65+ Common Cliches to Avoid in Academic Writing

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Can Clichés Lower My Assignment Grades?
Yes, common clichés can negatively impact your grades and here is how:
- No Originality: It represents a lack of new perspective and makes you sound generic and lazy.
- Vagueness: A List of clichés in English often lacks specificity and does not offer precise facts to support arguments properly.
- Lazy Writing: When you use clichés, it shows that you have not put any real effort into searching for more creative ways to express your ideas.
- Reduce Credibility: When you rely on overused words, it makes your write-up lose authority and lowers the reader's trust in you.
- Poor Alternative for Proof: Clichés offer generalisations and do not provide solid examples or particular explanations, which are vital to academic writing.
What’s the Difference Between a Cliché and an Idiom?
The primary distinction between cliché and idioms lies in their impact and use. An idiom is a term whose meaning cannot be understood from the individual terms, but it is usually accepted and utilised to add colour to language. Whereas, a cliché or "tired language" is an overused phrase or idiom that has become stereotypical and have lost their original impact due to being used repeatedly.

How Can I Identify Clichés In My Writing?
If you want to identify cliché in your writing, look for these signs.
- If the phrase used is predictable.
- See if the expression is used repeatedly in the same context.
- Does it add any depth to the content?
- Compare the cliche examples with fresh alternates.
- Identify if the phrase relies on stereotypes.
How Do Clichés Affect Readability?
Clichés can, to a great extent, affect readability, especially in a negative sense. How, let's see:
- Reduce Impact: Due to overuse, the phrase, once effective, can negatively impact your readability.
- Obscures Deeper Meaning: Clichés act as a placeholder for a more nuanced discussion and also prevent you from exploring ideas.
- Communication Barriers: Some cliché examples with meanings can be culture-specific and may not be understood by international readers.
- Lack Specificity: Clichés are often vague and fail to furnish particular details or unique insights.
- Leads to Boredom: As a result of overuse, clichés have lost their novelty, so they can appear dull, making the reader abandon the text.

Phrases	Meaning	Why Its Weak	Better Alternative
Keep Your Chin Up	To stay cheerful and not lose hope in difficult times.	People may perceive the meaning of the term differently	a. Stay strong b. Don't give up
Reach for the Stars	To try to do something unique and different	Vague and can imply impossibility, as reaching for stars is not possible.	a.Dream big b.Strive for excellence
Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining	Every challenging situation has a positive aspect, if not quite apparent	It diminishes a person's hardship or suffering	a. Every trial has a lesson b. A blessing in disguise.
Winner Never Quit, and Quitters Never Win	Perseverance and determination are essential for success, while giving up leads to failure	It oversimplifies the complexities of achieving goals and can discourage people from making changes	a. Success is not final, failure is not everlasting
Everything Happens for a Reason	It suggests that every outcome, even negative ones, has a purpose.	Lacks suitability in all cases	a. Things happen, and we learn something from it
It's Always Darkest Before the Dawn	It means things seem worse just before they improve.	Dismissive of the immediate hardship or trouble	a. The brightest dawn comes after the darkest hours
Carpe Diem	Seize the day, or a call to action	It can be overwhelming if not followed with planning and self-care	a. Live in the moment b. Capre momentum(seize the moment)
Live, Laugh, Love	Encourage people to live to the fullest, accept love, and find joy in every moment	Common term, feels superficial without depth	a. Cream, believe, achieve b. Be kind, be brave, be you
Don't Give Up on Your Dreams	Be resilient in pursuing your goals	Passive notion, if not coupled with solid action	a. Stay focused and keep pushing b. Keep chasing your dreams
Where There's a Will, There's a Way	It encourages people not to give up and to pursue their dreams	It can feel simplistic and does not acknowledge the troubles of achieving the goals	a. Where there's a strong desire, there's a path

Phrases	Meaning	Why Weak	Better Alternative
Love Is Blind	You are so blinded by love that you are unable to see that person's flaws	An excuse to ignore red flags or toxic behaviour	a. Love is understanding b. Love is accepting
Meet-Cute	A humorous and awkward first meeting between people	Lacks originality and is not applicable in all situations	a. An amusing first encounter b. Charming first meeting
Love At First Sight	Having intense feelings for someone the second you meet them	It is a misnomer for initial attraction, as love grows over time	a. Immediate attraction b. Instant infatuation
Apple of One's Eye	A person or a thing cherished above all else.	A subjective viewpoint, and also not apparent	a. The light of my life b. The centre of my world
Head Over Heels	To be so in love that all you can think about is that person	Overused and emphasized, losing control.	a. Smitten b. Infatuated
Take My Breath Away	To be so much in love that it becomes impossible to breathe	Overuse and losing its initial impact or power	a. Amaze b. Astonish
Fall for Someone	To start loving someone	Uncontrolled or potentially risky	a. Have a crush on b. Develop an attachment
You Had Me At Hello	Being immediately captivated or impressed from the beginning of a conversation	Over simplification of emotions can lead to misinterpretation	a. I'm in b. Count me in
You Complete Me	A strong emotional connection and reliance on another person for feeling whole.	Suggests incompleteness without a partner and an unhealthy dependence	a. I am so happy to have you in my life b. You make me a better person
You Are the One	When you consider someone special or unique for a specific part or goal	Unoriginal, indecisive or uncertain	a. You are one of a kind b. You are outstanding

