If some words are shovel ready for a conversation, but using them could lead to accusations that

you're not giving 110 percent, then should you stick a pen in them?

Or perhaps you could read the rim better and send thoughts and prayers to redeem these

words.

Are we adulting now?

Grammar girl here, I'm a Neon Foger to your friendly guide to the English language.

We're starting with this piece about clichés written by Kirk Hayes and in Jordan Love

Joy.

And stick around because after this we'll answer a question about the word organic, a

question about the phrase bully pulpit, and learn about a man who was selling words on

the street in the 1950s and 60s.

Overused phrases seem to bother people.

Even professional word nerds like us, a linguist and a folklorist.

When it reaches the point of aggravation, they're called clichés, with or without the

acute accent.

As November 3rd is national cliché day, what better time to clear up some confusion about

cliché-ness?

What makes a cliché a cliché?

And why do we find ourselves rolling our eyes when we hear certain ones?

When it comes to identifying what these words and phrases are, there are three terms that

bump into one another a lot.

Idiom, slang and cliché.

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