Which Cliché Do You Hate The Most?
April 6th 2008 09:35
Hot on the heels of my last post, What’s Your Favourite Word?, comes this offering, Which Cliché Do You Hate The Most?.
I recently saw an ad for the book It’s Not Rocket Science and Other Irritating Modern Clichés by Clive Whichelow and Hugh Murray (Portrait, 2007) which made me ponder modern cliches such as ‘talk to the hand’ and ‘you go, girlfriend’. I haven’t read It’s Not Rocket Science but I think I might have to buy it just so that I can avoid modern clichés in my writing. Although, I do know that I have already used ‘what’s not to like?’ in a published review. (aaghh!)
As a writing teacher I usually find that the topic of cliché comes up whenever I give a lesson on imagery. When trying to give examples of metaphors or similes I invariably reach for a cliché because they are usually the most recognisable – ‘as soft as silk’, ‘as red as rubies’ and ‘as mad as a hatter’ are my stock standards. What these lessons have led me to understand is that, in their original form, clichés are very often profoundly accurate and evocative.
Dictionary.com defines cliché as a trite, stereotyped expression; a sentence or phrase, usually expressing a popular or common thought or idea, that has lost originality, ingenuity, and impact by long overuse, as sadder but wiser, or strong as an ox.
See what I mean, ‘originality, ingenuity and impact’ – imagine being the first teenager who ever said to their parents, “Yeah, like, whatever!’? Oh, the impact that would have had.
It’s the ‘overuse’ part which turns an amazing expression into a cliché – all the pretenders to the throne who come afterwards.
So stand up and give me the cliché you hate the most. Then try to imagine the first time it was used – geddit?
In a similar vein, Bob Harris, on his New York Times blog, Paper Cuts (reported in this weekend’s SMH), created a post titled The Seven Deadly Words of Book Reviewing. He sees these seven overused expressions as the clichés of the reviewing world. The seven were (in no particular order) poignant; compelling; intriguing; eschew; craft (used as a verb); muse (again, as a verb) and lyrical.
"It's possible," he adds, "to (mis)use all seven words in a one-sentence book report: Mario Puzo's intriguing novel eschews the lyrical as the author instead crafts a poignant tale of family life and muses on the compelling doings of the Mob."
Sad to say but these are all favourites of mine. I guess the trick is to be first past the post.
BTW - I am aware that this post is littered with clichés – ‘hot on the heels’; ‘stock standards’, ‘pretenders to the throne’, ‘first past the post’ and even the very modern ‘geddit’ – but, sometimes, they’re just so right.
I recently saw an ad for the book It’s Not Rocket Science and Other Irritating Modern Clichés by Clive Whichelow and Hugh Murray (Portrait, 2007) which made me ponder modern cliches such as ‘talk to the hand’ and ‘you go, girlfriend’. I haven’t read It’s Not Rocket Science but I think I might have to buy it just so that I can avoid modern clichés in my writing. Although, I do know that I have already used ‘what’s not to like?’ in a published review. (aaghh!)
As a writing teacher I usually find that the topic of cliché comes up whenever I give a lesson on imagery. When trying to give examples of metaphors or similes I invariably reach for a cliché because they are usually the most recognisable – ‘as soft as silk’, ‘as red as rubies’ and ‘as mad as a hatter’ are my stock standards. What these lessons have led me to understand is that, in their original form, clichés are very often profoundly accurate and evocative.
Dictionary.com defines cliché as a trite, stereotyped expression; a sentence or phrase, usually expressing a popular or common thought or idea, that has lost originality, ingenuity, and impact by long overuse, as sadder but wiser, or strong as an ox.
See what I mean, ‘originality, ingenuity and impact’ – imagine being the first teenager who ever said to their parents, “Yeah, like, whatever!’? Oh, the impact that would have had.
It’s the ‘overuse’ part which turns an amazing expression into a cliché – all the pretenders to the throne who come afterwards.
So stand up and give me the cliché you hate the most. Then try to imagine the first time it was used – geddit?
In a similar vein, Bob Harris, on his New York Times blog, Paper Cuts (reported in this weekend’s SMH), created a post titled The Seven Deadly Words of Book Reviewing. He sees these seven overused expressions as the clichés of the reviewing world. The seven were (in no particular order) poignant; compelling; intriguing; eschew; craft (used as a verb); muse (again, as a verb) and lyrical.
