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Poetry Clichés | Cliches in Poetry

A List of Clichés in Poetry. This page contains examples of clichés in poetry and a comprehensive list of clichés . These are clichés and overused sayings you may find in poetry, however,  the exhaustive list of clichés or trite phrases may be found in other forms of writing. It is a good practice to avoid use of these phases in poetry unless used in a completely original way.

See also our Cliche Finder: Paste your text in the form field and see if your creative work has clichés.

Popular Cliches

absence makes the heart grow fonder
actions speak louder than words
after my own heart
another one bites the dust
apple of my eye
back stabber
baited breath
baptism by fire
bated breath
beauty is in the eye of the beholder
beauty is only skin deep
beyond compare
big heart
bittersweet memories
boy inside
brand new day
broken heart
can't live without you
cheating heart
church bells ring
colors of spring
cries go unheard
cruel world
cry over spilled milk
dark of night
darkest of night
darkness of night
dawn to dusk
dead inside
deep within
depth of my soul
depths of my soul
distant memory
distant past
do you feel me
does my heart good
down the drain
driving me crazy
dwell in the past
empty heart
endless words
ends of the earth
eternal flame
eternal love
every passing day
everything's coming up roses
eye of the beholder
faint heart never a true love knows
fall head over heels
fall through the cracks
fan the flames
far as the eye can see
farewell friend
fateful morning
feel alive again
feeling blue
fire burning within
fire in my soul
fish in the sea
fit the mold
flowers bloom
from here to there
glued to a screen
good times and bad
grass is always greener
gray sky
hang in there
hate myself
have a heart
heart aches
heart breaker
heart flutter
heart swells
hearts intertwine
heavy heart
hello darkness
hit rock bottom
hollow soul
honor your memory
keep your chin up
kiss on my neck
kissing the rose
land far away
league of their own
left behind
left too soon
light of my life
light shines down
light up with joy
like it was yesterday
looking into my soul
lost in each others
lost soul
love and war
love is
love is blind
love make the world go round
love of my life
love you more than
love's embrace
loves conquers all things
lying heart
meaning of life
meaningful dialogue
more than meets the eye
more than words can express
my head is spinning
my heart aches for you
my heart clings to you
my heart cries out to you
my heart is a lonely hunter
my heart is aflame
my heart is an open book
my heart is drowning in sorrow
my heart is in my hand
my heart is on fire
my heart is weary
my heart laid bare
my heart longs for you
my heart reached out
my heart sings to you
my heart waits for you
my heart will always be true
my heart will never be free
my heart withered like
my hero
my inspiration
my little lamb
my lonely heart
my lonely soul
my open soul
my rock
my soul is a shadow
my soul is alone
my soul is on fire
my soul laid bare
my soul reached out
my soul took flight
my stomach is tied up in knots
my tears fell like rain
my wandering soul
my weary soul
never part
no man is an island
no one understands me
no time flat
old man
one in million
one true love
out like a lamb
over and over again
paid the price
peace of mind
pearls before swine
pounding of his lonely heart
power struggle
question my existence
rain on their parade
raise a glass
reach the sky
reached new heights
red roses
restless soul
road less traveled
romance blooms
rose by any other name
rose colored glasses
roses are red
running the race
sands of time
season's greetings
shadow of my soul
shall never part
shallow grave
shattered heart
silence is golden
sinking feeling
slay the dragon
snow capped mountains
solitary soul
soul full of longing
soul full of sorrow
soul of discretion
souls collide
spell is broken
spice of life
spring rain
star crossed lovers
stars like diamonds
stop and smell the roses
tainted love
tender as a mother's heart
test the waters
thorn in my side
til the end of time
time after time
time and again
time heals all wounds
time is fleeting
time slips away
tip of the iceberg
tossing and turning
true self
two hearts
two lovers
unborn child
unconditional love
unknown soldiers
violets are blue
waiting for the dust to settle
waiting for your ship to come in
walk your own path
warmth of my touch
weak soul
weary heart
when all is said and done
wildest dreams
wiped my tears
wish upon a star
word that was left unspoken
words that were left unspoken
worlds apart
writings on the wall
you clawed at my heart
you held onto my heart
you make the sun shine
you set my heart on fire
you tore my heart
you tore out my heart
young and in love
your essence

