B.Tech-unit -III -cliches

Cliches are

• ·                             Terms, phrases

• ·                           Ideas, upon their inception, may have been striking and                         thought-   provoking but became unoriginal through repetition and overuse.

• ·       Popularity makes them seem trite, turning them into clichés.

As the French poet Gérard de Nerval said, "The first man who compared a woman to a rose was a poet, the second, an imbecile."

Origin of the Word Cliché

The word cliché has French origins.

When printing presses were used, the cast iron plate that reproduced the words, phrases, or images was called a stereotype.

The noise casting plate made sounded like “cliché,” meaning click, to French printers, so this onomatopoeia word became printer’s jargon for the stereotype.

Thus, cliché came to mean a word or phrase that gets repeated often.

 

Popular Clichés

Just because a phrase is overused doesn't mean it's a cliché, and because a phrase is a cliché doesn't mean it isn't true.

 A cliché conveys an idea or message but loses its point through over-usage.

 

Common Cliché Sayings

• All that glitters isn't gold
• Don’t get your knickers in a twist
• All for one, and one for all
• Kiss and make up
• He has his tail between his legs
• Cat got your tongue?
• Read between the lines
• Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed
• We're not laughing at you we’re laughing with you

• 
  

Clichés that Describe Time

• Only time will tell
• In the nick of time
• Lost track of time
• Lasted an eternity
• Just a matter of time
• A waste of time
• Time flies
• In a jiffy
• The time of my life
• At the speed of light

 

Clichés that Describe People

• As old as the hills
• Fit as a fiddle
• Without a care in the world
• A diamond in the rough
• Brave as a lion
• Weak as a kitten
• Had nerves of steel 

 

Clichés that Describe Life, Love, and Emotions

• Opposites attract
• Every cloud has a silver lining
• Don’t cry over spilled milk
• The calm before the storm
• Laughter is the best medicine
• Love you more than life itself
• Scared out of my wits
• Frightened to death
• All is fair in love and war
• All’s well that ends well
• Haste makes waste
• The writing's on the wall
• Time heals all wounds
• What goes around comes around

Hidden Meanings in Clichés

Many of the clichés have meanings that are obvious; others have meanings that are only clear if you know the context.

Example:

 “Any port in a storm" has a hidden meaning.

The obvious meaning is that, in a bad situation, any help will do. However, this cliché may also be used when talking about someone who has many lovers.

 

 

Context-Driven Meanings

Some clichés can be deduced differently based on their context.

 Example:

"Do you think I'm made of money?" and "It's like I'm made of money," sound similar, right?

Further context is needed to understand if the speaker is saying this to complain or brag.

 "Do you think I'm made of money?" implies you don't have any money.

"It's like I'm made of money," may imply that you have tons of money.

We'd have to be engaged in conversation with the speaker, or be able to read further, to completely understand the meaning of this line.

 

 

Clichés and Idioms

Idioms are figurative phrases with an implied meaning; the phrase is not to be taken literally.

Example:

“Have a chip on your shoulder."

 Means you think you're better than everyone else.

Clichés are often idioms.

Clichés can’t be translated literally.

Idioms are either opaque or transparent