Pure as the Driven . . .

You know the end of the headline here, right? That’s because it’s a cliché – a metaphor or phrase characterized by its overuse. For the most part, using clichés is lazy, an easy out, a ready-made excuse not to take the time needed to think about what needs to be said in an original way. As William Safire put it, “Last, but not least, avoid clichés like the plague.” How do you know if a phrase is a cliché?  If you can automatically finish a phrase without hesitation, such as “pure as the driven. . . ” If a combination of words can’t really be altered without it sounding peculiar: “pearl in the rough” and “stick out like a sore index finger,” for instance. When it’s not possible to switch the order of words: “cons and pros,” “behind key and lock,” and “a game of mouse and cat,” for example. In our business there are a lot of clichés to watch out for. I’ve been keeping a list of those I’ve seen recently used in press releases, media alerts, and FAQs. the sky’s the limit with heart and soul crunch time going around in circles maintain the status quo uphill battle unwritten law par for the course come to a head last but not least pushing the envelope after all has been said and done all in a day’s work best-laid plans by leaps and bounds few and far between in the nick of time this day and age other things being equal make or break ahead of the pack sooner rather than later unsung hero a clean sweep a whole new ballgame So, pure as the driven snow, right? Well, yes, unless you’re Tallulah Bankhead, who referred to herself as “pure as the driven slush.” Now that's original.

Note: I've also noticed that when writers want to use a cliché (usually because they are too tired or time pressed or whatever to think of an original way to say something) but they also want the reader to know that they know it's a cliché they put it in quotation marks. I know I'm using a cliché, they're saying. You know I'm using a cliché You know I know. I know you know I know. You know I know you know I know. This all may be true in a Lucy and Ethel sort of way, yet that doesn't disguise the fact that using the cliché in the first place was a bad idea.

Comments

[George Eykyn]

Dan -- another contender for the tired cliche list must be "sneak preview". Usually employed in the cue/intro to a broadcast piece covering some item listed low down in the planning diary!

[JP]

Wow, it’s eye-opening when you see all these clichés in one list and realize how often they sneak into your writing. Here are some I try to be on guard against:

-- at the end of the day
-- it’s all good
-- long battle with (disease)
-- past experience
-- taking it to the next level
-- thinking outside the box
-- this point in time
-- wake-up call