I like cliche's. I've been to a few writing classes/seminars and have also read several books about writing and am always amazed that aspiring writers are told not to use cliches. They are old, passe, tired and used. Your writing should contain fresh new ideas, not old cliches. But sometimes a cliche is exactly what I want to use to say what I want to say.
Like "Don't count your chickens before they hatch." It's perfect. It says it all. You don't have to explain to someone that they shouldn't make plans for something that they don't know for sure is going to happen. You can just say the cliche.
I'd like to write a book full of cliches and "see how it flies" (that was a cliche!) It would be "as easy as pie" and "more fun than a barrel of monkeys". See? I'm having fun already!
What's your favorite cliche?
Friday, January 30, 2009
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7 comments:
Going to hell in a hand basket.
It says it perfectly without being vulgar. And we all know exactly what that means.
I think there's one that goes: "I got a hitch (or maybe hiccup) in my giddy-up". That means you got a limp. Obviously I don't really use it as I don't even really know how to say it, but it made me laugh the first time I heard it. Some hick friend of mine from Nebraska use to say it.
I don't think "going to h-e-double-toothpicks in a hand basket" makes much sense. I like it but I don't really get it....
actually, I really do have a favorite that I just thought of. When Jim says to "shut your pie hole" it cracks me up. You can use different descriptive words like when the cat meows alot for no good reason, we tell her to "shut your tuna hole!" you know, cause cats like tuna...get it?
I just used the "don't count your chickens before they hatch" last night, in reference to whether we'd get a tax refund or not this year.
"Penny-wise and pound-foolish" is my recent favorite.
Cliches can make the characters in books come alive. I think those turn of phrase terminologies are exactly what is needed to give a character a voice we can relate to. Some of the characters I remember most from books had these little catchy prhases that made their voices unique.
One phrase I really liked from Jan Karons Mitford series was from an old man who always said, "Well, I'll be et for a tater." It was a phrase he used when he was stumped or confounded and it always made me laugh.
I also like " Get your poop in a group" I used that at my old job and the " going to hell in a hand basket" a lot!
Alicia, Going to hell in a hand basket? Shut your cookie hole!
It just means that its going bad fast.
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