Idioms and Clichés

1. Idioms and Clichés Figurative Language- language that is not meant to be taken literally

2. Idioms • Is an expression whose overall meaning is different from the meaning of the individual words

3. 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.

4. 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?

5. 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.

6. Examples • Better late than never • Hard as nails • Never say never • Home sweet home • Eat like a horse

7. 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.

8. 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