Clique 是一个与常见单词 cliché （陈词滥调）既形似又容易混淆的单词，也与小站（微信公众号：田间小站）推送过的oblique结尾相同，可以一并联想记忆。该词源自古法语cliquer（咔嗒、噼啪、叮当），1711年由法语clique（尖锐的噪音；门闩；小集团、小圈子）进入英语后，也是用来表示“小集团、小圈子”或者说“派系、私党”，主要指一小群因共同利益、观点或目的而紧密团结在一起的人，不轻易允许他人加入，常作贬义词使用并侧重强调自私或傲慢的排他性，

比如：

a small clique of intellectuals一个知识分子的小圈子

There's a clique at work that never talks to anyone else.单位有个小集团，他们从来不和其他人说话。

Don't confine yourself to a select group of friends, often known as a clique. Cliques by definition leave people out. Lock yourself into one, and you'll never know how many terrific friendships you may be missing.名人名言

circle: a group of people with a shared profession, interests, or acquaintances coterie: a small group of people with shared interests or tastes, especially one that is exclusive of other people faction: a small organized dissenting group within a larger one, especially in politics不要把自己局限在一群精选的朋友中，这通常被称为一个小圈子。根据定义，小圈子将众人排除在外。把自己锁在其中，你永远不会知道你可能会错过多少美妙的友谊。出自美国著名儿童文学作家杰瑞·斯皮内利（Jerry Spinelli）。同近义词