Thesaurus of Alternatives to Worn-Out Words and Phrases

by Robert Hartwell Fiske

Cliches. Once they were so original, so fresh. Now, everybody uses them, and if your work depends on lively prose, they're a problem. This book is the solution. Fiske takes you on a tour of the world of "dimwitticisms"; moribund metaphors, torpid terms and wretched redundancies that have all the impact of foam-rubber cannonballs. Fiske's comprehensive thesaurus lists hundreds of problem phrases along with witty commentary and useful synonyms that will help you make your writing energetic and interesting. In this book you'll learn: how to keep your prose fat-free; the shelf life of a metaphor; how to avoid insipid similes; why the road to obscurity is paved with superlatives; how to use language with intelligence and panache. You will also learn to identify and change those moldy oldies that can dull your writing style, and then avoid them forever.

324 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1994