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Table of Contents
Both idioms and clichés are English expressions. They are groups of words that are put together to convey meaning. The words used may not necessarily be suggestive of their meaning, but there are groups of words that help identify the meaning of the expression. Idioms can be opaque and transparent whereas clichés can be figurative and literal.
See the fact file below for more information on Idioms and Clichés, or you can download our 26-page Idioms and Clichés worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
IDIOMS (THE ESSENTIAL PART OF CLICHÉS)
- An idiomatic expression, also known as an idiom, is an English expression that is formed by a group of words. It is a phrase that has a meaning which is not always suggested by the words used to form it.
- Clichés, on the other hand, started as an idiom. They are considered “stereotyped expressions” because they express a popular or common thought that, because of overuse, has lost its originality and impact.
- As these idioms are used frequently, they become common in expressing a certain thought. This frequency of use can qualify them as clichés.
- Take, for instance, the expression “raining cats and dogs”. Originally, it is an idiomatic expression which means “heavy rain”.
- Eventually, this expression has become very common to express the meaning above. Because of that, this idiom has become a cliché.
- Although many clichés originated from idioms, this is not the only type of expression that can be considered a cliché. There are also clichés that come from other sources like lines from movies, books, and other literary pieces that started to be used frequently.
TYPES OF IDIOMS
- The tricky thing about idioms is that some were formed by words that do not really help in understanding their meaning.
- Because of that, idioms are considered as figurative phrases.
- There are two types of idioms: opaque idioms and transparent idioms.
- Opaque idioms are idioms whose literal meaning cannot be deduced from the way they were formed or the words used to form them.
- Take note of the following examples:
- “Take it with a grain of salt” means don’t take it seriously.
- “Throw caution to the wind” means to take a risk.
- Thinking about the expressions above, the words in the idiom do not help to understand it. Even if the words are combined, the meaning will not easily come out. The reader needs to search for the idiom to understand its meaning.
- Transparent idioms, on the other hand, somehow provide a reference to their meaning. The words used to form the expression can be put together and interpreted to understand the meaning of the idiom.
- Take note of the following examples:
- “Comparing apples to oranges” means comparing two very different things.
- “Once in a blue moon” means very rare.
- These idioms are easy to understand and connect to their meaning. The words used to form each idiom already suggest their meaning. The meaning that each idiom seeks to convey makes sense.
- The types of idioms show that understanding idioms depends on the idiom itself. Some idioms’ meanings can be easily deduced while others cannot.
- Whatever the case is, knowing the accurate meaning of the idiom helps the reader understand and use it correctly.
FORMS OF IDIOMS
- Idioms can be written or used by themselves or as part of a sentence.
- Idioms that can be used by themselves are those that can be used and can stand as a sentence.
- Examples:
- A little learning is a dangerous thing.
- An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
- It takes two to tango.
- Idioms that can be used as part of a sentence cannot stand on their own.
- Examples:
- Once bitten, twice shy
- Run like the wind
OTHER ORIGINS OF CLICHÉ
- Clichés are expressions that are typically described as worn-out and overused. They became universal since the lines that are used to convey meaning, because of their frequency, are too common and unoriginal.
- Usually, these clichés are taken from different sources. One of the sources of clichés is William Shakespeare, a famous writer who wrote many plays and poems. Many lines from his works have become common expressions.
- Examples of clichés taken from Shakespeare’s world are:
- “There is nothing either good or bad” from Hamlet
- “To be or not to be?” from Hamlet
- ‘Catch a cold” from Cymbeline
- “Love is blind” from The Merchant of Venice
- Movies can also be a common literary source of clichés.
- Examples:
- “Just keep swimming” which means “keep going” (from Finding Nemo)
- “I’ll be back” (from The Terminator)
- Clichés also originated from fairy tales. Examples are the following:
- Once upon a time
- In a faraway land
- They lived happily ever after
TYPES OF CLICHÉ
- Clichés, just like idioms, can also be classified into two types: figurative clichés and literal clichés.
- Figurative clichés are clichés that do not have a literal meaning. If the words in the clichés are translated literally, they will not make sense and will not lead to the correct meaning of the expression.
- Examples:
- “It’s raining cats and dogs” is also an idiomatic expression that has become a common expression which means ‘raining heavily’, but cats and dogs falling from the sky don’t make sense.
- In “as right as rain”, having rain as a standard of being right doesn’t really make sense.
- Literal clichés are clichés that can be translated or understood in their literal sense.
- Examples:
- “Come rain or shine” suggests that whatever the situation is, the person will push something to happen. The words put together already show the meaning.
- “Leave no stone unturned” means to turn each stone, and that can be easily understood through words.
WHEN IS IT OKAY TO USE CLICHÉS?
- Although clichés are very common and do not exude originality in writing, at times, they are acceptable considering the following situations:
- Clichés work for some audiences and are effective in conveying a certain meaning.
- Clichés are helpful in simplifying the message the writer wants to convey.
- Clichés help the writer portray a certain character in their writing to demonstrate that they are not the original thinker.
TIPS ON HOW TO AVOID CLICHÉS
- Clichés are often avoided in writing, especially academic writing, because of their essence.
- Here are some specific steps to avoid clichés.
- First, think about the cliché and its meaning. If it is not really necessary and can be replaced by a better word or phrase, choose to do the latter.
- Second, decide which expression you would like to use. If you think that other expressions are better, then choose the others.
- Lastly, rewrite the sentence with the new words that you decided to use.
- Some clichés should be avoided, especially in formal writing, because there are so overused.
- Think outside the box
- In the nick of time
- The grass is always greener on the other side
- Ignorance is bliss
- Don’t judge a book by its cover
Idioms and Clichés Worksheets
This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Idioms and Clichés across 25 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching kids about Idioms and Clichés, which are expressions in language using groups of words put together to convey meaning other than their literal sense.
Complete List of Included Worksheets
Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.
- Idioms and Clichés Facts
- Complete My Thought
- Opaque or Transparent?
- Idiom, Cliché, or Both?
- Figurative or Literal?
- Match the Cliché
- Give Me an Idiom
- Where Did That Come From?
- Idiom and Cliché
- Getting to Know Clichés
- Poetic Side
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Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.