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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

t do anything i wouldn't d
t let them get you when you're dow
t pee on my leg and tell me it's rainin
t shoot me i'm just the messenge
t step on anyone's toe
table ender
tables are turned
tackle my homework
tail between his legs
tail that wagged the dog
tail wagging the dog
tailor made
tainted love
take a back seat
take a back seat to
take a bath
take a break
take a breather
take a chance
take a chill pill
take a dive
take a dump
take a hike
take a leak
take a load off
take a long walk off a short plank
take a picture
take a picture it will last longer
take a powder
take a rain check
take a stand
take a step back
take a walk
take a walk on the wild side
take advantage of
take advantage of your opportunities
take another tack
take by storm
take care of your knitting
take down a peg or two
take five
take him to task
take into consideration
take into custody
take it and run with it
take it at face value
take it easy
take it from me
take it like a man
take it on the lam
take it or leave it
take it to the limit
take it with a grain of salt
take life one day at a time
take my word
take no prisoners
take off you hoser eh
take on the character of
take one for the team
take one step at a time
take out
take potluck
take someone down a peg
take stock
take stock of
take that
take the bad with the good
take the bait
take the biscuit
take the bit between your teeth
take the bull by the horns
take the cake
take the crowd out of the game
take the day off
take the easy way out
take the gloves off
take the guilt off the gingerbread
take the lead
take the mickey
take the plunge
take the rise
take the rough with the smooth
take the wind out of your sail
take the world by storm
take this job and shove it
take to the hills
take two
take umbrage
take with a grain of salt
take with a pinch of salt
take you up on that
take your coat off and stay a while
take your fate into your own hands
take your life in your own hands
take your shoes off and stay a while
take your time
take-over bid
taken aback
taken for a ride
taken for granted
taken with a grain of salt
takes its toll on you
takes one to know one
takes the cake
takes two to tango
taking a dive
taking his pound of flesh
taking my ball and going home
taking steps
taking the mickey
taking the piss
taking the scenic route
taking this too seriously
tale of the tape
talk is cheap
talk of the devil
talk of the town
talk shop
talk the hind legs off a donkey
talk the talk
talk to the hand
talk turkey
talk until you are blue in the face
talk your way out of this one
talking about
talking behind his back
talking out of your head
talking shop
talking to ralph on the big white telephone
talking turkey
talking turtle
tall and proud
tall dark and handsome
tall tale
tall tales
tapping into
target area
target audience
target practice
tarred and feathered
taste of his own medicine
taste of your own medicine
tattered and torn
tea in china
teach him to fish
teacher's pet
team player
team work
tear into it
tear you a new #sshole
tears in my eyes
technicolor yawn
teething problems
teflon president
telephone manner
tell a prokie
tell it to me straight
tell it to the marines
tell tale signs
tell your story walking
telling you now
temper tantrum
tempest in a teacup
tempest in a teapot
tempest in teapot
tempt fate
ten foot pole
tend the garden
tender as a mother's heart
tender mercies
terms of endearment
terribly sorry
terror-stricken
test of time
test the water
test the waters
test your mettle
testing one's mettle
than never to have loved at all
thank god it's friday
thank goodness
thank you
thank your lucky stars
thanks but no thanks
thanks for nothing
thanks for the memory
that and a quarter will get you a cup of coffee
that argument doesn't hold water
that baby runs like a scalded dog
that burns me up
that chaps my hide
that dog won't hunt
that gets my goad
that hits the spot
that is all folks
that oughta tide you over
that really brings it home
that sucks
that takes the cake
that was cold-blooded
that wasn't so bad
that way inclined
that which does not kill you makes you stronger
that'll be the day
that's a doozy
that's a joke
that's a keeper
that's a load off my mind
that's a real stem-winder
that's a wrap
that's about the size of it
that's all folks
that's all for now
that's another thing
that's bogus
that's easy for you to say
that's enough to piss off the pope
that's for the birds
that's hot
that's how the cow eats the cabbage
that's icing on the cake
that's it in a nutshell
that's just peachy
that's just the tip of the iceberg
that's like a turtle on a fence post
that's no joke
that's old hat
that's par for the course
that's pretty run-of-the-mill
that's rubber on the side of the road
that's skull duggery
that's some ole good
that's the $64000 question
that's the long and short of it
that's the sixty-four thousand question
