Take a Look at Lake Superior State University's 2010 Banned Word List. The people at the university do an important public service by remaining ever vigilant and pointing out our collective abuse of cliche.
Do you speak and write in cliches? How many cliches do you think exist in English? Have a look at the following (incomplete) list at how many one writer was able to find.
Now try to invent your own alternatives for this top 10 list of "Worst Cliches." Submit your suggestions as comments to this post.
all talk, no action
bark up the wrong tree
couldn't care less
drive you up a wall
every fiber of my being
gives me the creeps
in a nutshell
kid in a candy store
low man on the totem pole
raining cats and dogs
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- Worst nightmare
ReplyDelete- grab the devil by the horns
- beat the snot out of you
- light a fire under his/her ass
- faster than the speed of light
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAll talk, no action - He always says he is going to do stuff, but he never backs up his word
ReplyDeletebarking up the wrong tree – you are getting the wrong person angry right now
couldn;t care less - I really dont care at all about what you are talking about
drive “me” up a wall – you kids are making me crazy
every fiber of my being – every part of who I am
gives me the creep – freaks me out
in a nutshell – thats all of it
kid in a candy store – really excited
low man on the totum pole – someone who is not high up in society
raining cats and dogs – pouring rain
all talk, no action:
ReplyDeleteShe has great theories,but she doesn't make any effort to carry them out.
bark up the wrong tree:
She worked really hard on that assignment before realizing that it wasn't the assignment she was supposed to do.
couldn't care less:
This doesn't matter to me.
drive you up the wall:
She makes me feel angry and frustrated.
every fiber of my being:
When I said, "I love you," I didn't feel any part of my body protesting the sentiment, which made me realize it was true.
gives me the creeps:
I feel a tingly sort of muffled terror, that starts down in my stomach and works its way out to my arms, and into my mind.
In a nut shell:
A summary of the long-winded story I just told, complete with the Whole Point, is...
kid in a candy store:
I felt like all my most favourite things were laid out in front of me, and I could do whatever I wanted with them.
low man on the totem pole:
He's a semi-unimportant man in the company.
raining cats and dogs:
The rain was falling in huge warm drops that ran down your face and hair, and drenched your clothes, in a refreshing, slippery sort of way. Since it was warm, no one seemed bothered. In fact, they all started to dance in the rain together. It occurred to me that the next day, no one would mention this embarrassing digression from the neighborhood's sense of normalcy.
- barking up the wrong tree = your messing with the wrong person
ReplyDelete- kid in a candy store = he/she is really excited
- couldn't care less = I don't give a damn/I don't care
- raining cats and dogs = it's pouring
- drive you up the wall = pissing you off/making you angry/annoying you
- gives me the creeps = creeps me out/scares me/frightens me
- in a nutshell = in simpler terms/simply speaking
She speaks about her actions, but never follows her word.
ReplyDeleteShe was embarassed that she completed the wrong task.
He is far from paying attention.
Annoyed you endlessly.
With all the will I have in my body.
Makes me uncomfortable.
To skip the story, and get to the point.
She was hyper and overwhelmed with happiness.
He was a citizen of low class. (?)
A stampede of raindrops fell from the sky.
-all jokes, no discipline.
ReplyDelete-barking, causing a scene and making a fool of yourself.
-don't care about whatever happens.
-steams my carrots.
-every corner in my mind....
-gives me the "creeper" vibe.
-stuck between boundaries.
-a kid who is not allergic to P.B. and had just received P.B. and J.
-the dull garden tool.
-crappy weather that isn't worth going out in.
all talk no action: wont do what they say they will
ReplyDeletebark up the wrong tree: make the wrong person mad
couldnt care less: it doesnt matter to me
drive you up a wall: making someone crazy
every fiber of my being: every part of me
gives me the creeps: freeks me out
in a nutshell: the short story
kid in a a candy store: very exciting
low manon the totem pole: very low senority
raining cats and dogs: raining hard
all talk no action=
ReplyDeleteall bark, no bite
bark up the wrong tree=
roll down the wrong tube
couldn't care less=
could hate more
drive you up a wall=
scrape you up a street
every fibre of my being=
my tummy
gives me the creeps=
freaks me right the f#$k out
in a nut shell=
cut down to grain
kid in a candy store=
a party in my mouth
low man on the totem pole=
Ringo to Beatles
raining cats and dogs=
spittin' cheese n' putaters