Other forms: idee recues; idees recues
An idee recue is a widely-held belief or concept which is rarely questioned or examined. The idea that every kid should go to school is an idee recue.
The French concept of idée reçue, or "received idea," is similar to conventional wisdom, accepted truths that most of us believe without much thought. An idee recue, however, is somewhat less likely to prove true and more apt to be an empty platitude or even a stereotype. One example of an idee recue is the concept that girls aren't as strong as boys and shouldn't play rough contact sports like football — that's an idea that is certainly worth reexamining!