that's the ticket
that's the way lady luck dances
that's the way the ball bounces
that's the way the cookie crumbles
that's the whole ball of wax
that's water under the bridge
that's what it looks like from here
the ability to
the best things in life are free
the bomb
the eye of the beholder
the fact
the more the merrier
the only thing we have to fear is fear itself
the riot act
the speed of light
the whole ball of wax
the whole nine yards
theatre of dreams
their ace
their heart's in the right place
there are starving children in africa
there are three kinds of lies
there but for the grace of god go i
there for the taking
there has been talk
there have been
there is a god
there is always gold at the end of the rainbow
there is light after every storm
there is more than one way to skin a cat
there is no accounting for taste
there is no alternative
there is no cow on the ice
there is no doubt
there is no i in team
there is no such thing as a free lunch
there is no time like the present
there now that wasn't so bad was it
there ought to be a law against that
there you go
there you go again
there'll be hell to pay
there's a clam before the storm
there's a first time for everything
there's a god and i'm not him
there's a light at the end of every tunnel
there's a sucker born every minute
there's an r in the month
there's gold in them thar hills
there's hope yet
there's more fish in the sea
there's more than one way to skin a cat
there's more where that came from
there's no place like home
there's no question
there's no rest for the wicked
there's no such thing as a free lunch
there's no time like the present
there's one in every crowd
there's something fishy about that
there's something i've been meaning to tell you
these days
these things happen
they can't buy a basket
they gave him carte blanche
they grow up so fast
they need to take care of the rock
they play good d
they threw the book at him
they're getting hitched
they're in a better place now
they're jumping the broomstick
they're like two peas in a pod
thick and thin
thick as a brick
thick as a ditch
thick as pea soup
thick as thieves
thick headed
thick-headed
thicks ditch
thin as a rail
thin as six o'clock
thin on the ground
thing is
things are not always as they seem
things aren't what they used to be
things that go bump in the night
think again
think big
think it over
think like a man
think like a man act like a woman
think outside of the box
think outside the box
think positive
think twice
thinking ahead
thinking cap
thinking out loud
thinking time
thinking with the wrong head
third class
third degree
third division
third party
third time lucky
third time's a charm
third time's the charm
third times a charm
third wheel
thirty thousand foot level
this
this can't be easy for you
this could be the start of something big
this day and age
this hurts me worse than it does you
this hurts me worse than it hurts you
this is for the birds
this is serious
this is the real world
this like heaven on earth
this point in time
this town's not big enough for the two of us
this'll hurt me more than it hurts you
thorn in my side
those are rotten apples
those are sour grapes
thou shalt not kill
three in a bed
three in a row
three of a kind
three ring circus
three score and ten
three sheets to the wind
three squares
three steps forward
three strikes against
three strikes against him/her
three strikes and you are out
three strikes and you're out
three time loser
three wishes
threw a curve ball
threw it with a little something on it
threw up my hands
through the grapevine
through thick and thin
throw a fit
throw a monkey wrench into the works
throw cold water on
throw down
throw gas on the fire
throw in the towel
throw in thewel
throw me a bone
throw me some scraps
throw someone to the wolves
throw the baby out with the bathwater
throw the book at him
throw the wolves
throw to the wolves
throw together
throw under the bus
throw your hat in the ring
throw your hat into the ring
throwing aspirin tablets
throwing caution to the wind
throwing out the baby with the bathwater
thrown to the wolves
thumb one's nose
thumb your nose at
thumbs down
thumbs up
thunderous applause
ticked off
tickle the ivories
tickled pink
ticky wicket
tide over
tide's beginning to turn
tie one on
tie the knot
tie the know
tied to her apron strings
tied up right now
tight as a drum
tight as a drum wound
tight as the bark on a tree
tight fisted
tight lipped
tight timetable
tight wad
tighten your belt
tighter than a drum
tighter than a gnat's ass
til the end of time
till the cows come home
till the fat lady sings
tilting at windmills
time after time
time and again
time and tide
time and tide wait for no man
time and time again
time bomb
time capsule
time flies
time flies when you are having fun
time flies when you're having fun
time has come
time heals all wounds
time is fleeting
time is money
time is of the essence
time is on my side
time is ripe
time is running out