More Cliches & Poems

caca me me scheme
call a spade a spade
call it a day
call of the wild
call off the dogs
call out
call someone on the carpet
call the shot
call the shots
called onto the carpet
calm before the storm
camel's back
camera cannot lie
camp followers
can it
can of corn
can of whoop ass
can of worm
can of worms
can you spare a dime
can't blame him for trying
can't buy a basket
can't buy a score
can't cut it
can't cut the mustard
can't face it
can't for the life of me remember
can't get a word in edgewise
can't have your cake and eat it too
can't have your cake and eat it too you
can't hold a candle
can't hold a candle to
can't judge a book by its cover
can't judge a book by its cover you
can't learn to swim without getting in the water
can't live with them
can't live without them
can't live without you
can't say enough about him
can't say enough about him you
can't squeeze blood out of a turnip
can't squeeze blood out of a turnip you
can't stand it
can't stomach
can't stomach that
can't teach an old dog new tricks
can't teach an old dog new tricks you
can't win for losing
candle at both ends
cannot confirm or deny
cant say's i would
canteen culture
carbon copy
carbon footprint
carbon-copy
card-sharp
cards on the table
carefully choreographed
caretaker manager
carnival atmosphere
carpe diem
carpet bagger
carrot on a stick
carry coals to newcastle
carry on
carry over
carry the can
carry the team
carrying coal to newcastle
carte blanche
case in point
case of mistaken identity
case of the dancer blaming the stage
case of the mondays
case the joint
cash and carry
cash cow
cash in your chips
cash is king
cash it in
cash on the nail
cast a very long shadow
cast the first stone
cat bird seat
cat got your tongue
cat nap
cat on a hot tin roof
cat out of the bag
cat's cradle
cat's meow
cat's pajamas
cat's whiskers
catbird seat
catch 22
catch a falling knife
catch forty winks
catch hell if i do catch hell if i don't
catch my drift
catch on
catching some zzz's
categorically denied
caught between a rock and a hard place
caught in the crossfire
caught me off guard
caught out
caught red-handed
caught with her pants down
caught with his hands in the till
caught with his pants down
caught with your hand in the cookie jar
cause and effect
cause for complaint
cause for concern
cause undue alarm
causing hurt
centre fold
centre left
centre right
centre stage
chain is only as strong as it's weakest link
chain reaction
chaise lounge
chalk and cheese
chalk it up
chalk it up to experience
champ at the bit
champagne celebrations
champagne tastes and a beer budget
chance is a fine thing
chance of a lifetime
chance result
chance your arm
change of gear
change of heart
change of plan
change the record
change your mind
change your tune
changes hands
changing face
changing the face of
channel surfing
chapter and verse
character assassination
charity begins at home
charley horse
charm offensive
charm the birds
charm the pants off
charmed life
chattering classes
chatty cathy
cheap as chips
cheap at half the price
cheap date
cheap shot
cheap trick
cheaters never prosper
cheaters never win
cheating heart
check it out
check's in the mail
checkered career
checkered past
cheer leader
cheque book journalism
cherchez la femme
cherished belief
chew on
chew out
chew the cud
chew the fat
chewing nails and spitting tacks
chick flick
chicken hawk
chickens come home to roost
chief cook and bottle washer
child play
children should be seen and not heard
childs play
chill out
chilling ultimatum
chink in one's armor
chinless wonder
chip in
chip off the old block
chip on her shoulder
chip on his shoulder
chip on your shoulder
chock full
chock-a-block
choke someone off
chomp at the bit
chomping at the bit
chop and change
chopped liver
chow down
christmas card verses
christmas tree
chronic failure
church bells ring
city gent
city slicker
clam up
clapped out
clash of the titans
class war
claw his way to the top
clean as a whistle
clean bill of health
clean slate
