Get Your Premium Membership

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

p d q
p's and q's
pace of change
pack it in
package deal
package holiday
packing heat
packing lead
paddle your own canoe
paid an arm and a leg
paid the price
pain and suffering
pain in the #ss
pain in the ass
pain in the butt
pain in the neck
pain is temporary
pain is your friend
paint oneself into a corner
paint the town red
paint yourself into a corner
painted himself into a corner
paints a grim picture
paired up
paled in comparison
pan out
pandora's box
panic button
panic stations
paper chase
paper exercise
paper over
paper thin
paper tiger
par for the course
pardon my french
part and parcel
parthian shot
parting shot
partners in crime
party atmosphere
party girl
party pooper
party's over
pas away
pas on
pass away
pass on
pass the buck
pass the hat
pass with flying colours
passed with flying colors
passed with flying colours
passing the buck
past glory
past or present
pat on the back
patch things up
patently obvious
path of least resistance
patience is a virtue
patter of little feet
pawn in the game
pay a king's ransom
pay a price
pay an arm and a leg
pay as you go
pay attention to details
pay lip service
pay particular attention
pay the dept of nature
pay the piper
pay the supreme penalty
pay through the nose
pay your dues
payback is a b#tch
paying off
payment in kind
peace be with you
peace of mind
peace on you
peace talks
peaches and cream complexion
peaked too early
pearls before swine
pears for your heirs
peas in a pod
pecking order
peel out
peel the onion
peeping tom
peg out
pell-mell
pen is mightier than the sword
pen is mightier than the sword : 1
penalty shoot out
pencil in
pencil it in
pencil thin
pennies from heaven
penny drops
penny for your thoughts
penny pincher
penny pinching
penny saved is a penny earned
penny saved is penny earned
penny wise and pound foolish
pension off
perception becomes reality
perfect harmony
perfect solution
perfect storm
perfect timing
personal friend
personal opinion
pester power
peter out
petered out
phone it in
physician - heal thyself
pick and choose
pick and mix
pick of the crop
pick of the litter
pick over the ruins
pick the low hanging fruit
pick up joint
pick up where we left off
picture is worth a thousands words
picture of health
picture paints a thousand words
picture perfect
picture's worth a thousand words
picture's worth thousand words
picture-perfect
pie in the sky
piece of cake
piece of piss
pig and whistle
pig dog
pig headed
pig in a poke
pig out
pig's ear
pigeon-chested
pigs fly
pile 'em high
pile it on
pile of crap
pillar of society
pillar of the church
pillar of the community
pimpin' ain't easy
pin money
pin our hopes on
pin your hopes on
pin your hopes on something
pinpoint the cause
pipe down
pipe dream
piping hot
pipped at the post
piss in one's cornflakes
piss like a racehorse
piss on the chips
piss on the chips don't
piss poor
piss-poor
pissed off
pissed out of his head
pissed to the gills
pissing in the wind
pitch it right
pitter patter of little feet
pivot point
place your bets
plain and simple
plain as a rainy tuesday
plain as day
plain as day as
plain as the nose on your face
plain jane
plain sailing
plan b
plan nine
plans for the future
plans in place
plates of meat
play ball
play both ends against the middle
play by ear
play by the rules
play ducks and drakes
play fast and loose
play hot potato
play it again sam
play it by ear
play it cool
play on words
play second fiddle
play second fiddle to
play the cards you're dealt
play the field
play the final card
play the giddy goat
play the hand you're dealt
play the race card
play to live
play with the big boys
play your cards close to your chest
play your cards right
played me for a fool
player hater
playing around
playing down
playing hard to get
playing hardball
playing possum
playing the field
playing the game
playing to the gallery
playing with fire
plea for help
pleaded not guilty
pleased as punch
plenty of fish in the sea
plenty of other fish in the sea
plenty of other fish in the sea to have
plenty of other fish to fry
plenty of other fish to fry to have
plenty of rope
plenty to go 'round
plot thickens
plough a straight furrow
plunk down
poetic licence
point is
point of no return
point of view
point out
point percy at the porcelain
point the finger
point to point
point to the need
point with pride
point-blank
poised to deliver
