What are some examples of clichés?
Here are some famous examples of cliché in creative writing: 1 It was a dark and stormy night 2 Once upon a time 3 There I was 4 In a faraway land 5 It was all a dream 6 The ends justify the means 7 All’s well that ends well 8 They lived happily ever after
What is the opposite of a writing cliché?
In their novel, Pratchett and Gaiman use the “opposite” of a writing cliché that turns it into a humorous, interesting, and original statement. Rather than create a setting of a dark and stormy night, the passage sets forth directly that it “wasn’t” so.
What is Lee's allusion to the book?
Lee’s allusion is also clever in establishing how that phrase has become a cliché for readers of the novel as well as an adult Scout in remembering the story. As an overused “catch” phrase from Depression-era America, “nothing to fear but fear itself” has become meaningless and archaic for Lee’s contemporary readers.
How does Pope upend poetic power?
In his clever and satirical use of clichés in his own writing, Pope upends their intended poetic power by warning writers of a cliché’s power for losing readers. This warning applies to readers as well in that Pope is validating their boredom of trite and meaningless phrases.
What does Pope's final line mean?
Pope’s final line warns of the effect such clichés have on the reader, which in this case is putting them to sleep. In fact, the declaration of the reader being “threatened” with sleep creates an image of death as if the predictability of a writer’s clichés has the metaphorical power of killing the reader with boredom.
What is the significance of Pratchett and Gaiman's work?
By subverting the reader’s expectations with anti-clichés, Pratchett and Gaiman’s literary work reflects a deeper level of meaning and creative level of writing. These authors acknowledge the writing and works that precede theirs that have, unfortunately, become cliché while simultaneously setting their literary work apart from others as an original experience for the reader.
Why do people use clichés?
People tend to use cliché in social settings to convey something that is broadly understood at a basic level, as a means of filling conversational time, or perhaps when nothing better comes to mind. Though cliché is utilized often in everyday communication as somewhat of a linguistic crutch, there is a risk that the phrase may be unknown ...
What is a cliché?
Richard Nordquist is professor emeritus of rhetoric and English at Georgia Southern University and the author of several university-level grammar and composition textbooks. A cliché is a trite expression, often a figure of speech whose effectiveness has been worn out through overuse and excessive familiarity.
What is a cliché in writing?
A cliché is a trite expression, often a figure of speech whose effectiveness has been worn out through overuse and excessive familiarity. "Cut every cliché you come across," advises author and editor Sol Stein. "Say it new or say it straight" ( Stein on Writing, 1995).
Who said "I think I'll adopt the definition set forth by someone who has thought about clichés longer than I?
Jonathan Cape , 1982) "I think I'll adopt the definition set forth by someone who has thought about clichés longer than I have. In On Clichés (Routledge and Kegan Paul [1979]), a most suggestive treatise, a Dutch sociologist named Anton C. Zijderveld defines a cliché thus: "'A cliché is a traditional form of human expression (in words, thoughts, ...
Why is the tip of the iceberg so cliché?
Tip of the iceberg offends the ear as a cliché, and it offends reason because it is imprecise, if not spurious —just as when people say, 'And the list goes on,' and one knows that they have actually run out of examples.
What is a cliché?
A cliché is an overused and worn-out expression used to convey a popular thought or idea. Formal Definition. A cliché is a phrase or opinion that is overused and betrays a lack of original thought. (Oxford Dictionary)
What is a cliché in writing?
A cliché is a worn-out expression. It is one that has lost its effectiveness through overuse. Don't expect your readers to be impressed if you use a cliché, especially in creative writing because they will be reading your work to enjoy your powers of expression.
Why Should I Care about Clichés?
Here are two points related to clichés. I know they're contradictory , but hang in there...
What are some examples of cliches?
There are various types of cliches. For example: Proverbs . A proverb is a short, well-known saying that states a general truth or a piece of advice. For example: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. A leopard cannot change its spots. Idioms.
What is an idiom?
An idiom is commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its word. For example: I am over the moon. You have a Sword of Damocles hanging over you.
What is a simile in speech?
A simile is a figure of speech which compares one thing with another to create an analogy. For example: This is about as much use as a chocolate teapot. He drinks like a fish. Read more about similes. Metaphors. A metaphor is a figure of speech which states one thing is another to create an analogy.
What is a catchphrase?
