Sunday, November 24, 2019
Cliché vs. Idiom
Clichà © vs. Idiom Clichà © vs. Idiom Clichà © vs. Idiom By Maeve Maddox In response to a recent post on idioms, a reader asked for a discussion of ââ¬Å"the distinction between idioms and clichà ©s.â⬠In the article referenced, I gave four definitions of the word idiom. Here is the definition closest to the word clichà ©: idiom: a construction or usage peculiar to English. A clichà © is an idiom that people notice and find annoying. Here are three typical definitions of clichà ©: A phrase or opinion that is overused and betrays a lack of original thought. (Oxford Dictionaries online) A trite or stereotyped phrase or expression; also, the idea expressed by it. (Merriam-Webster Unabridged) An expression, idea, or element of an artistic work which has become overused to the point of losing its original meaning or effect, even to the point of being trite or irritating, especially when at some earlier time it was considered meaningful or novel. (Wikipedia) The irritation factor of a clichà © depends to a large extent upon the listener or reader. Three clichà ©s that make me gag are ââ¬Å"the elephant in the room,â⬠ââ¬Å"a win-win situation,â⬠and ââ¬Å"dà ©ja-vu all over again.â⬠On the other hand, I donââ¬â¢t mind ââ¬Å"You canââ¬â¢t please everyone,â⬠ââ¬Å"This too shall pass,â⬠or ââ¬Å"Mi Casa es Su Casa.â⬠Everyone uses clichà ©s. They are convenient verbal shorthand. If our goal is to be original, then clichà ©s are to be avoided. If we are just making conversation, trying to avoid confrontation, wanting to express a strong feeling, or trying to write a catchy headline, clichà ©s are our friends. Numerous websites offer lists of clichà ©s. The lists include proverbs, literary quotations, and cultural references as well as convenient phrases that say a lot in a few words. Here are a few clichà ©s that are alive and well in the media: alive and well ââ¬Å"still existing or active; often used to deny rumors or beliefs that something has disappeared or declinedâ⬠Ex. Email marketing is alive and well, at least for now- Headline, Fortune. to do an about-face ââ¬Å"to reverse ones opinion or course of actionâ⬠Ex. China Does an About-Face on GMOS- Headline, Bloomberg. a thorn in oneââ¬â¢s side ââ¬Å"a person or thing that repeatedly annoys you or causes you painâ⬠Ex. Otherwise, [Trevor] seems pretty content. That is, except for one thorn in his side- his hotheaded employee, Kat (Cobie Smulders).- Movie review, Washington Post. tell it like it is ââ¬Å"describe the facts of a situation no matter how unpleasant they may beâ⬠Ex. R. Kelly promises to ââ¬Ëtell it like it isââ¬â¢ in memoir- Today, Book News. to be all ears ââ¬Å"to be waiting eagerly to hear about somethingâ⬠Ex. Warren Buffett beams in, and everyoneââ¬â¢s all ears- Headline, The Australian. window of opportunity ââ¬Å"a favorable opportunity for doing something that must be seized immediately if it is not to be missedâ⬠Ex. The best window of opportunity we have to improve the brains and lives of the nations children is between birth and age 3.- Chicago Tribune. a witch hunt ââ¬Å"a campaign directed against a person or group holding unorthodox or unpopular views.â⬠Ex. Those leading the witch hunt twisted what Mr. Hunt was saying into girls cant do science, and cited Marie Curie to prove him wrong.- The Baltimore Sun. bottom line ââ¬Å"the underlying or ultimate outcome or criterionâ⬠Ex. Profits are the bottom line of competitive market business enterprises, and they are signaling devices that inform and direct decisions.- Publication of the Office of the Governor, California. draw a line in the sand ââ¬Å"make it clear that that one has reached a point beyond which one will not goâ⬠Ex. The bottom line is that when you draw a line in the sand and decide that nothing on earth will get you to move it, every student within the four walls of your classroom will be changed because of it.ââ¬âClassroom management site. Clichà ©s are idiomatic expressions. They may not contribute to meaning in significant ways, but they do play a part in social interaction. They may not promote fresh thought, but their familiarity makes people feel that theyââ¬â¢re in the loop. in the loop ââ¬Å"aware of information known to only a privileged fewâ⬠Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:85 Synonyms for ââ¬Å"Helpâ⬠40 Synonyms for ââ¬Å"Lieâ⬠Words Often Misspelled Because of Double Letters
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