Clichés arise from several different areas of English, often starting as common idioms or overused phrases that speakers repeat again and again without realizing it.
What Are Clichés from Idioms?
Sometimes a cliché is just a very common idiom which has become overused. It is very easy for someone to get into the habit of using an idiom again and again without being aware of this.
Such clichés from idioms include:
between a rock and a hard place
Faced with two equally unpleasant or unacceptable choices.
John: I’m going to stay with my parents at the end of the week but I can’t decide whether to go by train or plane. I’m between a rock and a hard place. The plane is quicker but it’s very expensive while the train is much slower but it’s also much cheaper.
Phil: I suppose it depends which matters most to you—time or money.
fall on your sword
Historically to commit suicide in this way, but the modern cliché means to resign from a position of power or importance, often because you have been found committing some kind of crime or wrongdoing which would have resulted in your being fired anyway.
Bill: Did you hear about Frank’s father?
Sam: Yes. He’s been arrested for fraud.
Bill: He’s a fairly senior politician. Will he be fired from the administration? Sam: I think he’ll fall on his sword. Politicians usually do when something like that happens.
flavour of the month
A person or thing that is particularly popular at a particular time, although this is likely to last only for a short time.
Trisha: This toy was flavour of the month at Christmas and it was almost impossible to find it. Now none of the kids will play with it. Rose: I know. They’ve all moved on to some new toy.
the jury’s still out
No decision has yet been reached or an issue has not been resolved. Harry: Has your family decided where to go on holiday yet?
Peter: Every member of the family has a vote and the jury’s still out. If we can’t agree Mum gets to choose.
keep the wolf from the door
To earn enough money for your basic needs, such as food.
Jack: I really need to look for a job that pays more.
Ken: Me too. I need more money just to keep the wolf from the door. I certainly can’t afford any luxuries.
leave no stone unturned
To try by every means possible to find or do something.
Mary: The police haven’t found the child’s killer yet. Everyone is so upset by it all.
Jane: I know, but the report in the local paper says that they’re leaving no stone unturned in their efforts to find whoever is responsible.
Mary: They’re certainly asking all the neighbours for information, but they don’t seem to have made much progress.
a level playing field
A situation which is completely fair to everyone involved because none of the people taking part has any advantage over the others.
Ben: Some people say that the college gives preference to wealthier students. Sally: The college authorities have denied that. They say that entrance to the college is a level playing field.
a loose cannon
A person who is apt to behave in a unpredictable or reckless fashion and cannot be relied upon not to cause trouble or do something embarrassing. Jackie: Should we ask Sue to come clubbing with us?
Alice: I don’t think so. She can be such a loose cannon. Last time she had a bit too much to drink and started shouting at people.
Jackie: I’d forgotten about that. We’ll definitely not ask her!
move the goalposts
To change the aims, conditions and rules relating to a project after it is under way.
Roger: Why haven’t you started building the extension to your house?
Harry: We haven’t got planning permission yet. The officials keep moving the goalposts.
open the floodgates
To remove some form of control or restriction so that it makes it possible for a huge number of people to do something.
Ben: The tennis club is getting a bit short of members. I wonder if more people would join if we dropped the minimum age qualification?
Joe: The trouble is that might open the floodgates. We don’t want a whole lot of very young children joining.
Ben: Well, as a compromise, how about we keep the age limit, but lower it?
Joe: Good idea. Let’s raise it at the next committee meeting.
What Are Clichés from Overused Phrases?
Of course, not all clichés are idioms. Many of them are simply phrases that have become overused. Some examples of clichés from overused phrases are included in the sections that follow.
an accident waiting to happen
A situation which has always had the potential to be dangerous and which might result in injury or tragedy at any time.
Will: That old burnt-out house is an accident waiting to happen. They should pull it down before someone gets hurt.
Sam: They certainly should. The neighbourhood kids are all playing there.
the end of an era
When used correctly the word era suggests something relatively important or a considerable length of time. It is used of an important period of history or period of time characterized by a particular feature, event or person, as in the Victorian era. As a modern cliché, the end of an era is often used to refer to a fairly unimportant event or short-lived period.
June: It’s the end of an era. Our next-door neighbours are moving house.
We’ve lived next door to each other for six years.
Lucy: You are going to miss them.
June: I certainly will. I’m feeling really depressed about it.
a hidden agenda
A secret or unrevealed motive behind some plan or action.
Jim: I’m surprised that Mark is in favour of the new office block. We’re all protesting against it.
Jason: Ah, but Mark has a hidden agenda. His father-in-law is the property developer behind the office scheme.
Jim: Well, that explains it.
it goes with the territory
Used of a particular kind of problem or difficulty that often occurs in connection with a particular kind of situation.