Catchphrases. A catchphrase is a well-known term, especially one that is associated with a particular famous person. For example: "Come on down!". (The Price Is Right) "Yabba dabba doo!".
What Is a Cliche?
Typically, a cliche is a true statement — or at least a mostly true one that’s been used again and again and again. “Time heals all wounds,” for example, isn’t 100% accurate since distance won’t erase literally every hurt ever, but for the most part, it’s a solid thought. It may have taken me 20 years, but I did eventually get over Michael Jordan’s foray into professional baseball.
What are some examples of cliches?
First, scope out these examples of some common cliches in action: 1 My in-laws just sold their house and bought an RV. To each their own. 2 Play your cards right, and I’ll take you to Taco Bell for all-you-can-eat chalupas. 3 Amaya decided not to adopt a grizzly bear after all. Better safe than sorry. 4 Rules are rules, Mr. Jibson, and you’re not allowed to park in the outfield. 5 We took my grandpa to the Museum of Cardigans, and he was like a kid in a candy store. 6 My husband avoids doing dishes like the plague. 7 I’m sorry that Amanda turned you down, Gary. You win some, lose some. 8 But don’t worry: There are plenty of fish in the sea. 9 And who cares that you have a tail? Beauty is only skin deep. 10 Sure, you’ll love again. I mean, every dog has its day.
What is the problem with a cliche?
The problem with a cliche, no matter how dead-on it may be, is that it’s an idea that’s been trotted out so many times it’s become meaningless. Think about it: If you were mourning the loss of Donatello, your beloved pet turtle, and your BFF told you, “Chin up, pal. Time heals all wounds,” you probably wouldn’t be overwhelmed with comfort. In fact, “Time heals all wounds” is basically the bare minimum of comfort.
How can familiar ideas rise above cliches?
Familiar ideas can rise above cliche if they do something new with an old idea, if they twist it or add something unique to it or come at it from a different angle. “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,” for example, shakes up the whole “band of merry adventurers on an item-based quest” cliche by making the two primary adventurers an estranged father and son. That adds a fresh dynamic to the recognizable set-up, topples the cliche and elevates the narrative to more than just the 437 th story about people trying to find the Holy Grail.
Where are cliches found?
Cliches, sadly, are everywhere: from business proposals to film scripts and everything in between. As you wrangle with a cliche meaning, know that some are more obvious than others.
Do cliches have to be trite?
The thing is, cliches don’t have to be trite statements that you’re pretty sure you saw embroidered on a throw pillow in your aunt’s living room. Any well-worn statement that conveys a familiar feeling in a super-dull way fits the cliche definition.
Do cliches have to be sentences?
Now’s probably a good time to point out that cliches don’t have to be sentences or phrases. Entire characters, settings and plot elements can fit the cliche definition. These are known as “ tropes ” or “cliched tropes.”
What is a cliché?
Clichés are terms, phrases, or even ideas that, upon their inception, may have been striking and thought-provoking but became unoriginal through repetition and overuse. Popularity made them seem trite, turning them into what we now know as clichés. You will recognize many of the examples of clichés below. As the French poet Gérard de Nerval said, ...
Where does the word "cliche" come from?
The word cliché has French origins, which is why you'll often see it with an accent over the "e," but you can also write it as "cliche" in English. When printing presses were used, the cast iron plate that reproduced the words, phrases, or images was called a stereotype.
What is an opaque idiom?
Opaque - When you translate an opaque idiom, it may not make sense because the literal meaning has very little to do with the intended meaning. An example of an opaque idiom is “bag of bones” which means someone is very underweight.
What is an idiom?
Idioms are figurative phrases with an implied meaning; the phrase is not to be taken literally. An example of an idiom is, “having a chip on your shoulder.". That means you think you're better than everyone else (not that you actually have a chip of something on your shoulder). Clichés are often idioms.
What is the first conclusion people jump to when they read too many clichés?
The first conclusion people jump to when they read too many clichés is that the writer is unoriginal. While that may not true, you don't want to set yourself up to be knocked down. You might have a great cliché in mind because its meaning rings true for you, such as, "time heals all wound.".
How many clichés are there?
We've only scratched the surface here. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of clichés in the English language. Many of them have meanings that are obvious; others have meanings that are only clear if you know the context.
Why are clichés so difficult to translate?
This makes clichés difficult to translate into other languages because their meaning won't always be understood by people from different cultures.