poison pen
poison the well
poker face
polar opposite
pole position
police brutality
police dragnet
policy decision
policy statement
political landscape
politically correct
pommy-bashing
pond life
pony and trap
pool of blood
poon full of sugar helps the medicine go down
poor as a church mouse
poor excuse for
poorly prepared
pop a vein
pop goes the weasel
pop one's clogs
popularity contest
porno film
posh - port out starboard home
posh resort
positive mental attitude
possession is nine points of the law
pot calling the kettle black
pot of gold at the end of the rainbow
pot to piss in
potential risk
pound for pound
pound of flesh
pound the pavement
pound the table
pounding of his lonely heart
pour it on thick
pour oil on trouble waters
pour oil on troubled waters
pour the kool-aid
powder keg
power dressing
power games
power play
power struggle
powers of darkness
powers that be
practice makes perfect
practice what you preach
pragmatic realist
pray to the porcelain god
praying at the porcelain altar
pre-dawn darkness
preach the choir
preach the converted
preach to the converted
preaching to the choir
precious time
pregnant silence
prepare the ground
prepared for the worst
present incumbent
press gang
press into service
press the flesh
pressing ahead
pressing the right buttons
prestigious law firm
pretty as a picture
pretty as a postcard
pretty damn quick
pretty good
pretty kettle of fish
pretty much
pretty penny
pretty sure
previous record
price cut
price reduction
price ring
price war
price yourself out of the market
priced out of the market
prick up your ears
pride and joy
pride before the fall
prima donna
prime time
primed to the sticking point
primrose path
prison stick
prison term
private joke
private ord
problem area
problem child
problem is
problem solved
proof is in the pudding
proof of the pudding
proof of the pudding is in the eating
property rights
propped up
prospective buyer
protest movement
proud heritage
proud parents
proud possessor
proved of benefit to
public enemy number one
public opinion
public outcry
public scrutiny
publicity seeker
puff of smoke
pull a boner
pull a fast one
pull a rabbit out of a hat
pull any stunts
pull out all the stops
pull somebody's leg
pull the wool over one's eyes
pull the wool over your eyes
pull together
pull up stakes
pull your chain
pull your finger out
pull your head out of your ass
pull your leg
pull your punches
pull yourself up by your bootstraps
pulled the wool over
pulled the wool over his/her eyes
pulled the wool over my eyes
pulling punches
pulling the wool over his eyes
pulling your hair
pulling your leg
pulp fiction
pump priming
punch above one's weight
punch his lights out
punched in the gut
pure as the driven snow
pure as the driven snow as
pursuit of excellence
push the boat out
push the envelope
push your buttons
pushing at an open door
pushing the envelope
pushing up daisies
put 2 and 2 together
put a cork in it
put a damper on
put a lid on it
put a little elbow grease into it
put a monkeywrench in the works
put a sock in it
put a spanner in the works
put aside
put english on it
put in a bid
put in a word
put in an appearance
put in the clink
put it behind
put it here
put it in a nutshell
put it through its paces
put it where the sun don't shine
put my two cents in
put on a pedestal
put on ice
put on ice to be
put on the other guy's shoes
put on the wooden overcoat
put on your thinking cap
put one over on you
put out some feelers
put paid
put that in your pipe and smoke it
put the boot in
put the cart before the horse
put the cat among the pigeons
put the dampers on
put the finger on
put the mockers on
put the pedal the metal
put the pedal to the metal
put the screws on
put the wood in the hole
put through the hoop
put to death
put two and two together
put up a good show
put up your dukes
put up your feet and stay awhile
put your back into it
put your back up
put your best foot forward
put your feet up
put your foot down
put your foot in your mouth
put your heart into it
put your house in order
put your job on the line
put your mind at rest
put your money on the table
put your money wher your mouth is
put your money where your mouth is
put your nose out of joint
put your pants on one leg at a time
put yourself in my shoes
putting his feet to the fire
putting it about
putting the cart before the horse
putting the screws to him
pyrrhic victory

Book: Reflection on the Important Things