"It's possible," he adds, "to (mis)use all seven words in a one-sentence book report: Mario Puzo's intriguing novel eschews the lyrical as the author instead crafts a poignant tale of family life and muses on the compelling doings of the Mob."
Sad to say but these are all favourites of mine. I guess the trick is to be first past the post.
BTW - I am aware that this post is littered with clichés – ‘hot on the heels’; ‘stock standards’, ‘pretenders to the throne’, ‘first past the post’ and even the very modern ‘geddit’ – but, sometimes, they’re just so right.
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Comment by postmoderncritic
Postmodern Critic
Daily Inspirations
Relativity Watch
Padsoc
I avoid cliches most of the time but do adopt them occasionally so as to help my readers connect with my more esoteric ideas.
I don't have a most reviled cliche right now, but I get annoyed when people use the same phrase over and over (especially when it's deliberate and they don't realise how annoying it is). I like ppl who keep things fresh and don't repeat anything if they can help it (unless it's necessary for innovation purposes).
Comment by Morgan Bell
Deep Pencil
Current Business News
Movie Train
Artist Quirk
when reviewing i often refer to characters as having "warmth" or being "easy to relate to", i also overuse the word "beautiful"
left-wing uni friends overuse the term "false dichotomy" when talking about gender, sexuality or politics
Comment by James Rickard
unlucky_ fishermen.com
Angling Fish
Comment by Louie
Climate Forum
Climate Red
randomthoughts
Phil's Wellness Tips
cheers
Louie
Comment by Joanne Fedler
Secret Writers Business
I read that Bob Harris piece, and can you believe, held my breath as I read the seven deadly words, because I had just sent off a shout for a book, and was praying I hadn't used any of them. And I hadn't!! Am I a legend or what???
When I was a kid I did a speech for school about cliches, starting with 'Unaccustomed as I am to public speaking, it is only once in a blue moon one gets to chew the ear off an audience...' etc. I filled ten minutes with cliche after cliche.
They are accurate, mostly. But I think they make language heavy, and there's nothing as fresh as a piece of writing totally stripped of cliche. I think when we strive for authenticity in our writing, we're aiming for something beyond the cliche ...?
Great post,
Jo
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
I agree that sometimes a cliche is just the right tool for the job. (Oops!) I also suspect that the only reason they became cliches to begin with is because they were so on-target when originally written (as you've said) that everyone wanted to use them. So, they can't be all bad.
I actually think it depends on the cliche. Some are very tired and should probably be put to bed. But many others seem almost as fresh to me as when they were written (e.g., "soft as silk"; to me, that one feels like silk). Personally, I'm not afraid to use cliches--provided they express what I want to say in a way that's superior to other expressions I might use.
Fascinating post!
Jeanne
Comment by Jayne Kearney
Writers In Writing (and other writing)
postmodern critic - I agree, it can be annoying to see people use the same phrases again and again. As a writer it really is a matter of being super-vigilant and I sometimes catch myself in a cliche and have to give myself a firm dressing down!
Morgan, God "six of one' - how annoying is that? Uni students are notorious for overusing expressions - esp political ones. And, with respect to our esteemed postmoderncritic, how overused is postmodern? (love it though I do)
James - sports writing, wow! Now there's a fertile ground. The sporting underdog is a whole cliche concept in itself. I've seen some great parodies of the cliche sports reporter although examples don't seem to be forthcoming.
Hey Louie - is that an ironic use of 'can of worms'? Smiley faces...hmmm?! Hey, but I overuse exclamation points and I know what a piss-off that is. I too would love to invent a cliche. I'm thinking of inventing 'bloggo' to refer to the typos you make when blogging. Do you think it will catch on?
Joanne, Of course you are a legend! And you are also right. Cliches do make language heavy but I believe their status as cliches is because of their original greatness. But that still doesn't change their nature as cliche, unfortunately. Keeping language fresh is essential for any writer of course.
Jeanne, very insightful. Again, it really is all about finding the ultimate words for your purpose.
And BTW - You Guys Rock!
See, sometimes they work.
Comment by Jayne Kearney
Writers In Writing (and other writing)