Amy: Jim is so much more stressed since he got promoted at work. He used to be such a laid-back person.
Rose: A lot of senior managers suffer from stress. It goes with the territory.
it’s the thought that counts
A comment or response made on the giving of a gift that has not cost very much. Sometimes the comment is made ironically to refer to a low-cost gift when a higher-priced gift would have been more appropriate. Jenny: What did your son give you for your birthday?
Meg: He gave me this little book of poems.
Jenny: It certainly is very small.
Meg: But it’s by my favourite poet and my son spent ages looking for a copy.
Besides, it’s the thought that counts.
Amy: My brother had obviously forgotten all about my birthday. He arrived late last night with a bunch of flowers that he must have bought from the local petrol station. Still, it’s the thought that counts!
Diane: You’re lucky. I can’t remember when my brother last remembered my birthday.
last but not least
Used when giving a list of names or items when there is no particular order of merit.
Jane: I am so pleased to have won the championship. I want to thank my parents, my sister and brother, my cousin Tom and, last but not least, my friends Sue and Lucy for their continuing support.
a merciful release
Used to say that you think a person’s death was a good thing for that person because it put an end to the suffering caused by a long, painful illness. Mary: My grandfather died last night.
Alice: I’m sorry to hear that. You must be very sad.
Mary: I am, but actually it was a merciful release. He had terminal cancer and was in terrible pain.
needs no introduction
Used by someone who is introducing a person to a group of people. In spite of saying this, they often go on to give an introduction, sometimes a long one. John: Our last speaker, Sally Brown, needs no introduction. She is one of our most talented actresses and many of you will recognize her from her TV appearances. She is particularly well known for her charitable work and has raised lots of money for children’s charities in particular.
one hundred and ten per cent
Used to emphasize the great amount of effort used to do something. The maximum mathematical percentage is, in fact, one hundred per cent. Bill: What qualifications are you looking for in your new assistant?
Jack: I want someone with the right academic qualifications and with business experience but most of all, I want someone who will give one hundred and ten per cent to the job. Someone who won’t complain about having to work late or come in early.
a race against time
Used to describe an extremely urgent situation.
Mike: The mine has collapsed and some of the miners are trapped underground.
It’s going to be a race against time to get them out alive.
Bob: It’s certainly a very dangerous situation.
and the rest is history
Used to indicate that no more need be said about a subject because the details are already well known to the listeners.
Anne: Jack seems to give a great deal of money to local charities. Was he born in this area?
Mary: Yes, he was born of very poor parents in a slum down by the dock. He started work at a very young age doing just about anything. Then he set up his own clothing company and the rest is history.
Anne: Well, he’s now a millionaire several times over and a very generous man.
these things happen
Used to remind someone who may have experienced some kind of misfortune that bad things happen to people all the time.
Dave: Sam’s been laid off. The firm he works for is closing down.
Bill: I’m sorry to hear he’s lost his job, but these things happen. And we are in the middle of a recession.
time will tell
A cliché suggesting that the outcome of something will not be known for quite a long time.
Sally: I hear Joe’s still in hospital. Is he going to be all right?
Meg: Only time will tell. He suffered some terrible injuries in the accident.
Sally: We’ll just have to hope for the best but it is a very worrying situation.
too numerous to mention
Used in more formal spoken contexts supposedly to mean that there are too many people or things involved to mention them all by name. In fact, the phrase is often used as an introduction to a list of the names.
Jack: I would also like to thank the volunteers who helped to make the event such a great success. They are too numerous to mention, but many thanks to Sue, Amy, Anne, Diane, Lucy, Pat, Jim, Ben, Joe, John, Mark, and Steve.
the usual suspects
Used to describe the people who are usually involved in something. (‘Round up the usual suspects’ from Casablanca, Warner Bros, 1942.) Joanna: Were there many people at Sally’s barbecue?
Shirley: Not really. It was mostly just the usual suspects.
What Are Archaic or Formal Clichés?
Some of the phrases used as clichés have been in use for a long time and some of them are more formal or even more archaic than you would expect to find in the context in which they are being used. These archaic or more formal clichés include:
bow to the inevitable
To have to tolerate or accept a situation, however unpleasant, because you cannot avoid it.
Sally: It’s dreadful that the landlord’s not renewing our lease.
Jane: It is, but he’s not going to change his mind. We’ll just have to bow to the inevitable.
Sally: You’re right. We need to look for somewhere else to live.
by the same token
In the same way or for the same, or a similar, reason.
Ben: The students are furious that they’re not allowed to leave the school at lunch time anymore.
Joshua: I’m sure they are, but, by the same token, the parents are mostly very pleased. It means the kids can’t buy junk food at lunch time and they can’t get into any trouble.
a daunting prospect
Something very difficult or alarming that you have to face or deal with.
