Reclaimed Cliches

Most creative writing texts call for authors to avoid cliches. "Strong as an ox." "Dumb as rocks." "Broken-hearted." Phrases like these are used so often that they have lost their meaning.Really, a cliche is a description that was so apt that everyone began to use it. The problem is that repetition turns meaningful things into nonsense. One powerful example, as explained by Sir Ian McKellan (<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGbZCgHQ9m8>), is the first line of Macbeth's speech when he has learned that Lady Macbeth has died. He begins: "Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow." The word becomes just sound, for Macbeth and for the audience. Macbeth's bleak outlook aside, the lesson is clear: cliches have run through everyone's brain so often that no one appreciates what they mean anymore.The objective for today is to bring a list of cliches back to their former splendor, preserving the strength of the old metaphor in an original description.***1. a chip off the old block-original meaning: "Sharing a common source"-rephrased: springs that flowed from the same river2. babe in the woods-an innocent or naive person in a dangerous situation-a puppy in highway traffic3. open that can of worms-bring up a troublesome or controversial topic-leap into a minefield4. dark before the dawn-a low that precedes a high-the fighting is harshest before the surrender5. easy as pie-readily accomplished-easy as Google6. fan the flames-increase the volatility of an already volatile situation-give a megaphone to someone who's yelling7. green thumb-skilled at caring for plants-fluent in rose8. hear a pin drop-so quiet that the tiny "ting" of a pin on the floor can be heard-could hear the lightbulbs in the ceiling9. in the nick of time-a nick is a narrow mark, so in the nick of time means "precisely when something needed to happen"-on the last beat of the measure10. judge a book by its cover-evaluate something based on appearance-judge a fighter by his neck size11. kid in a candy store-someone filled with excitement and wonder-a cat in a knitting circle12. let your hair down-be less formal-leave the ties at home13. missed the boat-lost an opportunity due to lateness-the plane took off without them14. nip it in the bud-to stop something at the beginning, before it grows unmanageable-to stop a few rocks from becoming an avalanche15. on thin ice-in imminent danger of a bad outcome, with the connotation of punishment-a particle's length from an H-bomb16. playing with fire-involved in an engrossing activity that could result in dire consequences-chipping his name in the levee17. quick as lightning-very fast, especially related to sudden movement-like the flash of a camera18. rags to riches-from poverty to great wealth-from PBJs to escargot19. scared to death-so afraid that the brain blanked for a few moments-short circuited by fear20. tip of the iceberg-a small example of something much larger-the first locust of the swarm21. until the cows come home-all day; for a long time-until the leaves fall from the trees22. water under the bridge-a problem that's been overcome-the nail in that tire's been patched23. you only live once-enjoy life while you can-taste the moment***Getting Started: 3Character: 3Point of View and Tone: 3Plot and Narrative: 3Dialogue and Voice: 3Descriptive Language and Setting: 3Revision: 2Overall: 2*Level 2*