The cliche tag has no wiki summary.
-1
votes
3answers
816 views
Lost in the Midst vs Mists of Time [closed]
Which of the following is more correct, and why? My attempts at Googling haven't produced a definitive answer, and all seem as sensible as each other going from base definitions.
Lost in the mists ...
2
votes
2answers
2k views
What is a more eloquent way to say “I hope I'm not asking too much”?
I've been emailing back and forth with another professional who has been very generous in sharing a workflow developed at their institution. This professional has gone to great lengths to answer my ...
1
vote
2answers
1k views
Does the term “witch-hunt” apply when referring to dealing with a real problem?
Should the term "witch hunt" only be used when dealing with a problem that does not exist, as in witchcraft, or does the term also apply when a problem does exist, but those dealing with it are ...
5
votes
2answers
221 views
Is there a reference book that lists words by usage or theme?
Similar to how a Thesaurus lists synonyms, is there a book that groups words (or phrases) together by conceptual usage?
For example, this question is looking for words that describe a person's ...
18
votes
3answers
533 views
Why is “head over heels” used as if it were exceptional rather than commonplace?
Most people spend part of each day standing, and if they have normal anatomy their heads are over their heels in this position. Even sitting or lying down, the head is higher than the heels (if not ...
10
votes
9answers
5k views
what on earth does “cheap at half the price” mean?
I hear this all the time, "cheap at half the price", to indicate that something is cheap (mostly in an ironic sense, but often used literally), but it makes no sense to me.
Of course, if something ...
3
votes
2answers
835 views
Is it a poke in the eye with a sharp, or blunt stick?
Is it "better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick", or "better than a poke in the eye with a blunt stick"?
I suspect that some sort of metaphor testing facility in the Discworld concluded that ...
1
vote
2answers
384 views
Sentence to Indicate Change (That is not a cliché)
I have a sentence that I need to replace; one that is somewhat cliché. What would be a good sentence (Or perhaps a phrase) that could indicate change in a somewhat stale/monotonous environment?
...
6
votes
3answers
693 views
What is the origin of the phrase “blue moon”? Any alternate phrase for it?
Was just wondering how this phrase came into being? Was it inspired from some natural or astronomical observation? or is it the result of poetic imagination?
8
votes
5answers
1k views
What other alliterative phrases have become inseparable? [closed]
Just asking out of idle curiousity. There are some words that just always seem to be found together, such as
strong, silent type
cool, calm and collected
cheap and cheerful
Can you ...