Emma: We love the house and we’d like to buy it, but it needs a lot of work done. We’d have to do it ourselves. That’s a daunting prospect.
Jessica: It certainly is. Neither of you has ever done any of that kind of work before.
dulcet tones
Sweet or musical tones. This cliché is mostly used ironically.
Rob: We knew we were home when we heard our neighbour’s dulcet tones shouting at her poor husband.
Pete: I bet you wanted to go away again immediately.
a moot point
Something that is not at all certain but is doubtful or needs to be debated. [A moot court is a method of teaching law and legal skills that requires students to analyze and argue both sides of a hypothetical legal case.]
Lily: We’re going for a meal to the Gourmet Scene tonight. We’d better make a reservation. It’s still the best restaurant in town.
Rose: That’s a moot point. There are one or two others that are just as popular now.
pale into insignificance
Used to indicate that something which seems very bad, or unfortunate does not
seem quite so bad when compared with something which is much worse.
Jenny: I was feeling very depressed yesterday. I’ve just lost my job and now
I’ve got to get out of my flat. But my problems pale into insignificance compared with Sue’s.
Sarah: What’s wrong with Sue?
Jenny: She’s having tests for breast cancer.
speculation is rife
A cliché popular with journalists indicating that a lot of people are forming opinions about something and spreading these around without knowing the facts of the situation.
Speculation is rife that police have arrested a member of the murder victim’s family. Up till now, the police have neither confirmed nor denied that this is the case.
What Are Filler Clichés?
Some clichés add very little meaning to what is being said. They can be described as fillers—phrases which fill up space rather than adding significantly to the meaning. Fillers give you thinking time in a conversation and although such clichés can be annoying they help to make a conversation flow along. Without them conversation would be more stilted. Such filler clichés include the following:
at the end of the day
Another of today’s most irritating and overused clichés, used in much the same way as when all is said and done and often used almost meaninglessly.
Kim: My ex can say what he likes but at the end of the day it’s my decision
whether I go out with Tim or not.
Kirsty: I think you are quite right.
at this moment in time
One of today’s most overused clichés which really just means now or just now.
Mr Brown: At this moment in time, we have no plans to get rid of any staff.
Jim: What about in the future?
Mr Brown: We can’t really say. It depends on the company’s financial situation over the next few months.
if you ask me
In my opinion.
Joan: If you ask me, Harry’s thinking of leaving.
Trisha: What makes you think that?
Joan: Well, he’s always saying how bored he is and he’s been looking at job vacancies in the local paper.
in all honesty
To be frank, to be honest.
Hayley: Shall we go for a drink after work?
Julia: I’m too tired. In all honesty, I just want to go home to bed.
in point of fact
A rather meaningless phrase, rather like in fact.
Ken: I wouldn’t know John if I met him in the street. In point of fact, I don’t think I know him at all.
Ian: I must introduce you sometime.
mark my words
Pay attention to what I’m going to say.
Lottie: Sally and Tom have just got engaged.
Mary: Mark my words. It won’t last. Tom’s been engaged at least three times before but he’s never made it to the altar. Lottie: You’re joking. Why ever not?
Mary: He just can’t commit himself. He gets engaged and then he breaks it off.
the thing is
A filler used to pre-empt an explanation that you are about to make.
Amy: I’m not sure whether I’ll be able to play tennis with you tomorrow. The thing is my parents are away and I have to walk their dog. Rosemary: Let’s leave it till next week, then.
This phrase is sometimes used to refer to the most important point of a situation, but it is often used almost meaninglessly.
Ken: Hopefully, my son will realize that he needs to spend more time studying if he’s to pass the exams. We’re doing all we can to encourage him but when all is said and done he is the only one that can do anything about it.
Mike: As long as he doesn’t leave it too late. The exams are quite soon.
Key Takeaways
- Clichés often originate from overused idioms, common expressions, formal or archaic language, and conversational fillers.
- Filler clichés like "at the end of the day" or "at this moment in time" add little semantic meaning but give speakers thinking time.
- Recognizing different types of clichés helps improve both spoken fluency and written originality on english-grammarblog.blogspot.com.
Quick Practice
Test your understanding of clichés by answering the questions below in the comments section:
- What is the meaning of the idiom-based cliché "fall on your sword"?
- How do filler clichés like "at the end of the day" function in everyday conversation?
Frequently Asked Questions About Clichés
What is a cliché in English grammar?
A cliché is an overused phrase, expression, or idiom that has lost its original impact and novelty through excessive use.
Are all clichés idioms?
No, while many clichés come from idioms, others originate from overused descriptive phrases, archaic expressions, or conversational fillers.
Why do people use filler clichés?
Filler clichés give speakers thinking time during a conversation and help speech flow more smoothly, even though they add little literal meaning.