The word "conceit" refers to an exaggerated or excessive belief in one's own abilities or qualities. It can also describe an excessively clever or inventive idea or concept. Full definition
As was also the case 12 months ago, the team's abrupt coming together did not arrive through an abandonment of their manager's principles, as some fans had come to hope for after losing faith in the central conceit of Van Gaal's approach that prioritised the system over individuals and its «boring», possession - led style of play. (squawka.com)
So what you do is keep the central conceit of Sucker Punch — that the deeper you go into the layers of dreams or fantasy, the sluttier everything appears — and marry that with Inception's main premise, about a group of hot young «dream thieves» who go into people's subconscious to steal secrets or occasionally plant an idea. (io9.gizmodo.com)
Reproduction as theft, and authorship as failed claim are the central conceits in this exhibition by Gardar Eide Einarsson. (teamgal.com)