From Wikipedia:
A snowclone is a type of cliché and phrasal template originally defined as "a multi-use, customizable, instantly recognizable, time-worn, quoted or misquoted phrase or sentence that can be used in an entirely open array of different variants".
An example of a snowclone is "gray is the new black", a version of the template "X is the new Y". X and Y may be replaced with different words or phrases – for example, "comedy is the new rock 'n' roll". Both the generic formula and the new phrases produced from it are called "snowclones".
It emphasizes the use of a familiar (and often particular) formula and previous cultural knowledge of the reader to express information about an idea. The idea being discussed may be different in meaning from the original formula, but can be understood using the same trope as the original formulation.
Other examples:
Mother of all X
This is your brain on X
I [shape] X
The Talented Mr. X
My favorite: Have X, will travel (for me: Spacesuit), from the marathon Boys Adventure book era.
Database of Snowclones here.
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Every Scientific Field
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[image: Conveniently for everyone, it turns out that dark energy is
produced by subterranean parasitoid wasps.]
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