Killing the Cliché

A cliché or cliche is an expression, idea, or element of an artistic work which has been overused to the point of losing its original meaning or effect, especially when at some earlier time it was considered meaningful or novel.


Clichés have been used over time by many people. There are clichés in art, fashion, and most of all language. The origin of the word is borrowed from the French language, and in printing “cliché” is said to come from the sound made when molten stereotyping metal is poured onto the matrix to make a printing plate.
Here are some examples of popular clichés in language:
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/popular-cliches.html

You find plenty of cliché characters in stories. For example the villains found in comics:

They have been used over and over again in stories, series, and films.
So what do you do to avoid clichés? Dig into that mind of yours and come up with interesting, unique characters! Also, avoid relating the characters to the audience. If the audience can identify too much with a character, there is room for predicting the character's outcome. And if the character's outcome is predicted, then more than likely the audience will become bored and lose interest.

One that can be argued...Peace and Love.
"If someone thinks that love and peace is a cliché that must have been left behind in the Sixties, that's his problem. Love and peace are eternal." -John Lennon