Readers: By definition, a cliché is something that was very clever the first time someone used it. So clever that everyone wanted to use it, until it went from clever to stale to something that makes readers roll their eyes at the writer’s laziness and cowardly writing. Be brave!

• In harm’s way

• A perfect storm     

• The death toll

• Shots rang out

• In close proximity

• Best kept secret 

• Will the vaccine work? Only time will tell.

• The lion’s share 

• The grim reaper.

• Behind closed doors (Great title for a country song. Don’t you use it.)

Watch this on video! https://youtu.be/ABoi9z0N_aY

Next time: Bad TV

Readers: "Something Went Horribly Wrong," features samples of bad writing we see nearly every day. You can participate! Be our duly deputized “grammar police:” Your motto: “To protect and correct.” Send in your photos of store signs, street signs, newspaper headlines, tweets, and so on. It doesn’t have to be a grammatical error. It can be just what we call “cowardly writing.” Include your name and home town so we properly can credit you. You're free to add a comment, although we reserve the right to edit or omit. Now get out there! Send to Eliot@eliotkleinberg.com