Idioms vs. Clich

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Idioms vs. Clichés
EQ How do idioms improve my reading and writing
skills?
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Idioms

• An expression, or group of words, that can be
  confusing because they say one thing but mean
  another.
• The meaning of the whole group of words together
  usually has little or nothing to do with the
  meanings of the words one by one.
• Idioms are found in every language. In order to
  understand that language, you must know what the
  idioms in that language mean.
• Idioms come from all different sources. From
  the Bible to horse racing, from ancient fables to
  famous authors.

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Idiom Examples
Raining cats and dogs
Dont cry over spilled milk
Make a mountain out of a mole hill
Dont put all your eggs in one basket
A penny for your thoughts
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Other idiom examples

• Bark is worse than your bite
• Bark up the wrong tree
• Walk on eggs
• Watched pot never boils
• Waiting for the other shoe to drop
• Till the cows come home
• Snug as a bug in a rug
• Salt of the earth

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Cliché

• If an expression becomes overused, we call it a
  cliché. We hear and read them all of the time.
• Many idioms are clichés.
• Once they were fresh and original, but today
  they are stale and corny.
• Avoid using clichés in your writing!

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Cliché Examples
Call it a day
Off the top of your head
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Other cliché examples

• Pull yourself together
• Drive you crazy
• Let your hair down
• Back to square one
• Mess with someone
• Spitting image
• Bite your tongue
• Piece of cake