Why Clichés Make My Autist Come Unhinged
Somebody, please make it stop.
Cliché is a derivative of the verb clicher, defined as “to stereotype” in French. I rarely understand the context in which they are used. Nevertheless, I have incorporated them into my life and work to disguise and arguably mask my intellect and cliché ignorance. Being autistic, I tend to be quite literal. That’s why I get irritated about their use. I crave the logical context. Because many people will be able to comprehend them without considering how they were constructed, they are, in my opinion, linguistic gimmicks for mass thinkers. Why, then, do people continue to use them? Do they think it makes them sound more intelligent, or do they believe they mean anything?
According to researchers at Manchester Metropolitan University, they accelerate things. For the listener, statements like “moving forward” have a consistent meaning. I leave off. Ironically, a recent Twitter poll by Countdowns Susie Dent found that “moving forward” and “reaching out” are the business terms that annoy people the most. Since I was young, I have enjoyed Countdown. The late English author Martin Amis, who passed away in May, also disliked clichés. He released a book titled “The War Against Clichés”. In his 2020 book Inside Story, he gave the advice,
“Never use a form of words which is in any sense ready-made.”
Amis used an overused cliché to call Pulitzer Prize–winning author Saul Bellow “a force of nature.” Even though the sea is a natural force, the term’s use and clichés tend to lack creativity. Similar to the repetition and boredom that AI constantly feeds the public. They become so monotonous for me, at least, because of their overuse and absence of a whole situational, emotional, and physical context. Therefore, I’m posting some cliches I detest because my autistic self needs a place to dump them online. Please feel free to join in and mention any additional ones that you find objectionable, along with your reasoning.
1. It is what it is.
I would have thought my literal self would get this one, but it’s been so overused that it isn’t what it used to be!
2. What is meant for you won’t pass you by.
Try telling me that while I was chronically ill for 11 years, if you want to irritate me or anyone else going through a trying time.
3. All is fair in love and war.
Really? In the world, past and present?
4. Never say never.
You repeated that twice.
5. At the end of the day
We get to go to sleep!
6. I’m not going to lie.
Would you have lied in the first instance?
7. Don’t get your knickers in a twist.
I can’t even begin to state how often this was said to my Autistic self. I feel queasy.
8. Torn between a rock and a hard place
But a rock is the hardest place there is.
9. It goes without saying
Why, then, say it?
10. In a jiffy
I only see a plastic lemon.
11. Fit as a fiddle
In my gym, I don’t see any fiddles bench pressing.
12. It’s not you. It’s me.
Of course, it’s you.
13. Don’t cry over spilt milk.
Oh, but the wasted protein
14. Read between the lines.
I need all the information unless it is in a lined, ruled, feint copy.
World Wide Web offload complete. The whole Autistic self is honoured.
PS: I do this as part of my life’s work but do not have any notions about making a full-time career or living from this publication. Still, I do value my work as many others do also, and therefore, I would kindly ask if you find my writing of value and have any spare financial means to consider one of the following options:
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