What is the difference between a cliche and an original figurative expression?

Answer 1

A cliche is a comparative expression that is no longer fresh or interesting because it has been overused.

Answer 2

A cliche used to be an original figuritive expression, but has been used to the point where everyone knows it, and if you use it, you obviously didn't put any creative thought into it.

For example, the classic "cool as a cucumber."

This was probably pretty witty at some point, or it wouldn't be used today. But now, if you start saying "such and such was cool as..." what immediately comes to mind is "...as a cucumber." It's predictable. And when it comes to being original, predictable is NOT the way to go!

If you wanted to describe something as cool without mentioning strange green foods that turn into pickles, you may instead say something like "such and such was cool as the frost on the morning grass."

I hope this helped. Now, I'm simply wondering why we call cucumbers, of all things, cool.

Answer 3

A cliche used to be an original figurative expression, but it is so overused that it is no longer creative.

An original figurative expression is a unique phrase that is like a simile or metaphor.

Answer 4

A cliche is something said so often that you've "heard it a million times." Original expressions are unique.