Writing Lessons & Advice: Idioms and Cliches
- Jun 6
- 6 min read
So, my husband created this spicy rub for chicken wings using black pepper, red pepper, chili and garlic powder. I discovered at some point that most of his blend also concocts taco seasoning--just in more measured helpings or it kicks as hard as the wings can!
Much like with cooking, writing/communication can be “spiced up” with good helpings of word choice and detail development. This idea was previously explored in the lessons and advice for synonyms, but they are just one spice in the writing pantry. A few others include idioms and cliches.
Idioms
Idioms are figures of speech or turns of phrase that cannot be taken literally. They instead take their meaning from certain contexts or generally accepted usage. Many can function like synonyms and are typically accepted in creative or casual contexts. I have an anecdote that explains idioms “in action”: In one of my college English classes near the end of the semester, the professor said something to the effect of: “If you get your ducks in a row, you’ll pass the class.” Sometime later, I sent my professor an email that included a photo I took of some ducks at a park, adding a message to the effect of: “Well, here they are! All lined up!” My professor got a kick out of my correspondence and I did well in the class, notwithstanding the language joke.
Perchance not everyone may get certain idioms though. (For anyone unfamiliar, to “get one’s ducks in a row” is another way of saying get organized or prepared.) Every language and culture actually has idioms unique to their demographic. (In Latvia, for instance, little ducks are part of an idiom for talking nonsense.) So of course, natural speakers or those well-versed in the language understand them more easily than those who are not. Extensive idiom usage may need to be limited if a project/presentation must account for an international audience. I’ll be delving more into American English idioms as I discuss the four categories of them, but I’ll share a link or two of other-language idioms near the end of the post.
pure idioms- expressions that mean something different than a literal interpretation of the words or phrase; what most people think of when it comes to idioms. Here are some examples and their intended meanings:
break the ice-- to start a conversation, often in a meeting or social setting
cut corners-- to manage a task in a cheap or easy way but to the detriment of quality work. To cut corners is like cheating in most contexts.
piece of cake-- a task is not difficult to complete
smart cookie-- often used as a compliment towards one’s intelligence
To address the elephant in the room-- broaching and uncomfortable topic, often in meetings or group settings.
binomial idioms- phrases joined with a conjunction. Examples and their meanings:
by and large-- similar to “all things considered”
Heart-to-heart-- another name for a deep, personal conversation
More or less-- an estimated or approximated amount
Nickel and diming someone- a phrase expressing how an entity charges exorbitant taxes, prices, or fees, likely on a regular basis. Often used in criticism of the entity and similar to something “costing an arm and a leg” or “paying a pretty penny”. (Random side note: this post was first drafted before the U.S. mint ended penny production.)
partial idioms- a shortened phrase, with the omission being generally understood by most. Examples and their meanings:
When in Rome-- short for “When in Rome, do as the Romans do”--meaning to follow local customs when in a foreign land (also possible inspiration for a Billy Joel song).
Birds of a feather--short for “birds of a feather flock together”--relating to how similar people stick together or seem inseparable.
Out of the frying pan-- short for "out of the frying pan and into the fire"--another way of describing a transition from one bad situation to another bad or worse one.
Cross that bridge-- short for "we'll cross that bridge when we come to it"-- an expression for addressing a matter when it is encountered later.
prepositional idioms- a phrase that combines a verb and a preposition to create a verb with a distinct meaning. Examples and their meanings:
agree on-- meaning all parties accept certain terms
Make up-- depending on context, could mean: 1) to reconcile after disagreement, 2) to invent something, or 3) to catch up for something missed
Read up or brush up-- meaning to refresh or acquaint with certain knowledge or information
Stand by-- to be present, available, and/or loyal, depending on context
Identifying idioms can be interesting and some fun things can be concocted if/when you’re proficient with them. If interested in broadening your horizons on this matter, I’m also devoting a section of the sources to media that explores more English idioms, their meanings, and some pop culture fun with them.
