My list of random overly-used phrases

Every so often, as I read, I come across phrases that underwhelm me. Taken in isolation, they’re totally inoffensive, fine descriptors, even! In fact, the first few instances, they probably slipped past my consciousness entirely. Also, I can almost guarantee you that the very first time I read them, I was probably like, “Wow, what a great phrase!”

Over time, the phrases repeat enough to cause me little pricks of weariness that chafe at my reading experience. And then I must jot them down in a note called “YAWN,” which I am sharing with you now.

The issue with these phrases is that they are overused but maybe aren’t yet full blown clichés (though some more than others). But that’s close enough to the danger zone that I plan to steer clear away from them in my own writing. Also let me just say, I have certainly used many of these before—and the opportunity always exists to subvert their usage in unexpected ways—I’ve just seen these enough to avoid using them verbatim. If the temptation to use them arises, I’ll challenge myself to render the idea / feeling with more originality.

• Kind eyes — very generic but shockingly common

• Bruises “blooming” on skin — I love this as a verb, but apparently so does everyone else

• Sun dappled — a perfect descriptor, but just overrelied upon

• Halcyon days — I still don’t know how you even pronounce this

• Eyes “shooting daggers”

• Head on a swivel — makes me think of that Pixar lamp

• Staccato breathing

• Heart hammering against ribs — I used this in a recent essay and then saw it in the wild, argh 🙈

• Any others you can think of?

Now go write,
Jamie

Take one of the phrases from the list and render the underlying idea, emotion, or action using fresh language.

To submit your writing: reply to this email, comment on this post, or send to nowgowrite@substack.com by Saturday evening.

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“[A cliché] is the debris of someone else’s thinking” — Verlyn Klinkenborg