Is there any way to reduce the use of hackneyed cliches in ordinary communication?

I saw this on a TV show: Sure, I’m 80 years old, but my mind is still sharp as a… um….

I used to have a friend who was very critical of using cliches in conversation.
I don’t have any issue with it. In fact, I think it’s the bee’s knees.

Well, I think that we are faddish. People, that is. Just as we all wear certain fashions, we use certain language,

The media certainly does. And we see those same phrases over and over again. Thus, we say them over and over again.

For a while. But fads come and go. Just as nobody says things are groovy or bitchin’ now, think outside the box will pass (I believe it is passing).

So, just be patient and vigilant and the mother of all cliches will go away.

I used to use cliches like they were going out of style, but now I wouldn’t touch one with a ten foot pole. Sorry, couldn’t resist
In most conversations I try to avoid cliches and use my own descriptive phrases that may be closer to the topic, but I don’t think we have any control over the words of others.

You can control your own speech. Anythig esle is going to involve more effort that it is worth and peple will call you names.
Start with an eye roll,(Unless you’re in Illinois where that may sooon be illegal) then heave a sigh. See if that elicits a response to which you can reply “Dear god, you’re dull! Can you find any other way of expressing yourself besides this worn out old phrase? Loser!”
Or you can British them, if they have the IQ and subtlety to pick up on it. If someone says; “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.” Stop and just look at them, wait for about a beat and a half, then say “Hmm?” If they say it again, stop, raise your eyebrows, two beats and say “Sir?” (If you’re friends, the formality may catch their attention) You never give a direct admonition, you just draw attention to the fact that you are stopping what you’re doing, then visibly allow it to pass.

You usually push the envelope with your questions.

Let me synergize and touch base, then I’ll get back to you.

@Trillian I read about that. It’s totally insane! Those politicians obviously have too much time on their hands.

@Dr_Dredd I know right? And of course, they would never say anything to cause someone to roll their eyes. Heaven forbid.

What’s the difference between a cliché and an idiom?

It seems to me that the only difference is in the social currency attendant to the expression.

Given that different groups have different forms of in-language, perhaps older and over-used idiomatic or in-group expressions, or those employed out of appropriate context are the most likely to annoy.

I’ve always hated “rad”. It’s just not cool.

I don’t think there’s any way to reduce the use of clichés because I suspect that personal and social identity plays a major role in the definition of cliché.

[insert hackneyed cliche that can be summed up as “no”]

I know what you’re talking about – it seems to me, sometimes, that people don’t even speak, they just regurgitate statements they think will add up to a conversation. It’s frustrating.

I think certain cliches become fashionable, especially in business circles. I hear these things all the time from those in management and I don’t think they actually know what any of it means.

At the end of the day, and going forward, the best practise for taking it to the next level, we should be proactive here, maximise potential and just stop using the damned things altogether.

@downtide What you say tells me something I hadn’t thought about. In business, people often seem to use speech to make it sound as if they are saying something useful, when in fact they aren’t. Well, we’ve got to step up to the plate here, take it all the way and score a touchdown.

Jesus! What do our European friends make of these metaphors?

@wundayatta oh we use them all the time here. (Well I don’t but you should hear our CEO sometimes).

@downtide If you would just think outside of the box, you’d be able to figure out a way to make them stop.~

It’s not a cliche, but if I could stop everybody saying ‘whatever’, I’d be happier. I had a friend who used the same tired sayings over and over. One was ‘I spent $1000 to get my nose fixed and my mouth won’t work’. Gad. He also wanted ‘alittle of the old in/out’.

@faye I would be happier if I could get people to stop saying “That’s so gay” when they mean something is bad or stupid. It’s just plain offensive.

My daughter’s good friend is homosexual so that saying doesn’t exist around here.

“have a good one.” I don’t know why but that innocuous little phrase annoys me.

“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.” – Thomas Jefferson

Cliches are efficient means of communication, because they’re lazy. They have an agreed upon definition so there’s little room for interpretation. I think that’s probably why people end up using them in conversations where they don’t feel 100% comfortable. I’m more likely to run into a string of ridiculous, meaningless phrases at the office than I am when talking to my close friends.

Of course there is, just as soon as you insist that people increase their (expletive deleted) vocabulary and stop re-defining words in their own mind.

To draw attention to the overuse of common expressions, try turning them on their patella.

e.g.
Think outside the triangle!
Hit the nail on the pointed end!
It’s the Bee’s armpit!

Substitute Awsomeotherthing for awesome.
Tepid for cool

Or use an expression you have crafted but expect to be misunderstood.