Cliches
Cliches are also common expressions, but to the point of chronic overuse and lacking originality. I also have an anecdote to illustrate cliches “in action”: My late grandmother could be stubborn. The officiant at her funeral--who's also a good family friend--remembered overhearing her say something to the effect of “It is what it is...and I hate that phrase!” I could ascertain the context of her remark being either for some displeasing fact of life or she heard the phrase more times than she would have liked--if not both!
Cliches are more filler than effective communication. They take a few different forms:
Phrasal cliches- general, “stock phrase remarks”; the most common and recognizable cliches. Examples: in the nick of time, better late than never, think outside the box, falling head over heels, clear as day
Platitudes- remarks or statements intending to have moral content or ease social tension. Examples: There’s plenty of fish in the sea, you can’t judge a book by its cover, honesty is the best policy
Thought-terminating cliches- sayings that are meant to end a conversation. Examples: Just following orders, boys will be boys, you’re overthinking it, it’s not that serious, and Grandma’s “favorite” --it is what it is
Conceptual cliches- these are overdone and/or predictable story elements, like plot, character, or situational cliches. Examples: A sweet, innocent, always cheerful girl next door (character); the underdog team winning the championship as a surprise twist (situational); happily ever after (plot)
The banality of cliches gives them a negative connotation, so avoiding them tends to be encouraged. Trite platitudes or thought-terminating phrases are not the best expressions of sympathy or encouragement in a sensitive social situation afterall. In writing, more concise or descriptive language and word choices can take the place of cliches.
For example, a male love interest in a story might be described as “handsome as all get out”. The cliche “as all get out” typically indicates something to a very high degree, but in itself does not do enough justice to someone who supposedly has a rather appealing appearance. A reader encountering the cliche may not have a strong sense of how/why he is so becoming. Instead, the mental image is captured better by describing some of the love interest’s attractive physical features, like: ...he stood tall and confident in a black suit jacket that accentuated his broad shoulders... His coiffed blonde hair opened up his strong face... his grip on the steering wheel showed off the sinew in his arms...his white, devilish grin was irresistible...
The descriptive language in place of the cliche provides more clarity, satisfaction, and general interest as well. Another interesting note about these “spices” is that, according to Grammarly, a cliche can be an idiom, but an idiom is not always a cliche (It can become one though). Albeit, with all that said, cliches can actually be given some strength through approaches like parody or subversion.
While I was glad to have all the key spices for my own taco seasoning, I also needed some proper portions so they didn’t overwhelm and burn so much. I drank milk with my Mexican dinner that night to quelch the strong, peppery aftertaste! Conversely, idioms and cliches are great writing spices when handled properly. Idioms are a good “all-around spice” in writing where formality and language barriers are not a concern while cliches are better in sparse servings in any writing.
Hope this gives you a fresh approach to these figures of speech! Mind this advice in the next work-in-progress you prepare and edit!
If there’s a topic you want me to cover in the future, you’re welcome to reach out to me on the web chat features or socials!
sources/further reading
Main material
Idiom lists, definitions, and fun
https://youtu.be/MjAznp6cE9E?si=w-08hTq8_uj_Hh7Q A history of some idioms
If you’re familiar with the original NCIS show, you may be aware that Israeli-born Special Agent Ziva David occasionally fuddles idioms and other expressions. This thirty-minute compilation highlights her conversational blunders.
A Grammarly commercial that plays on idioms
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLp0o9TUwDCr_QXcFhtHMc1VGr65JT-YHY&si=URTP53ykqrG-gknx A playlist of videos and shorts from English Language Learning-Crow English; several videos focus on idioms and feature clips from various films and shows.
https://x.com/englishidioms4u?s=11&t=IZ3rRffxGqU8DHwS1JUgIA An X (and Threads) account that posts idioms daily as of this writing.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHL4TVRNlYS/?igsh=MWk0djF6a25xbjI2cg== A different take on “getting ducks in a row”
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/14fsTgQwq9/ Corporate jargon likes idioms too!
https://www.tiktok.com/discover/idiom-day-costume-ideas?lang=en Make an idiomatic fashion statement for a fun, dress-up day!
Other-language idioms
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