My top 10 most aggravating cliches’.

10.) You know – No I don’t know unless you tell me.

9.) I Mean – You mean what?  Without more explanation I have no idea what you mean.  And often more explanation only clouds the issue

8.) Frankly – I have no idea why people say this.  Most of the time Frank has nothing to do with it.  And further there’s nothing particularly frank about what is said thereafter.

7.) At the end of the day – What exactly does a day have to do with anything being said.  A more intelligent cliché might be “when it’s all done”.

6.) If you will… – the use of this one really stumps me. Definition – “If you will, meaning if you will allow me to use this phrase, is a hedge phrase, and it could usually be removed. Writers often use it to apologize for a weak phrase—often a bad metaphor, a corny coinage, or a phrase the writer is reluctant to use if you will. Stop it.

5.) Time will tell – Oh really

4.) Nails on a chalk board

3.) With friends like that, who needs enemies

2.) Don’t bite the hand that feeds you

1.) It is what it is – What the hell does this mean. Of course it is what it is…. what else would it be.

There literally dozens of cliché used by people to convey ideas.  But some of the above need to be traded in for new clichés.  There are far better cliches. Some of my list are not necessarily clichés but are worn out nonetheless.