Cliches in crime thrillers

[terentii]

@Quercus

I will NOT have my main man Columbo unfairly maligned. Clearly, he knew the correct term, but was intentionally using the wrong one so as to appear less capable, making the perp underestimate him and thereby slip up and reveal the clue that lets Columbo nab him or her.

A plausible scenario, except the perp wasn’t even in the room.