Phrases	Meaning	Why Weak	Better Alternative
Time Heals All Wounds	It means painful or challenging situations become less severe as time passes.	Oversimplifies the intricate process of healing	a. Time plus work helps heal wounds
Laughter Is the Best Medicine	When you Tr to be happy and have a positive outlook as it helps deal with problems.	Overused and not applicable in all situations	a. A good laugh can be therapeutic b. Laughter is a powerful tonic
Real Eyes Realize Real Lies	To have a clear perception and the ability to discern truth from deception	Oversimplification, and room for interpretation	a. Discern truth from fiction b. A keen eye for deception
Don't You Die on Me	Telling someone in a moment of crisis that you want them to live and not die	Has a potential for melodramatics	a. Do not leave us b. Hold on
Be Yourself	It means when you like someone as they are	It hinders personal growth and positive social interaction	a. Stay true to yourself b. Be authentic
Let's Circle Back	To return to a subject or discussion at a later time.	It reflects dismissiveness or avoidance.	a. I'll follow up b. Let's touch base again
Everybody Dies, But Not Everybody Lives	It is the difference between simply existing and truly living	It implies judgment and is subjective	a. It's not about the years in your life, but the life in your years b. Live as if you were to die tomorrow
Call the Shots	To be in charge or to make decisions	Not applicable in group activities and ineffective implementation	a. Be in charge b. Run the show
Love Conquers All	It means love is so powerful it can overcome any difficulty	Give rise to unrealistic expectations	a. Love endures b. Love withstands challenges
Action Speaks Louder Than Words	People's actions show their real attitudes rather than what they say	Oversimplification and can be misused	a. Practice what you preach, b. Deeds not words

Phrases	Meaning	Why Weak	Better Alternative
Low-Hanging Fruit	The tasks or goals that can be easily achieved	It leads to a lack of skill development and promote short-term thinking	a. Quick wins b. No-brainers
Push the Envelope	Approaching or extending the limits of what you can do	It can be risky and lead to burnout	a. Take a risk b. Break new ground
Be a Team Player	Prioritize group goals and work together to achieve them	Vague and lacks specificity	a. Supportive and work well with others
Ducks In a Row	To be well prepared for something that is going to happen	Overused and lack specificity	a. On top of things b. In control
Loop In	To include someone in conversation or talks, especially regarding ongoing developments	Vague and unclear expectations	a. Clued in b. Privy
Blue Sky Thinking	Brainstorming to come up with creative ideas without being held back by practicality or current beliefs	Vague and has potential for unrealistic or impractical ideas	a. Innovative thinking b. Idea generation
Move the Needle	To make a noticeable change or impact in a positive direction	Lack authenticity, and is vague	a. Make progress b. Advance
Paradigm Shift	A vital change happens when you start to think in a different way	Misused and has scope for misinterpretation	a. Game changer b. Sea change
Boil the Ocean	Adopt an overambitious approach to solve a problem or achieve an aim	Not applicable in complex situations and lacks depth	a. Let's not make this harder than it needs to be
Drink the Kool-Aid	Showcasing unquestionable obedience or loyalty to someone or something	Can be misused and promotes blind belief	a. Being on board b. Buying into

Phrase	Meaning	Why Weak	Better Alternative
Raining Cats and Dogs	It signifies it is raining heavily	Outdated and lacks impact	a. Rain hammered the roof like gravel b. Rain lashed the grounds like whips
Calm Before the Storm	A peaceful moment before the chaos	Predictable and overused	a. Stillness settled like a warning b. The air was too quiet, as if the world held its breath
Under the Weather	When someone feels sick or unwell	Too bland and lacks imagination	a. He moved like his body weighed by lead b. Her skin was pale as snow
Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining	To find hope in difficult times	Over optimistic and disregarding the suffering	a. Even broken skies let sun rays through b. You see light clinging to the edges of the dark
Snowed Under	When someone is overwhelmed with work	Unoriginal and lacks how urgent the work is	a. Drowning in deadlines with no end in sight b. Buried under the mountain of task
Stealing My Thunder	To take credit or steal another person's attention	No real emotion, and feels too far fetched	a. He stole my moment before the dust settled b. He stepped in and wore my applause like it was his
Storm Brewing	When you feel trouble is coming	Predictable and overused	a. You can feel the tension in the air b. The air pulses with charged threat
Lighting Never Strikes the Same Place Twice	Bad luck will not befall you twice	Simplistic and no scientific proof	a. Troubles knock on our door again, just wearing a different mask b. Misfortune has a sharper memory than we think
A Face Like Thunder	An angry expression on someone's face	Generic and lacks real emotions	a. His jaw clenched, and his eyes got dark like thunder b. She looked like lightning waiting to strike
Chasing Rainbows	When someone follows an unrealistic dream	It feels childish and miles away from reality	a. He ran after peaks that vanished with each step b. Her dreams were all smokes and mirrors

65+ Common Cliches to Avoid in Academic Writing

What Is a Cliche? | Its Origin

To Sync with a Particular Audience

To Make It Simple

For Characterization

Why You Must Avoid Clichés In Academic Writing?

