Cliché Examples: A PDF List and Tips on Avoiding Them

A cliché is an overused phrase that no longer delivers clear meaning. It appears so frequently in writing or spoken language that it adds nothing specific to the point you want to make. Common versions include “time heals all wounds,” “last but not least,” and “only time will tell.” These expressions weaken your writing because they replace precise ideas with empty repetition. A simple check for repeated patterns helps you remove the overused cliches before they weaken the rest of your draft.

In this article, you’ll see various examples of cliches, along with a downloadable PDF list for students. You get practical steps that help you avoid vague phrasing in your own work. EssayService appears here as a reliable place where you can request writing support, get help shaping ideas, and receive guidance that keeps your sentences clear.

What Is a Cliché?

A cliché is a repeated phrase or idea that no longer adds meaningful information. The words appear so frequently that they provide no clear detail, and the sentence loses strength because of this. You will definitely benefit from replacing those vague lines with direct statements that better express the intended ideas. A cliche in a sentence usually appears when the writer uses a familiar shortcut instead of a precise description. A quick review identifies these places, and a small change improves readability immediately.

Identifying Clichés in Your Writing

Writers identify cliches by watching for phrases that appear in routine speech, casual advice, or general statements. You can use these simple tips to find cliché sayings in your papers:

• Look for phrases that provide no specific detail about your idea.
• Check for lines that could appear anywhere with no effect on meaning.
• Read each sentence and confirm that every phrase gives clear information instead of vague wording.
• Flag expressions that match common cliché sayings you hear in casual conversation.
• Mark phrases that repeat patterns you see in many texts rather than presenting a precise point. 

Common Clichés on Different Topics

Many everyday phrases appear so often that they lose their impact. You’ll see these popular cliches in writing across different subjects, which makes them easy to miss unless you look closely.

1. Time heals all wounds.
2. Only time will tell.
3. At the end of the day.
4. Opposites attract.
5. Every cloud has a silver lining.
6. Ignorance is bliss.
7. What goes around comes around.
8. Easier said than done.
9. Better safe than sorry.
10. Practice makes perfect.
11. The calm before the storm.
12. The tip of the iceberg.
13. Actions speak louder than words.
14. Love conquers all.
15. All that glitters is not gold.
16. Rome was not built in a day.
17. Every rose has its thorn.
18. There is no place like home.
19. Time flies.
20. You win some, you lose some.

Plot Clichés

Storytelling often leans on familiar turns that readers recognize immediately. These patterns usually appear when a narrative follows well-worn paths instead of specific choices.

1. The chosen one saves the world.
2. The villain reveals the plan at the last moment.
3. The mentor dies to motivate the hero.
4. The main character wakes up and realizes it was a dream.
5. The love interest appears at the perfect time.
6. The group splits up and faces danger alone.
7. The villain turns out to be a family member.
8. The final clue appears in an old notebook.
9. The hero wins because of a sudden realization.
10. The main character survives against impossible odds.
11. The story begins with a mysterious stranger.
12. The lost artifact holds the answer.
13. The team forms through pure coincidence.
14. The hero defeats the enemy after a tense, drawn-out pause or standoff.
15. The ending circles back to the opening scene.
16. The villain returns after being presumed gone.
17. The hero sacrifices something essential to succeed.
18. The world resets after the final event.
19. The last chapter introduces a new threat.
20. The hero discovers a hidden power.

Examples of Clichés About Time

Time cliches show up whenever a writer wants to explain change, delay, or uncertainty without adding detail. These phrases look harmless, yet all they do is take up space without moving the point forward.

1. Time heals all wounds
2. Only time will tell
3. Time flies
4. A matter of time
5. In the blink of an eye
6. In the nick of time
7. Time stands still
8. Killing time
9. Time waits for no one
10. Better late than never
11. Lost in time
12. Time is of the essence
13. A race against time
14. No time like the present
15. Ahead of your time
16. Behind the times
17. Borrowed time
18. Third time’s the charm
19. Set in stone
20. Frozen in time