Clichés: Avoid Them Like The Plague

Clichés: Avoid Them Like The Plague

by NigelFountain (Author)

Synopsis

At the end of the day, when it comes to getting your head around cliches, everybody seems to be singing from the same hymn sheet. Cliches have become such a familiar part of the English language and people's everyday speech that many are now trite, meaningless and often quite irritating. This book looks at cliches in their many forms - once useful but overworked catch phrases ('move the goal posts'), worn-out sayings ('all hands on deck'), pointless phrases used to conceal a weak argument ('to be perfectly honest'), technical terms used out of context ('collateral damage'), and many others. It shows where they came from and, with examples from people who ought to know better, why they should be avoided. Entertaining and informative, this collection of cliches really is the best thing since sliced bread . . .

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More Information

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 192
Edition: First Edition
Publisher: Michael O'Mara
Published: 06 Sep 2012

ISBN 10: 1843174863
ISBN 13: 9781843174868

Media Reviews
They're the everyday phrases that we all love to hate - and all love to use. Author Nigel Fountain cuts to the chase and tells us what they really mean Mail on Sunday Guides the reader through the origins, histories and meanings of cliches in every form The Oldie
Author Bio
Nigel Fountain is a writer, broadcaster and journalist who has written for many publications, including The Guardian, The Observer, The Sunday Times, The New Statesman, The Oldie, the London Evening Standard, the New York Soho Weekly News, History Today, New Society, Oz magazine and Time Out. His documentary work for Radio 4 and BBC2 has ranged from style magazines and the history of thrillers to dance halls and the events of 1968. He was a commissioning obituaries editor on The Guardian for many years, and co-editor of City Limits magazine. His books include: Days Like These (a novel); two volumes from the 'Voices From the Twentieth Century' series, Women at War and The Battle of Britain and the Blitz; Underground: The London Alternative Press 1966-74; Lost Empires: The Phenomenon of Theatres Past, Present And Future; and the award-winning WWII: The People's Story. He read Politics at York University.