clean sweep
clean your clock
cleaned out
cleanliness is next to godliness
clear agreement
clear and simple
clear as a bell
clear as crystal
clear as mud
clear blue water
clear cut
clear signs
clear targets
clear the air
clear the decks
clever dick
climb on the bandwagon
climb the highest mountain
climbing the walls
clip joint
clock is ticking
clock watching
clod-hopper
close but no cigar
close call
close down
close early and often
close proximity
close ranks
close to the vest
close your eyes and think of england
closed book
closer and closer
closing down
closing remarks
closing speech
clothes don't make the man
club-wielding police
clucking and bucking with the other hens
clue me in
coast is clear
coast to coast
cock and bull story
cock-sure
cockles of your heart
coin a phrase
coin operated
cold as cucumber
cold as ice
cold day in hell
cold feet
cold foot
cold hands warm heart
cold shoulder
cold turkey
cold war
cold-blooded
colder than a well digger's ass
colder than a witch's tit in a brass bra
collective responsibility
colorful scene
colors of spring
come across
come again
come hell or high water
come in under the wire
come out of the closet
coming down in buckets
coming down the pike
common knowledge
common understanding
comparing apples to oranges
complete monopoly
complete picture
completely full
confused and bewildered
conspicuous by its absence
control freak
conventional wisdom
cookie cutter
cooking with gas
cool
cool as a cucumber
cool your heels
cool your jets
cop an attitude
cop it sweet
cop out
copper-bottomed
core values
cost a king's ransom
cost an arm and a leg
cost cutting
cost reduction
cotton on to someone
couch potato
could be worse
could care less
could do better
could eat a horse
could have knocked me over with a feather
couldn't be more wrong
couldn't care less
couldn't find his way out of a paper bag
couldn't get to first base
count your blessings
counting sheep
countless hours
course of action
course of time
course of true love never did run smooth
cover my ass
coveted award
cowboy up
crack down
crack of dawn
crack of doom
crack the code
crack the nut
crack the whip
crack troops
cracking up
crammed in like sardines
crap shoot
crash course
crash landing
crazy as a loon
crazy like a fox
cream of the crop
creation of wealth
creative accountancy
creature comfort
creature comforts
credit rating
credit where credit is due
credit where it's due
creeping bastard
cries go unheard
crime doesn't pay
crime in the street
crime wave
criminal conspiracy
crisis point
criss cross
critical condition
critical point
crocodile tears
cross that bridge when you come to it
cross the line
cross the widest sea
crossing the rubbikon
crow flies
crowd atmosphere
cruel world
cruisin' for a bruisin'
crunch time
crushing blow
cry all the way the bank
cry all the way to the bank
cry for help
cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war
cry her eyes out
cry like a baby
cry me a river
cry over spilled milk
cry over spilt milk
cry uncle
cry wolf
crying crocodile tears
crying out
crying wolf
crystal clear
cult of personality
culture shock
cup final
cup is half-empty
cup is half-full
cupboard love
curate' s egg
curb your enthusiasm
curiosity killed the cat
curiousity killed the cat
current betting
curry favor cut a fine figure
curry favour
curse a blue streak
curtain call
curtain raiser
curtain up
curvaceous blonde
customer is always right
customer loyalty
customer service
cut a rug
cut and dried
cut and dry
cut and run
cut corners
cut down
cut from the same cloth
cut inside
cut it
cut it out
cut no ice
cut of your jib
cut off your nose to spite your face
cut out for you
cut price
cut the cheese
cut the crap
cut the mustard
cut through the red tape
cut to the chase
cut to the quick
cut up
cut up rough
cut your losses
cut your teeth
cute as a bugs ear
cute as a button
cute as a button as
cute as a puppy
cuts like a knife
cuts to the core
cuts to the quick
cutting edge
cutting through all the red tape

Book: Shattered Sighs