I had asked a question about cliches on Against the tide. While a complete post is awaited, here's what I got as a quick reply:
Cliches from Associated Press Guide to News Writing, Rene J. Cappon.
The link: http://cliche.theinfo.org/
awkward dilemma | brutal murder | close proximity | end result | entirely absent
exact counterpart | future plan | general public | gory murder | grateful thanks
| gruesome tragedy | lifeless corpse | mutual cooperation | new record |
original founder | patently obvious | personal friend | personal opinion |
present incumbent | sworn affidavit | surrounded on all sides | true facts |
ultimate outcome | gave permission to | held a meeting | proved of benefit |
to put in an appearance | reached an agreement | submitted his resignation |
take into consideration | established | conclusive evidence of | take into custody
accommodations | approximately | assistance | commence | finalize |
implement | in consequence of | initiate | methodology | motivation |
objective | purchase | remuneration | substantial proportion |
underprivileged | utilise | armed to the teeth battle | royal |
beat a hasty retreat | beyond the shadow of a doubt | bite the dust |
blessing in disguise | blissful ignorance | burning issue | club-wielding police |
colourful scene | conspicuous by its absence | coveted award | dramatic new move
dread disease | dream come true | drop in the bucket | fame and fortune |
gentle hint | glaring omission | gory details | grief-stricken | hand in glove|
hammer out | happy couple | head over heels in love | heart of gold |
heavily armed troops | iron out | intensive investigation | Lady Luck |
lash(|ed|es) out | leave no stone unturned | light at the end of the tunnel |
lightning speed | long arm of the law | man in the street | marvels of science |
matrimonial bliss | meagre pension | miraculous escape |
Mother Nature | moves into high gear | never a dull moment | Old Man Winter
paints a grim picture | pay the supreme penalty (price)
picture of health | pillar of society | pinpoint the cause
| police dragnet | pool of blood | posh resort | prestigious law firm | proud
heritage | proud parents | pursuit of excellence | red faces | red-faced |
reins of government | rushed to the scene | selling like hotcakes |
spearheading the campaign | spirited debate | spotlessly clean |
sprawling estate | spreading like wildfire | stranger than fiction | storm of protest
| supreme sacrifice | surprise move | terror-stricken | tie the knot |
tip of the iceberg | tower of strength | true colours | vanish in thin air |
walking encyclopaedia | wealth of information | whirlwind campaign |
last but not least | beck and call | bits and pieces | very unique |
clear and simple | death and destruction | each and every | fair and just |
few and far between | nook and cranny | pick and choose | ready and willing |
right and proper | safe and sound | shy and withdrawn | smooth and silk |
4 comments:
good lots of them!...:)
Dileep, thnks, my prof sent me this link, along with a wonderful essay on cliches.. nice, no? how have u been...
Some of them are not cliched for example objective, Isn't it?..will have to look it up though!
Anu--
The list is an indicative list, basically for working journalists. I mean, yes, objective isn't a cliche, but when you repeatedly use it like the objective truth, an objective argument, etc., the usage tends to become tiresome. in tht way, the list is an guide of sorts so tht people work their minds a wee bit more to come with fresh usages. Have you read Gerald Durell? you will know what a fresh use of words is like if you read him.
and I feel guilty tht I have not been able to respond to your posts in a long time...
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