Lack Originality

Low in Clarity and Specificity

Weakened Arguments

Loss of Credibility

Room for Misinterpretation

Leads to Boredom

A List of 65+ Cliché Examples with Better Alternatives

1. Motivational Clichés Examples

2. Romantic Clichés Examples

3. Life Clichés Examples

4. Workplace Clichés Examples

5. Weather Clichés Examples

6. Sports Clichés Examples

7. Character Clichés Examples

How to Spot and Replace Cliches In Your Writing?

How to Identify Common Cliches?

How to Replace cliché

Want to Know More About Cliches?| Ask Our Experts

Most Popular Questions Searched By Students

Phrases	Meaning	Why Weak	Better Alternative
They Gave 110%	When the players and team members worked very hard	Mathematically unsound and vague	a. They pushed past the limit and kept going b. Every ounce of will was spent on the battlefield
It's a Game of Two Halves	When the outcome of a match changes drastically between two halves	Its obvious and lacks emotions	a. The team came back like raging beasts in the second half b. The first team owned the first half, the other rewrote the second half
At the End of the Day	In the end, the results matter the most	Devoid of substance	a. In the end, the outcomes will only be remembered b. When the whistle blew, only the scoreboard spoke
We Are Taking One Game At a Time	It means to focus on this next game and not the picture as a whole	Generic and disregarding commitment or pressure	a. The next 90 minutes is all you have to worry about b. Right now, the opponent in front of you matters
They Left It All on the Field	It signifies giving maximum effort	Overused and emotionally dull	a. They walked away with nothing but bruises and pride b. They emptied the tank and then some
On Paper, They Should Have Won	Meaning the team had a better reputation or stats	Lacks nuances and dismissive	a. The statistics backed them, but the heart of the game played other tunes b. They might have talent but lacked grit
They Snatched Victory from the Jaws of Defeat	Wining at the very last moment	Tired and melodramatic	a. They turned failure into history in the final moments b. Their victory came like a punch through the fog of loss
He Is a Natural-Born Athlete	When some person is exceptionally good or talented	Oversimplifies hard work and hours of training	a. He moved like the game was built in his DNA b. Every move was effortless, but had gruesome training behind it
They Have Got Momentum	When the team players have a psychological and performance advantage	Vague and often without context	a. They are riding a tide and taking the game with them b. Every touch and pass is filled with belief
It Was a Must-Win Game	When a game is played for advancement or survival	Too much overused	a. The season is hanging on this single result b. This isn't just a game but a fight for survival

Phrases	Meaning	Why Weak	Better Alternative
The Chosen One	A character that is destined to save the world or fulfil a prophecy	Overused and removes agency	a. A not-so-wanting survivor who earns greatness through failure b. An outcast whose strength lies in not being picked by anyone
The Damsel In Distress	A helpless women who need rescuing	Outdated concept and robs the character of any depth	a. A person who appears vulnerable but manipulates situations to survive b. A person who lets other underestimate-and turns it into an advantage
The Bad Boy with a Golden Heart	A rebellious boy who is secretly very kind	Predictable and fictional	a. A person who is shaped by loss, not cruelty, hides old wounds b. A lone friend struggling with trust more than morals
The Wise Mentor	An old person who is a know-it-all helps the hero	Often lacks nuance and dimensions	a. A mentor troubled by his own past, teaching through scars, not surety b. A guide who is teaching through shifting emotions and also still learning
The Lovable Rogue	A charming person who is also a rule breaker but wins hearts	Repetitive and lacks growth	a. A con artist using charm as a shield, not truth b. A rogue whose success is marred with past mistakes
The Nerdy Tech Genius	A person who is awkward but also brilliant in technology	Stereotypical and lacks depth	a. A genius who is too quiet but brilliant at their job b. A society-savvy coder who understands human and machines alike
The Strong Silent Type	A person who is a bit stoic and emotionally repressed character	Emotional range of a teaspoon or falls flat	a. A person who is silent but filled with power, not fear b. A quiet observer with explosive emotions hidden underneath
The Femme Fatale	A woman who is sensual but brings destruction	Sexist roots and oversimplified morals	a. A woman who uses power in a world that is hellbent on punishing her for it b. A multi-layered person with allure hiding motives
The Evil-Overlord	A villain who needs power for himself	No dimensions and lacks motive	a. A villain who is shaped by a twisted ideology, but can be understood b. A person who believes in tyranny as a blessing in disguise
The Evil Twin/Clone	A lookalike who is evil just because they are twins	No complexity and often lazy	a. A twin struggling with identity and wanting agency b. A clone raised with different values, with morality clashes