Now You’ve Done It —Cliché City
- Scott Archer Jones
- Aug 9
- 2 min read
I found this list of clichés on the web years ago. Don’t use them as a writer (unless it’s in dialogue) and don’t stand for them as a reader.
Add insult to injury
All else being equal
All things considered
Along those lines
Ample opportunity
Armed to the teeth
As a matter of fact
At a loss for words
At long last
Awesome
Be caught dead
Benefit of the doubt
Better late than never
Bone of contention
Break the bank
By the same token
Calling names
Chop up the small fry
Crying need
Cut a deal
Drastic action
Every trough has a bottom
Exercise in futility
Existing conditions
Eyes like twin lasers
Festive occasion
Filled to capacity
Food for thought
Foregone conclusion
Foreseeable future
Get our feet back under us
Give him a hand
Give her a hand
Give me a hand
Give the green light
Grave concern
Green with envy
Hate his guts
Hate her guts
Hate their guts
Hate with a passion
Heart’s desire
Heated argument
In no uncertain terms
In short supply
In this day and age
It goes without saying
It’s not rocket science
Just desserts
Leave no stone unturned
Leave well enough alone
Lend a helping hand
Living on borrowed time
Love so much it hurts
Mad as a hatter
Mad as hell
Moment of truth
More than meets the eye
Narrow escape
Needs no introduction
Of paramount importance
Only a matter of time
One and the same
Overwhelming odds
Own worst enemy
Paper over the cracks
Part and parcel
Path of least resistance
Remedy the situation
Ride the tiger
Ripe old age
Rob Peter to pay Paul
Round of applause
Second to none
Select few
Shocked silence
Shot in the arm
Sleeping giant
Stick out like a sore thumb
Sweeping changes
Taken to the cleaners
The joker in the deck
The ticking clock
The wheels came off
Too numerous to mention
Totally
Two-edged sword
Two-sided coin
Until the bitter end
Untimely end
Viable alternative
Walk on water
Wave of the future
Whole new ball game
With all due respect
With all my heart
With due consideration
Consider adding.... So to speak.