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Mak
Too close for comfort - is it a cliche?
I know the meaning of "too close for comfort", because I have already looked up the meaning. But one of the dictionaries I referred to says that it is a cliche.
Is it really a cliche? Do you use it or have you heard anyone use it seriously and not just for humor?
PS: Sometimes I use cliches to elicit humor, for example: Coffee isn't my cup of tea. If "too close for comfort" is a cliche, then I won't use it except for humor.
Jun 28, 2014 2:58 PM
Answers · 8
2
It is not a cliché. It is a commonly used expression
June 28, 2014
It's very easy to search blogs and news articles for the phrase "too close for comfort" (with quotes). You can read the examples and decide for yourself whether or not the expression is used for humour.
Unfortunately, I can't agree with your definition for "cliché".
June 28, 2014
A cliché is an idea or phrase that has been used so much that it is meaningless and tiresome. It has nothing to do with humour, and is nothing to do with puns or word play. Clichés aren't funny - they just show a lack of imagination.
And yes, 'too close for comfort' is a commonly used expression.
June 28, 2014
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Mak
Language Skills
Assamese, Bengali, English, German, Hindi
Learning Language
Assamese, English, German
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