Transcript Idioms and Cliche`s

Idioms and Clichés
Figurative Languagelanguage that is not meant to
be taken literally
Idioms
Is an expression whose
overall meaning is
different from the
meaning of the
individual words
Examples
“to go to the dogs” is an idiom
meaning “to go to ruin.”
“Button your lip about the party” is
an idiom meaning “keep quiet.”
“Stay above water” is not an
expression for drowning, but it’s an
idiom meaning to survive a situation.
Practice- Identify the idiom & give its
literal and figurative meaning.
They kicked around a few ideas
about how to make a scenery for the
play.
She changed her tune once she
found out the cost of the project.
I don’t trust Jackson, but his friend
seems on the level.
Will you take me under your wing if I
decide to join the chorus?
Cliché
Is an overused expression;
good writers generally avoid
clichés unless they are using
them in dialogue to indicate
something about a
character’s personality.
Examples
Better late than never
Hard as nails
Never say never
Home sweet home
Eat like a horse
Practice- locate the cliché in each sentence.
After the accident, I figured no news
was good news.
The twins’ behavior at school versus
home was like day and night.
She was busy as a bee while she
cleaned the house.
The Chief of police was as mad as a
hornet.
Literal & Figurative Illustrations
You will receive an example of an
idiom or a cliché.
First, identify if it’s a cliché or idiom.
Next, your job is to illustrate its
“literal meaning”, what it means just
by the words, and it’s “figurative
meaning,” the meaning the writer
wants you to get through more
colorful language