It’s so easy to fall into the trap of writing clichés without meaning to. They stick in our minds and poor out our finger tips with such ease. These phrases get old fast, they come across as tired, and loose impact in your prose.
Here’s a list of 50, by category, to look out for.
50 clichés best avoided
Physical Reactions
- A shiver ran down her spine.
- His blood ran cold.
- Her heart skipped a beat.
- Her breath caught in her throat.
- His jaw dropped.
- She froze in her tracks.
- Her knees went weak.
- Her stomach dropped.
- He felt like the floor fell out from under him.
- Butterflies danced in her stomach.
Emotional Overload
- Tears welled up in her eyes.
- Her heart swelled with pride.
- He was on cloud nine.
- She felt like the weight of the world was on her shoulders.
- His heart sank.
- She burned with rage.
- A lump formed in her throat.
- He was a bundle of nerves.
- Her heart was in her mouth.
- He couldn’t believe his eyes.
Love & Attraction
- Their eyes met across the room.
- Sparks flew between them.
- She felt an electric charge when they touched.
- He couldn’t take his eyes off her.
- Time seemed to stand still.
- She melted under his gaze.
- Her heart fluttered.
- He made her weak in the knees.
- They were drawn to each other like magnets.
- His touch sent shivers down her spine.
Fear & Danger
- Her blood ran cold.
- He was frozen with fear.
- Her heart pounded in her chest.
- His breath came in ragged gasps.
- She felt like a deer in headlights.
- Her hair stood on end.
- He was scared out of his wits.
- She jumped out of her skin.
- A chill ran down her spine.
- His stomach turned to ice.
Exhaustion & Pain
- She was dead on her feet.
- He was tired to the bone.
- Every muscle screamed in protest.
- Her head was pounding.
- He felt like he’d been hit by a truck.
- Her legs were like lead.
- Pain shot through his body.
- Her eyelids felt like bricks.
- He dragged himself forward.
- Her arms felt like jelly.
For those on my newsletter, look out for my cliché-busting cheat sheet for writers.
Tracey Lee Writes 
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