits of California is its place on the cutting edge — of fashion, culture, technology, politics and other facets of the ways we live and thrive.

However, the film’s phone conceit played well enough and young star Thames was outstanding.

Purely a conceit, though, is any idea that cheeseburger consumption would simultaneously decline.

Robinson and Kanin find a conceit, whether it’s a sight gag or a scenario, and keep escalating the ridiculousness of it well past the standard threshold of appropriateness.