time is up
time of your life
time on my hands
time on your hands
time out
time pressure
time slips away
time stands still
time to kill
time to pay the piper
time waits for no man
time warp
time wasters
time will tell
time window
time's up
time-honored
timeless classic
timesy are a changing
timing is everything
timing light
tin ear
tingling with anticipation
tip of my tongue
tip of the iceberg
tip top
tired but happy
tit for tat
titch in time saves nine
tits-up
to a certain extent
to a t
to all intents
to assume makes an ass out of u and me
to badger someon
to be beside yourself
to be fair
to be fed up
to be honest
to be honest with you
to be or not to be
to be young and foolish
to beat the band
to boldly go where no man has gone before
to boot
to bring home the bacon
to cast the first stone
to chance your arm
to close ranks
to coin a phrase
to cry wolf
to die for
to each his own
to egg on
to err is human
to err is human to forgive divine
to fall foul
to feather one's nest
to feather your nest
to fork out
to get fired
to go haywire
to go the whole hog
to harp on
to have a field day
to have a gammy leg
to have cold feet
to hedge one's bets
to hell in a hand basket
to hell with it
to know beans
to lark about
to lie down with lions
to live from hand to mouth
to make a long story short
to mark the occasion
to not decide is to decide
to play hookey
to run amok
to save one's bacon
to shoot the crow
to skin a cat
to take aback
to talk gibberish
to tell you the truth
to the best of my knowledge
to the bitter end
to the manner born
to the nth degree
to the victor go the spoils
to toy with
to wreak havock
toast of
today is the first day of the rest of your life
toe the line
toe-curling
tomorrow is another day
tomorrow never comes
tomorrow's another day
tone's throw
tone's throw away
tongue in cheek
tongue lashing
tongue tied
tongue tied to be
tongue-in-cheek
too cool for school
too early to say
too good to be true
too good to refuse
too hot to handle
too many chefs spoil the broth
too many chefs spoil the soup
too many chiefs and not enough indians
too many cooks in the kitchen
too many cooks spoil the broth
too many cooks spoil the soup
too many irons in the fire
too much information
too much of a good thing
too much sail for a small craft
too numerous to mention
too rich for my blood
toodle-oo
took a wrong turn
took me to the cleaners
took off like a bat out of hell
took off like a shot
took on a life of its ownin a pinch
took something off that one
tooled up
toot his own horn
tooth and nail
top and tail
top banana
top dog
top drawer
top man
top notch
top of the bill
top of the class
top of the morning
top of the pile
top of the shop
top secret
topsy turvy
tore up from the floor up
torn asunder
toss your cookies
tossing and turning
total knobhead
total package
touch and go
touch base
touch of blarney
touch with a ten foot pole
touchy feelie
touchy-feely
tough as nails
tough nut
tough nut to crack
tough row to hoe
tough talk
tougher measures
tougher policies
tout de suite
tow the line
tower of strength
track record
trade gap
traded blows
traditional family values
traditional values
trail of disaster
trail of smoke
train of thought
train surfing
transit camp
trap one
travelling light
tread lightly
tread water
treat others as you want to be treated
treated like a dog
treatment room
tree top level
trench mouth
trial and error
trial balloon to send up or float
trial by fire
trials and tribulations
trick cyclist
trick or treat
tricky situation
tried and true
trip down memory lane
trip over your tongue
trip the light fantastic
triumph of hope over experience
trojan horse
trouble at mill
trouble with a capital `t'
true blue
true colors
true facts
true or false
true self
trust him as far as i can throw him
truth hurts
truth is out there
truth is stranger than fiction
truth of the matter is
truth will out
truth will set you free
try as i might
try it on
try it you'll like it
try your hand at something
trying is half the battle
trying it on
trying to put a square peg in a round hole
tuckered out
tugging at heartstrings
tumble to the bottom
tune out
tuned in
turkey shoot
turn a blind eye
turn down
turn on a dime
turn out the lights
turn over a new leaf
turn the other cheek
turn the tables
turn up the pressure
turn up trumps
turned down
turned on
twelve good men and true
twenty four seven
twenty three skidoo
twice as nice
twice as strong as an ox and half as smart
twiddling your thumbs
twilight years
twinkling of an eye
twist my arm
twist of fate
twists and turns
two a penny
two cents worth
two cents' worth
two chances
two faced
two fingers
two heads are better than one
two hearts
two left feet
two lovers
two of a kind
two peas in a pod
two shakes of a lamb's tail
two ships passing in the night
two sides of the same coin
two sides to every story
two steps back
two way street
two wrongs don't make a right
two's company three's a crowd
type cast

Book: Shattered Sighs