I can see where you might think that, but this isn't necessarily so. This cliche usually isn't used in that sense, in a literal sense. It's usually used in the sense that two people are so associated with one another or spend so much time together it is as if they are inseparable; "joined at the hips" merely expresses the extent to which they are inseparable or they appear to be "as one." Still, if it bothers you, you should totally recast the reference. This isn't meant to excuse the cliche but to show ways to reword it.
3:52 PM
(entered for 04.26.06)
Meaning: exceedingly close friendship or working relationship. Idiom. Rewrite 1: coupled at the keyboard Rewrite 2: attached by the phone line Rewrite 3: connected at the coffee cup Rewrite 4: wed at the water cooler
Comment: Alliteration isn’t necessary here, but it aids in the lyrical quality of the metaphor.
More reading about clichés What I found when I googled “clichés”: • Brain Bender: Mixed up clichés.
Note: By providing links to other websites I am only showing you what is out there about clichés – I am not endorsing any content or opinion expressed there.
Check out the searchable alphabetical list of all my cliché rewrites available in the archive list at the right.
posted by Booksville Bookclub at 10:59 PM on Apr 26, 2006
2 Comments
Close this window Jump to comment formNot exactly politically correct this one - as the simile is presumably that of conjoined (or Siamese) twins
7:31 PM
I can see where you might think that, but this isn't necessarily so. This cliche usually isn't used in that sense, in a literal sense. It's usually used in the sense that two people are so associated with one another or spend so much time together it is as if they are inseparable; "joined at the hips" merely expresses the extent to which they are inseparable or they appear to be "as one." Still, if it bothers you, you should totally recast the reference. This isn't meant to excuse the cliche but to show ways to reword it.
3:52 PM