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lucyinthesky

Can you identify the clichés?

Author: lucyinthesky

For a basic lesson on what cliches are, click here.

Here's an exercise to get you started. Can you identify the trite, overused expressions in these paragraphs?

'In this day and age, good teachers are few and far between. My deepest, darkest secret is my desire to be one of those teachers - one that is worth her weight in gold, who works her fingers to the bone, hand in hand with students to prepare them to meet the trials and tribulations of life.'

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In this day and age, good teachers are few and far between. My deepest, darkest secret is my desire to be one of those teachers - one that is worth her weight in gold, who works her fingers to the bone, hand in hand with students to prepare them to meet the trials and tribulations of life.

(Note the excessive overkill of all these expressions. You should never have that many cliches in one paragraph! Click on the link again to hide this text.)

'With an attitude like that, my first day of teaching was doomed to disappointment. I was walking on air as I arrived at my first class, until I realized I'd forgotten my key. A wave of optimism washed over me when I saw the classroom door open. I sauntered up to the door, when BANG, like a bolt from the blue, one of my new students - later proven to be rotten to the core - darted out and slammed the door right in my face.'

Click here to see the answer.

With an attitude like that, my first day of teaching was doomed to disappointment. I was walking on air as I arrived at my first class, until I realized I'd forgotten my key. A wave of optimism washed over me when I saw the classroom door open. I sauntered up to the door, when BANG, like a bolt from the blue, one of my new students - later proven to be rotten to the core - darted out and slammed the door right in my face.'

'My anxiety was growing by leaps and bounds, when, as luck would have it, a custodian came by and unlocked the door for me. I could sense the undercurrent of excitement as I walked into the room and the mischievous student beat a hasty retreat to his seat.'

Click here to see the answer.

'My anxiety was growing by leaps and bounds, when, as luck would have it, a custodian came by and unlocked the door for me. I could sense the undercurrent of excitement as I walked into the room and the mischievous student beat a hasty retreat to his seat.'

'Anxious for my reaction, he breathed a sigh of relief when I decided not to make a tempest in a teapot about the incident. Cool as a cucumber, I posed the first discussion prompt, 'The writing process is neither writing nor a process. Discuss.' In their youthful glee, all the students jumped on the bandwagon to discuss. Slowly but surely, the humiliating experience became water under the bridge as I continue the uphill battle to become all that I can be as an English teacher.'

Click here to see the answer.

Anxious for my reaction, he breathed a sigh of relief when I decided not to make a tempest in a teapot about the incident. Cool as a cucumber, I posed the first discussion prompt, 'The writing process is neither writing nor a process. Discuss.' In their youthful glee, all the students jumped on the bandwagon to discuss. Slowly but surely, the humiliating experience became water under the bridge as I continue the uphill battle to become all that I can be as an English teacher.'